Asthma

Voice Problems in Asthma
(Dr Anne Vertigan)

A new project which will focus on voice problems in asthma is currently undergoing ethics review. The aim of this project is to identify voice changes people with difficult to manage asthma and to determine the prevalence of Paradoxical Vocal Fold Movement in this population.

Triggers and Treatment of Non-eosinophilic Asthma
(Dr Jodie Simpson)

This is a two phase pilot study being conducted in 2008 and 2009. The aim of phase 1 is to examine cough and reflux as a possible trigger of non-eosinophilic asthma. The second phase will explore the effect of inhaled corticosteroid treatment on inflammatory subtype in asthma by reducing patients’ anti-inflammatory treatment according to asthma guidelines.

Childhood Asthma Prevention Study
(Professor Guy Marks)

The Childhood Asthma Prevention Study (CAPS) is a randomised control trial designed to test the effectiveness of a house dust mite reduction intervention and a diet intervention involving supplementing a child’s diet with omega 3 fatty acids, both separately and in combination, on the presence of asthma and allergic diseases. Results to-date suggest that neither house dust mite avoidance nor omega-3 fatty acid supplementation had a beneficial effect in reducing the risk that children will develop asthma or allergy in the first eight years. The researchers are currently undertaking further clinical assessments on the cohort at ages 11 ½ and 14 years to assess the effect of puberty on transitions in asthma.

Asthma in the Elderly
(Dr Jodie Simpson / Professor Peter Gibson)

This project will characterise clinical and inflammatory features of older subjects with airway disease. We are specifically investigating sputum inflammatory phenotype, eNO levels and bacterial colonisation in this group. A characterisation study is also underway, to examine patient preferences with a range of available techniques to assess airway parameters (FENO, Sputum, DLCO, Blood collection) in order to inform which non-invasive techniques are preferred by the elderly.

There is potential for this work to overlap with the research translation component of the CCRE in the area of multidisciplinary demonstration clinics. For example, the work being conducted to develop a decision tool for guiding therapy for obstructive airway disease in the elderly could be expended to incorporate non-invasive markers, and the planned randomised controlled trials (RCTs) in these respective areas combined.