Skip to content
The Kids Research Institute Australia logo
Donate

Discover . Prevent . Cure .

Search

News & Events

Vertex grant to support research into treatment strategies for cystic fibrosis lung disease

Dr 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 milestone

In September 2024, the Western Australian Epithelial Research Program (WAERP) reached a significant milestone by recruiting its 400th participant.

News & Events

Kids Easy Breathing Study Kickstarts

The 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 action

Increased 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. 

Phage WA Artificial Intelligence Team

Our team uses AI to quickly analyse large amounts of genetic data to help discover alternate medications and improve existing treatments.

Research

Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand (TSANZ) position statement on chronic suppurative lung disease and bronchiectasis in children, adolescents and adults in Australia and New Zealand

This position statement, updated from the 2015 guidelines for managing Australian and New Zealand children/adolescents and adults with chronic suppurative lung disease (CSLD) and bronchiectasis, resulted from systematic literature searches by a multi-disciplinary team that included consumers.

Research

Ancestral SARS-CoV-2, but not Omicron, replicates less efficiently in primary pediatric nasal epithelial cells

Children 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

Evaluation of the implementation and clinical effects of an intervention to improve medical follow-up and health outcomes for Aboriginal children hospitalised with chest infections

Aboriginal children hospitalised with acute lower respiratory infections (ALRIs) are at-risk of developing bronchiectasis, which can progress from untreated protracted bacterial bronchitis, often evidenced by a chronic (>4 weeks) wet cough following discharge. We aimed to facilitate follow-up for Aboriginal children hospitalised with ALRIs to provide optimal management and improve their respiratory health outcomes.

Research

Novel intranasal phage-CaEDTA-ceftazidime/avibactam triple combination therapy demonstrates remarkable efficacy in treating Pseudomonas aeruginosa lung infection

Given the rise of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections, alternative treatments are needed. Anti-pseudomonal phage therapy shows promise, but its clinical application is limited due to the development of resistance and a lack of biofilm penetration. 

Research

Bacteriophage: A new therapeutic player to combat neutrophilic inflammation in chronic airway diseases

Persistent respiratory bacterial infections are a clinical burden in several chronic inflammatory airway diseases and are often associated with neutrophil infiltration into the lungs. Following recruitment, dysregulated neutrophil effector functions such as increased granule release and formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) result in damage to airway tissue, contributing to the progression of lung disease.