Projects beginning in 2007

Burden of obstructive lung disease in Australia

1. To estimate the prevalence of COPD
2. To estimate the burden of COPD
3. Develop a model to predict the future burden of COPD
4. Characterise the clinical management of COPD

• Clin Assoc Prof Alan James, Department of Pulmonary Physiology, SCGH
• Assoc Prof Guy Marks, Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, NSW
• Prof Michael Abramson, The Alfred Hospital, VIC.

In progress

Chronic kidney disease, progression, morbidity and mortality

To investigate the impact of CKD on renal disease progression, including ESRD, cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.

• Dr Paolo Ferrari, Fremantle Hospital
• Dr Xiao Jianguo, Department of Health, WA Government
• Dr Ashley Irish, Royal Perth Hospital
• Prof Tim Davis, School of Medicine and Pharmacology, UWA

In progress

Wellcome Trust Case Control Consortium – Genome Wide Association Study of Asthma

1. To conduct a genome-wide association study to identify asthma susceptibility genes using cases and controls from several large studies.
2. To integrate with the Asthma in Europe GABRIEL project

• Clin Assoc Prof Alan James, Department of Pulmonary Physiology, SCGH
• Clin Assoc Prof John Beilby, Department of Biochemistry, Pathwest
• Dr Jennie Hui, WAIMR
• Prof Lyle Palmer, WAIMR
• Clin Prof Bill Musk, Department of Respiratory Medicine, SCGH
• Prof Bill Cookson, Imperial College London
• Dr Miriam Moffatt, Imperial College London
• Dr Mark Lathrop, Centre National de Genotypage, Canada
• Dr Erika von Mutius, University Childrens Hospital, Munich

In progress

Gene variants in adiponectin and its receptors as risk factors for metabolic and cardiovascular

1. To determine if circulating total adiponectin levels associate independently with insulin sensitivity, MetS components, Type 2 diabetes, and coronary heart disease.
2. To assess if variants of the adiponectin gene, ADIPOQ, can significantly affect the levels of circulating adiponectin both individually and in combination with obesity.
3. To examine the impact of genetic variants in ADIPOQ and its receptors on the risk of developing insulin resistance, MetS, type 2 diabetes, and coronary heart disease.
4. To determine if plasma adiponectin levels and ADIPOQ variants are prospectively associated with risk of major cardiovascular events.

• Prof Joseph Hung, Cardiovascular Medicine, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital
• Adj Prof John Beilby, PathWest
• Prof David Bruce, School of Medicine and Pharmacology, Fremantle Unit, UWA
• Dr Steven Wiltshire, WAIMR
• Dr Brenda Powell, WAIMR
• Prof Peter Thompson, Centre for Medical Research, UWA

In progress