Centre of Clinical Research Excellence - Pulmonary and Environmental Medicine

Principal Investigator: Professor Bruce Robinson
Institution: The University of Western Australia
Email: bwsrobin@cyllene.uwa.edu.au
Phone: +61 8 9346 2098

This Centre studies inhalational lung diseases, that is, diseases caused by substances such as asbestos, cigarette smoke, air pollutants and allergens. Such diseases include mesothelioma, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer. Australia has one of the highest international incidences of at least two of these diseases: asbestos-induced and allergen-induced lung diseases. These two diseases alone are estimated to cost the Australian economy over $100 million year and $1 billion respectively in direct health costs, loss of productivity and compensation.

COPD is the fourth leading cause of death in males in Australia, and conservatively costs the economy over one billion dollars per year, as well as being the leading cause of disability in the elderly. It is predicted that COPD will be the fourth most common disease worldwide by 2020. This area of study is thus important for Australia and internationally, and any advances will deliver major economic and health benefits.

The Centre's research programme focuses on:

• The role of blood and sputum tests in the diagnosis, monitoring, screening and management of lung diseases caused by asbestos, cigarette smoke, air pollutants and allergens;
• The application of modern DNA 'gene chip' methods to study the pathogenesis of these diseases and help us to identify new treatment targets. This will also be used to guide genetic searches for polymorphisms, spliced variants and DNA modification (epigenetics) in COPD and lung cancer;
• The use of genetic studies of sensitivity to air pollution to define at risk patients;
• The evaluation of how the method of cell death that occurs during some therapies, such as cancer and allergy/asthma, might alter how the body responds. This could help in the development of novel therapeutic strategies for these diseases.

The Centre's research program should lead to new tests and treatments for these debilitating and deadly diseases. At the same time the Centre will promote the training of a new generation of young researchers in this field, ensuring that the work continues long term.

As part of this effort, and in collaboration with the Australian-Asian Asbestos Research Cooperative, a fellowship will be offered to train an emerging researcher from the Asian region. Details will be announced at the Asian Asbestos Conference to be held in Hong Kong at the end of April 2009.