The mortality rate from community-acquired pneumonia has not improved over the past four decades. New pulmonary infectious diseases such as due to non tuberculous mycobacteria are causing increasing problems and bronchiectasis is responsible for an ever increasing mortality, morbidity and economic burden on our health system. This grant will support Professor Waterer in continuing to reduce the personal and society burden of pulmonary infections.
Epidemiology And Management Of Bronchiectasis In Australian Adults
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$124,676.00
Summary
Bronchiectasis is an incurable lung disease which causes chronic cough with phlegm. We do not know how many Australians have bronchiectasis or how it affects their lives, and there are few effective treatments. The recently launched Australian Bronchiectasis Registry collects comprehensive information on Australians with bronchiectasis. This project will use this information to start to answer these questions, and will investigate nebulised hypertonic saline as a cheap and accessible treatment.
Improving Children's Respiratory Health Through Better Evidence And Knowledge
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$568,892.00
Summary
Prevention and/or early treatment potentially change the child’s life trajectory for lung health as adults. This is particularly important in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, as respiratory illness is very common with long term consequences. In my fellowship, I will undertake appropriate clinical studies (treatment and preventative) that are most likely to improve lung health outcomes, particularly in conditions relevant in Indigenous children.
Long-term Macrolide Therapy; Oropharyngeal Dysbiosis And The Spread Of Resistant Pathogens
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$384,153.00
Summary
Use of macrolide therapy for chronic lung diseases is increasing rapidly. We will determine the impact of long-term macrolide antibiotic use on upper airway bacteria in patients with lung disease, and assess its contribution to antibiotic resistance in the wider community. We will investigate the mechanism by which this therapy achieves benefit and assess interference with bacterial signalling as a means to improve treatment efficacy and reduce induction of antibiotic resistance.
Adaptive Immunity To Non-typeable H. Influenzae In Children With Bronchiectasis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$81,143.00
Summary
Bronchiectasis is a chronic disease of the lungs which affects at least 1 in 68 NT Indigenous children. It causes recurring lung infections, hospitalisations and deteriorating lung function. This study will provide important data on the immune response of Indigenous children to NTHi, the most important pathogen associated with chronic respiratory infections and why this immune response is not protective. This is the first step in targeting therapies to the prevention of bronchiectasis.
A Multi-centre Double-blind RCT On Community-acquired Pneumonia In Indigenous Children And A Developing Country: Improving Clinical Outcomes And Identifying Systemic Biomarkers
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,167,560.00
Summary
Young children of Indigenous communities and developing countries are often hospitalised for pneumonia and have high risk of subsequent chronic disease. Our international study will determine if a longer duration of antibiotics (compared to shorter duration) improves the short and long term clinical outcomes of children hospitalised for pneumonia. We will look for unique markers that may predict those who will develop chronic lung disease. Our study will influence future guidelines on pneumonia.