Genetic And Environmental Risk Factors On Lifetime Risk Of Obstructive Lung Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$351,414.00
Summary
Classification of lifetime phenotypes of obstructive lung disease allows investigation of the effect of environmental and genetic influences on specific phenotypes along with the interactions between them. Through improved phenotyping ,the currently inconsistent relationships between asthma and COPD and their associations with genetic and environmental factors may become clearer.
Regulation Of Inflammatory And Epithelial Responses In An Experimental Model Of Chronic Human Asthma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$164,061.00
Summary
This project examines how chronic inflammation and scarring develop in the walls of the airways in asthma. The particular role of allergic mechanisms and of specific types of cells that are involved in allergic inflammation will be tested, using a much-improved mouse model of asthma. In this experimental model, which was developed by the investigators, sensitised mice are chronically exposed to low concentrations of aerosolised egg white protein. The proposed studies will involve comparisons wit ....This project examines how chronic inflammation and scarring develop in the walls of the airways in asthma. The particular role of allergic mechanisms and of specific types of cells that are involved in allergic inflammation will be tested, using a much-improved mouse model of asthma. In this experimental model, which was developed by the investigators, sensitised mice are chronically exposed to low concentrations of aerosolised egg white protein. The proposed studies will involve comparisons with animals that are genetically deficient in their ability to produce certain inflammation-related molecules, as well as with mice treated with antibodies to block the action of other such molecules.Read moreRead less
Informing The Development Of A Model Of Care For Patients With End Stage COPD: What Are Their Needs And And They Being Met
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$49,425.00
Summary
Currently there is no specific model of care for people with end stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), despite growing evidence of the specific symptoms and issues of this patient group. Interviews with end stage COPD patients and their carers will be undertaken to explore the services currently being accessed, and how well patients’ needs are being met by these services. This project will conduct an audit of available services in South Australia and then examine how hospital, spec ....Currently there is no specific model of care for people with end stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), despite growing evidence of the specific symptoms and issues of this patient group. Interviews with end stage COPD patients and their carers will be undertaken to explore the services currently being accessed, and how well patients’ needs are being met by these services. This project will conduct an audit of available services in South Australia and then examine how hospital, specialist palliative care units and primary care services (including general practice) can interface to meet these identified patient and carer needs. The results from this study will be used to inform development of a distinct model (or models) of care that addresses the needs of patients with end stage COPD.Read moreRead less
The Relationship Between Airborne Particle Exposure, Incident Respiratory Symptoms And Decline In Lung Function
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$315,497.00
Summary
Air pollution has been consistently identified as the environmental health problem of greatest concern to the general public in Australia. Yet hard evidence of adverse health effects from air pollution in Australian cities and towns is limited to date. It has been estimated that high levels of particles in urban air could be responsible for as many as 2,400 deaths nationally, costing approximately $4,300 million each year. This study will follow two groups of young Melbourne adults recruited som ....Air pollution has been consistently identified as the environmental health problem of greatest concern to the general public in Australia. Yet hard evidence of adverse health effects from air pollution in Australian cities and towns is limited to date. It has been estimated that high levels of particles in urban air could be responsible for as many as 2,400 deaths nationally, costing approximately $4,300 million each year. This study will follow two groups of young Melbourne adults recruited some years ago for studies of respiratory health. They will be a sent a questionnaire by mail and invited back to our laboratory for breathing tests. We will obtain routinely collected air quality data and measure fine particles < 2.5 thousandths of a mm in outdoor air. A subgroup of 100 subjects will also participate in some measurements of indoor air pollution. The analysis will look for relationships between particles in the air, new symptoms and changes in lung function over time. Comparisons will also made with other centres doing a very similar study in Europe. Reviews commissioned by the National Environment Protection Council have highlighted the lack of Australian data to assist in setting standards for particulate air pollution. The proposed study would provide some of the necessary local data and assist in the development of new health based environmental protection measures for fine particles. Once these measures have been implemented, we would expect to see an improvement in the respiratory health of the Australian population.Read moreRead less
Understanding Corticosteroid-sensitive And -insensitive Pathways In Airway Remodelling
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$299,270.00
Summary
Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are chronic disorders of the airways affecting millions of people worldwide. Airways become remodelled, or thickened, resulting in airway obstruction and decline in lung function. Approximately 400 asthmatics and 6000 COPD sufferers die in Australia each year. Worryingly, COPD is currently the fourth highest cause of death in Australia and this number is predicted to increase in the future. Unfortunately, the drugs currently available for c ....Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are chronic disorders of the airways affecting millions of people worldwide. Airways become remodelled, or thickened, resulting in airway obstruction and decline in lung function. Approximately 400 asthmatics and 6000 COPD sufferers die in Australia each year. Worryingly, COPD is currently the fourth highest cause of death in Australia and this number is predicted to increase in the future. Unfortunately, the drugs currently available for combating these diseases have limited success. We need to understand how to control airway remodelling to be able to improve treatments for asthma and COPD. But first we require a greater understanding of the molecular mechanism-s underlying the development of airway remodelling. With this proposal we will increase our knowledge of the mechanistic basis of asthma and COPD and may elucidate novel therapeutic targets for future pharmacological intervention.Read moreRead less
The Role Of The Alveolar Macrophage In The Regulation Of Inflammation And Matrix Destruction In COPD
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$397,420.00
Summary
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major public health problem world-wide. COPD is a common disease and a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. The prevalence, morbidity and mortality of COPD are increasing in many westernized countries. Chronic cigarette smoking is the main cause of COPD, and the demographics of COPD reflect the demographics of cigarette smoking. Globally, 47% of men and 12% of women smoke, but only 15% of smokers will develop COPD. Cells within the lung call ....Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major public health problem world-wide. COPD is a common disease and a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. The prevalence, morbidity and mortality of COPD are increasing in many westernized countries. Chronic cigarette smoking is the main cause of COPD, and the demographics of COPD reflect the demographics of cigarette smoking. Globally, 47% of men and 12% of women smoke, but only 15% of smokers will develop COPD. Cells within the lung called alveolar macrophage produce substances called proteins called cytokines and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) which may be important in the development of emphysema or COPD. In COPD, these patients have an inflammatory and destructive process in their lungs, which leads to a progressive loss of breathing capacity, and ultimately death. There have been significant improvements in the treatment of asthma over the last 30 years. Effective new drugs such as selective and long-acting bronchodilators, more effective inhaled corticosteroids, and improved delivery systems have been introduced. Arguably inhaled steroids may be the single most important treatment in preventing the symptoms and exacerbations of asthma and although useful in asthma, the benefits of inhaled steroids in COPD has not yet been established, but inhaled steroids are still used in the treatment of COPD despite the paucity of evidence for its usefulness in patients with COPD. This treatment is expensive and may also produce side-effects. We would like to investigate the effect of inhaled steroids on several inflammatory and destructive processes in patients with COPD. These studies will form the basis of a more rational approach in the management of COPD. Improved understanding of the molecular mechanisms that underlie COPD could lead to improved treatments for this disease which is set to be the third most important cause of death in 2010.Read moreRead less