A Population-based Family Study Of Filaggrin Mutations And Allergic Disease Risk In Australia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$308,584.00
Summary
It is biologically plausible that the association of known environmental risk factors for asthma may be different for genetically susceptible individuals. Few studies have examined the interaction between genetic and environmental factors. that have not considered genetic susceptibility are estimating an average risk of asthma across all genotypes in the population which may not be relevant for a particular sub-group.
Genetic Epidemiology Of Chronic Respiratory Diseases From Childhood To Adulthood: A Prospective Study Of Sibships
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$889,220.00
Summary
Chronic Respiratory Diseases (CRDs) are a major public health problem. It is known that CRDs change over time but we have no information on causes of these changes. Some childhood asthmatics continue to have asthma as adults and-or develop Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) while others are free of any adult CRD. Some of those who do not have childhood asthma develop asthma and-or COPD as adults while the others remain free of CRDs from childhood to adulthood. To investigate risk facto ....Chronic Respiratory Diseases (CRDs) are a major public health problem. It is known that CRDs change over time but we have no information on causes of these changes. Some childhood asthmatics continue to have asthma as adults and-or develop Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) while others are free of any adult CRD. Some of those who do not have childhood asthma develop asthma and-or COPD as adults while the others remain free of CRDs from childhood to adulthood. To investigate risk factors for these changes, following up siblings over time is a powerful tool. As siblings share the childhood environment but not the adult environment, it helps to disentangle childhood environment, adult environment and genetic factors. The Tasmanian Asthma Study (TAS) is amongst worlds' major longitudinal respiratory studies and it is unique because it was conceived as a family study, with all the family members and the family environment being surveyed. TAS commenced in 1968 by investigating 8,585 school children born in 1961 (referred to as probands), their parents (16,267) and siblings (21,044). By the end of 2006, we will have completed the 37-year follow-up of the TAS probands, which focuses on non-genetic risk factors for middle-age CRDs. This follow-up together with baseline data now provides a unique opportunity for conducting a sibling study, which can concurrently examine genes, childhood environment and adult environment for change in CRDs. Also, it will provide a platform for future studies to investigate the progression of CRDs in this family cohort. Therefore, we now seek funding to extend the current follow-up to include the siblings. This will be the world's only population-based respiratory sibling study that spans childhood to adulthood. This will provide information for preventing chronic respiratory morbidity and disability in the future, which will be original and significant not only in Australia but also internationally.Read moreRead less
Perinatal Exposure To Household And Environmental Toxins And The Risk Of Asthma And Allergic Disease Up To 25 Years
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$291,078.00
Summary
Perinatal exposure to household and environmental toxins may increase asthma and allergic disease risk. Adverse exposures in this critical developmental window may have a marked and prolonged effect on health. A birth cohort of high-allergy risk children will be used to investigate the effect of common chemical exposures on the risk of asthma and allergic disease up to 25 years. This evidence could be used to inform guidelines on common household chemical exposures
Do Exposures Before Conception Influence The Risk Of Asthma In Offspring?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$688,586.00
Summary
Asthma and poor lung function are major causes of public health issues. Emerging evidence suggests adverse exposures even before the conception of a child may cause these conditions. The proposed project is part of an international study across generations to identify these factors. This study will provide novel evidence to guide interventions and identify studies to advance this area further. These original findings will be of great importance both nationally and internationally.
Epidemiology Of Allergic Diseases And The Role Of Early Life Eczema
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$416,306.00
Summary
Eczema prevents our children from getting a healthy start to life, increases their risk of developing asthma and hay-fever, and we don’t know how to prevent this condition. Dr. Lowe will help identify causes and the outcomes of eczema and allergic diseases in early life, by using a number of important research projects. This research includes an intervention trial that aims to prevent the development of allergic disease and sensitisation, which Dr Lowe leads
Evaluation Of The Associations Between Childhood Asthma Hospitalisations, Outdoor Fungal Spores And Environmental Effect Modifiers.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$141,558.00
Summary
Asthma is a major cause of childhood hospital admission, impairs quality of life, contributes to high financial burdens on families and health system and can lead to chronic lung problems. Little is known about the combined effects of outdoor fungi, air pollutants and viruses in causing asthma exacerbations. This research aims to investigate the role of outdoor fungi in child asthma hospitalisations and how their role links with respiratory viral infections and changes in air quality.
Allergies and chronic respiratory diseases are major causes of illness and death in Australia. Worryingly there are still many gaps in knowledge on how best to prevent and manage these diseases. The proposed program will investigate these questions and provide evidence to guide health policy and clinical management. As this program is built on state-of the-art methods and technology, these original Australian findings will be of great importance internationally.
An Investigation Into The Relationship Between Physical Activity And Asthma In Children
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$36,174.00
Summary
It is important to understand whether physical activity can prevent asthma, or whether asthma prevents children from being physically active, as this will influence the decisions we make with regard to the management of both childhood asthma and childhood activity. This work uses data from two studies of Australian children to tease out which path is the most important path to target when trying to increase physical activity levels and improve the respiratory health of children and adolescents.