Asthma Foundation NSW Research Program

The Asthma Foundation NSW Research Program has been in existence since 1964 when the Foundation funded Australia’s first ever asthma research project.  Since inception Asthma Foundation NSW has contributed over $7 million towards asthma research. 

Asthma Foundation NSW is committed to improving asthma management through supporting research and providing community education. 

Today as a result of new knowledge and improved asthma management, asthma related deaths in Australia have fallen from 736 in 1989 to 318 deaths in 2005.  Whilst the number of deaths has fallen dramatically, further research is essential to realise our vision of a community free of asthma.

Over the past 44 years asthma research supported by Asthma Foundation NSW has contributed significantly to fitting the pieces which help to build the asthma knowledge puzzle.

Over 1200 papers have been published in the area of asthma and allergy by researchers who at one stage in their career were funded by Asthma Foundation NSW.  This research has helped shape our knowledge in areas such as:

• What causes asthma?
• What are the risk factors in the development of asthma?
• Why do asthmatic airways react to certain stimuli?
• What are the stimuli that cause asthmatic airways to react?
• Why do some communities have a greater incidence of asthma than others?
• What treatments can be used to relieve an asthma attack?
• What medications can be used to prevent asthma symptoms? and
• How can exercise induced asthma be avoided?

The Asthma Foundation NSW Research Program today extends beyond pure research funding.  Asthma Foundation NSW aims to actively support the asthma research community by promoting research and communicating research outcomes to the wider community.

Key elements of the 2008 Research Program include:

• $260,000 supporting five research grants and four post graduate scholarships
• Supporting events such as the recent ‘Young Investigators Forum’, encouraging young researchers to participate in consumer organisations and facilitating sharing new knowledge
• Using the Australian Asthma Conference 2008 – “Advancing Asthma Where?”.  To bring together asthma consumers, health professionals and researchers to discuss the future of asthma research
• Publicising new research findings through Asthma Foundation NSW’ on line publication - onAIR
• Drawing on our ongoing relationships with the research community to revise consumer materials about asthma to reflect best management practice
• Promoting research through advertising and encouraging participation in research projects, and advocacy to State and Federal Governments
• Conducting consumer research to better understand the needs of the person with asthma
• Helping to develop a national research program to support research excellence across the entire country

To find out more about any of these initiatives please contact the Asthma Foundation on 1800 645 130