The Epidemiology of Middle-Age Lung Health: A Tasmanian Prospective Study from Childhood to Adulthood (1968-2010) ($70,000) – Dr James Markos
This ethically approved Tasmanian lung health study has the potential to make many ground-breaking discoveries with a relatively small investment because of the vast amount of data that has been collected over the last 40 years. We aim to understand how various early life risk factors contribute to middle-age lung health in Northern Tasmanian participants and subsequent risk of chronic respiratory diseases. This will produce a greater understanding of the aetiology of such diseases, assist in the earlier diagnosis of such diseases and will assist in identifying new preventative interventions. Findings of this Tasmanian study will be original and significant internationally.
Our prospective Tasmanian cohort study is recognised as one of the world’s key resources in respiratory research. We are often invited to present our findings in plenary sessions at international scientific meetings and publish widely in highly prestigious journals. We are also strategically placed to develop clinical practice guidelines and information papers for health professionals. We can therefore ensure that the knowledge generated by this Tasmanian study will be transferred effectively to clinical practice and to the wider research community.
Our research team (predominately based in Tasmania) is a multidisciplinary cohesive unit with vast expertise in the epidemiological studies and an initial analysis of our most recently completed broad laboratory study (which was funded by the Clifford Craig Medical Research Trust for both southern and northern regions of Tasmania) is now commencing and will be of landmark importance. The proposed study will be based only in northern Tasmania and will allow future follow-up studies to carry out advanced physiological and airway inflammatory assessments. Independent economic analyses have also indicated that our proposed study is highly feasible.
Tasmania's Clifford Craig Medical Research Trust was established in 1991.