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Vertex grant to support research into treatment strategies for cystic fibrosis lung diseaseDr Daniel Laucirica, a research officer with the Wal-yan Respiratory Research Centre, will undertake new research into potential treatment strategies to prevent lung damage in people with cystic fibrosis (CF), under the mentorship of Associate Professor Anthony Kicic - made possible by a Vertex Cyst
News & Events
Respiratory research program recruits 400th participant, marking key milestoneIn September 2024, the Western Australian Epithelial Research Program (WAERP) reached a significant milestone by recruiting its 400th participant.
News & Events
Kids Easy Breathing Study KickstartsThe Kids Easy Breathing Study kickstarts this month, with the aim of finding out how the airway surface is different between infants who develop chronic lung disease after contracting bronchiolitis compared with those who don’t.
News & Events
Study shows climate change will devastate children’s health without fast global actionIncreased numbers of preterm births, higher incidence of respiratory disease and death, and more children in hospitals are some of the stark health outcomes the world is facing from the impacts of extreme climate change.
Our team uses AI to quickly analyse large amounts of genetic data to help discover alternate medications and improve existing treatments.
Research
Ancestral SARS-CoV-2, but not Omicron, replicates less efficiently in primary pediatric nasal epithelial cellsChildren typically experience more mild symptoms of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) when compared to adults. There is a strong body of evidence that children are also less susceptible to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection with the ancestral viral isolate.
Research
Current understanding of the neutrophil transcriptome in health and diseaseNeutrophils are key cells of the innate immune system. It is now understood that this leukocyte population is diverse in both the basal composition and functional plasticity. Underlying this plasticity is a post-translational framework for rapidly achieving early activation states, but also a transcriptional capacity that is becoming increasingly recognized by immunologists.
Research
Recognition and Management of Protracted Bacterial Bronchitis in Australian Aboriginal Children: A Knowledge Translation ApproachChronic wet cough in children is the hallmark symptom of protracted bacterial bronchitis (PBB) and if left untreated can lead to bronchiectasis, which is prevalent in Indigenous populations. Underrecognition of chronic wet cough by parents and clinicians and underdiagnosis of PBB by clinicians are known.
Research
DNA Methylation signatures underpinning blood neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio during first week of human lifeUnderstanding of newborn immune ontogeny in the first week of life will enable age-appropriate strategies for safeguarding vulnerable newborns against infectious diseases. Here we conducted an observational study exploring the immunological profile of infants longitudinally throughout their first week of life.
Research
From Local to Systemic: The Journey of Tick Bite Biomarkers in Australian PatientsTick bites and tick-related diseases are on the rise. Diagnostic tests that identify well-characterised tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) possess limited capacity to address the causation of symptoms associated with poorly characterised tick-related illnesses, such as debilitating symptom complexes attributed to ticks (DSCATT) in Australia. Identification of local signals in tick-bitten skin that can be detected systemically in blood would have both clinical (diagnostic or prognostic) and research (mechanistic insight) utility, as a blood sample is more readily obtainable than tissue biopsies.