新浪彩票

A new precision treatment approach which could improve the lives of people with severe sinusitis and asthma is one of five University of 新浪彩票 health projects to secure a share of more than $5.7 million in funding from the Federal Government鈥檚 Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF).

Led by Associate Professor Harshita Pant, this clinical trial was awarded more than $1.8 million over five years through the MRFF鈥檚 Chronic Respiratory Conditions grant and will look at reducing steroid and antibiotic use in patients with severe chronic disease, which happens when the sinuses and lungs become inflamed.

鈥淢any Australians suffer from poorly controlled chronic sinusitis, which impacts greatly on quality of life. This is often associated with brittle asthma, which can become life-threatening,鈥� said Associate Professor Pant, who is an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) surgeon at the University鈥檚 新浪彩票 Medical School.

鈥淓very sinusitis and asthma sufferer鈥檚 immunological environment is unique. To date, only broad-based treatments have been available that are inherently non-specific and only partially effective. Unfortunately, this often entails excessive use of steroids and antibiotics, which carry potentially harmful side-effects.鈥�
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"Our new immunological approach, which involves using cutting-edge technology to analyse sinus tissues, is designed to identify disease-causing immune cells to tailor specific therapies to individuals, thereby improving patient outcomes and minimising side effects.鈥� Associate Professor Harshita Pant, 新浪彩票 Medical School, University of 新浪彩票.

鈥淧recision treatment allied to immunotherapy is the future of medicine and is now within our reach. Our new immunological approach, which involves using cutting-edge technology to analyse sinus tissues, is designed to identify disease-causing immune cells to tailor specific therapies to individuals, thereby improving patient outcomes and minimising side effects,鈥� she said.

Other University of 新浪彩票 projects to receive funding include:

• Professor Toby Coates AO, a transplant specialist from the University of 新浪彩票鈥檚 Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences and the Royal 新浪彩票 Hospital, has received more than $1.3 million over four years to see whether an existing medication called rapamycin can be repurposed to improve the effectiveness of vaccinations in older people and transplant patients. The grant was through the MRFF鈥檚 Clinician Researchers: Applied Research in Health program.
• Associate Professor Lee-anne Chapple, a Research Fellow at the 新浪彩票 Medical School and clinical dietitian at the Royal 新浪彩票 Hospital, is looking at nutritional interventions that could help improve the recovery for critically ill patients. The project has been awarded more than $1.1 million over four years through the MRFF鈥檚 Clinician Researchers: Applied Research in Health program.
• Dr Patrick Asare, a lung disease expert at the University of 新浪彩票, has secured $990,064 over two years through the MRFF鈥檚 Early to Mid-Career Researchers Initiative Grant to investigate if zinc supplements can prevent recurrent respiratory infections in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
• Dr Hannah Wardill, a Hospital Research Foundation Fellow and lead of the Supportive Oncology Research Group in the School of Biomedicine, has been awarded $464,131 over three years through the 2023 Consumer-Led Research scheme for the MyWELL study. The study will develop and test a new mental wellbeing program for people living with myeloma, an incurable blood cancer, and its precancerous form, smouldering myeloma. The team鈥檚 goal is to help people live well with these diseases.