Distribution Of Monodisperse Aerosols Inhaled By Children For Determination Of Optimal Therapeutic Inhaler Formulations
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$326,000.00
Summary
Inhalers are the primary form of treatment for asthma, allowing the delivery of lower doses of medication directly to the lungs. Consistent daily use of these inhalers is often necessary to effectively control the symptoms of asthma. Inhalers are now increasingly used to treat infants with lung problems. Many of these inhalers are not designed for use by such young children, who may be unable to perform the breathing techniques necessary for effective use of these inhalers. Not all the drug inha ....Inhalers are the primary form of treatment for asthma, allowing the delivery of lower doses of medication directly to the lungs. Consistent daily use of these inhalers is often necessary to effectively control the symptoms of asthma. Inhalers are now increasingly used to treat infants with lung problems. Many of these inhalers are not designed for use by such young children, who may be unable to perform the breathing techniques necessary for effective use of these inhalers. Not all the drug inhaled by patients will end up in the lungs where it is needed; a large proportion is left in the mouth, throat and stomach. Our earlier studies have shown that there is a large amount of variability in the amount of drug received by children using inhalers. We intend to assess the important factors involved in improving the efficiency of inhaler therapy for children, such as the size of the inhaled particles and the breathing pattern of the child. The results obtained from this study will enable us to determine the best method of delivering these drugs to children so that they only receive the lowest effective dose for treatment of the symptoms of asthma while minimising unwanted effects.Read moreRead less
Novel Inhalation Formulation Of Colistin And Combination Therapy Against Gram-negative 'superbugs'
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$513,896.00
Summary
Respiratory infections caused by multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria are major health problems for Australians. Colistin is the last-resort defense in most cases. However, parenteral administration of colistin will cause serious side effects. This proposal applies an interdisciplinary approach using aerosol particle engineering, functional lung imaging and antimicrobial pharmacology to develop and characterise novel inhaled powder formulations of colistin and its rational combinations.
Novel Inhalation Formulation Of Bacteriophages Against ‘superbugs’ Causing Respiratory Infections
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$563,621.00
Summary
Emergence of superbugs has led to life-threatening respiratory infections that are resistant to most antibiotics. There is an urgent need for alternative treatments not relying on antibiotics. Bacteriophages (or ‘bacteria eaters’) are natural predators of bacteria and are unaffected by antibiotic resistance. This multi-disciplinary project will develop novel therapeutics using inhaled bacteriophages against bacterial infections in the lungs.
Engineering Powder Aerosols Of Antibacterial Nanomedicines For Treatment Of Respiratory Infections
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$195,338.00
Summary
This project aims to apply cutting-edge nanotechnology to develop new inhalation therapy for respiratory infections by delivering antibiotics directly to the lungs. The expected outcomes of this work are more efficacious, safer and cost effective treatments for patients suffering from respiratory infectious diseases such as pneumonia.
CSI-Sydney: New Technologies To Treat Chronic Sinus Infection
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$412,213.00
Summary
Chronic sinus infection (CSI) is prevalent and results in severe discomfort and pain for many Australians; yet amazingly, has no specific cure or effective treatment. Our multi-disciplinary research team and an Australian health and medical research company, (AFT Pharmaceuticals) have partnered to develop a novel device that specifically targets the sinuses and a formulation capable for simultaneously removing mucus, dispersing biofilms and killing bacteria in the nasal cavities.
Next Generation Hand-held Nebulisers For Aerosol Drug Delivery: Using Microfluidics To Tune Particle Size
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$726,160.00
Summary
Chronic respiratory diseases (Asthma, COPD) affect 14% of Australians with a greater disease burden felt by elderly and young patients. These patients experience more difficulty administering medication through conventional inhalers due to a lack of coordination and dexterity. We present a patented technology which improves the pulmonary delivery of medication through a microfluidic method, within a system designed specifically to improve user experience and patient monitoring.
Understanding And Preventing Airborne Transmission Of Infectious Respiratory Aerosols
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$393,894.00
Summary
This project aims to significantly advance our understanding of how infectious bacteria are transmitted through the air, and what basic control measures are most effective at preventing this. This research is focused on persons with cystic fibrosis (CF), as they may be particularly susceptible to such transmission, but our results will also help us better understand how other infections are spread through the air. This is especially important given the recent global influenza pandemic.