Optimising Asthma Management In Pregnancy For Optimal Infant Health
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$428,065.00
Summary
Asthma affects 12% of pregnant women in Australia. These women are at increased risk of poor pregnancy outcomes, such as preterm birth and hospitalisation of the neonate. Reducing asthma attacks by providing optimal asthma management during pregnancy may lower these risks. This research will test whether a strategy which determines treatment changes based on a marker of airway inflammation, improves outcomes for maternal, neonatal and child health.
Airway fibrosis or scaring causes significant morbidity in both chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma . These diseases affect 10-15% of the population, and cost the health system $1.15 billion per year. Airway fibrosis is not decreased by the current therapeutics used to treat COPD and asthma, and as such there is a pressing need to develop therapeutics to specifically treat airway fibrosis. Dr Brian Oliver has partnered with Pharmaxis to develop new therapeutics to specificall ....Airway fibrosis or scaring causes significant morbidity in both chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma . These diseases affect 10-15% of the population, and cost the health system $1.15 billion per year. Airway fibrosis is not decreased by the current therapeutics used to treat COPD and asthma, and as such there is a pressing need to develop therapeutics to specifically treat airway fibrosis. Dr Brian Oliver has partnered with Pharmaxis to develop new therapeutics to specifically treat fibrosisRead moreRead less
Immune Balance-regulating Interleukins As Targets For Immunotherapy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$473,477.00
Summary
The immune balance is crucial to human health. Interleukins are a group of proteins secreted by immune cells to mediate their communication. They tune up or down immune responses, thus as attractive targets for immunotherapy to restore the immune balance to treat autoimmune diseases, allergies and infections. This fellowship will support translational research to develop Interleukin-2 (IL-2) and IL-21-based novel immunotherapies for autoimmune disease, infection and allergy.
Developing The Epidemiological Evidence Base For Eczema Prevention
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$476,728.00
Summary
Eczema, food allergy, asthma and hay-fever are all common conditions that are a substantial burden for individuals and families. To prevent them, we need to know their causes, but these are not yet well understood. We need better studies to identify what is causing our children to develop these allergic diseases, and rigorous studies to prevent them. In this fellowship, I will explore the causes and consequences of these conditions and test ways to prevent children from developing them.
Disovery Of New Airway Epithelial Genes Regulating Allergic Inflammation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$446,934.00
Summary
Asthma is an inflammatory disease of the lungs that affects over 10% of all Australians. A number of drugs are currently available for the treatment of asthma, but there are many people whose asthma does not respond well to treatment. We have identified 2 genes, aP2 and mal1, that may be important in the development of asthma. Drugs targeted against these genes may be useful in the treatment of asthma. In this project, we aim to understand how aP2 and mal1 contribute to disease development.
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
Understanding The Mechanisms Underlying Airway Remodelling
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$451,716.00
Summary
Changes in the structure of the lung contribute to the development of disease, but are not responsive to our current therapies. I have found two key structural proteins that are altered in asthma. This research will characterise the regulation and role of these proteins in the disease process. In addition, it will determine if these proteins also contribute to the development of other serious fibrotic diseases, for which there are no current treatments.