‘Thank you for asking’: patient-centred research helps drive change in lung disease treatment

Physiotherapist monitoring and providing guidance for at home patients.
Image: Dr Narelle Cox. See also Narelle describing the research: video

Monash University researchers are giving new hope to people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), with the COVID-19 pandemic prompting some of the first innovations in treatment models in 30 years.

See more:

• Faculty story
• First author, Dr Narelle Cox, describing the research (video 2:57 mins).

Managing patients with lung disease at home

On-line rehabilitation for home-based patients works well

One of the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic is the need to manage very sick people (non-COVID and COVID patients both) while they remain in home isolation. This is particularly important for people who suffer respiratory illness and can no longer attend hospitals for their regular appointments.

A program developed by Monash researcher, Professor Anne Holland, has seen a 20-fold increase in its use globally with a major spike in traffic to the site following promotion by the American Thoracic Society.

Australian universities join forces to tackle inflammatory lung disease

Professor Merlin Thomas, lead scientist

 in the RAGE Biotech consortium.

A new spin-out company, RAGE Biotech, will develop novel therapies designed to help patients with chronic inflammatory lung diseases such as severe asthma, cystic fibrosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), supported by investment from IP Group, Monash University (Monash) and The University of Western Australia (UWA).

Globally, COPD is the fourth leading cause of mortality and morbidity, with chronic inflammation being a key feature and driver of disease progression in COPD, cystic fibrosis and severe asthma.

RAGE Biotech is developing new approaches to modulate the receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE), an important target in chronic inflammation with links to COPD and cystic fibrosis.

Central Clinical School (CCS) funds 'Near Miss' grants

This year though there were many highly ranked grant applications for NHMRC funding, the overall percentage of applications funded was substantially down. CCS gave $150,000 for the two most highly ranked grant applications which missed out. Congratulations to the two 'Near Miss' grant recipients, A/Prof Margaret Hibbs and Prof Jenny Wilkinson-Berka.