Asthma Foundation NSW - Research > 2010 Research Program

Since it funded Australia’s first ever Asthma Research Project in 1964, Asthma Foundation NSW has continued to invest in the development of new knowledge about asthma through its research activities.
Over $7 million has been contributed to funding a wide range of activity, making the Foundation Australia’s largest independent funder of asthma research.
Research remains central to our purpose of supporting people living with asthma today and freeing the community from asthma tomorrow.
Even in these difficult financial times, the Board of Asthma Foundation NSW has demonstrated its continuing commitment to research by allocating over $300,000 to fund our program in 2010.

A Renewed Focus

The Foundation is renewing itself, and has overhauled its research program as one of its key activities. Exciting changes to our Program for 2010 are driven by:

1. A new Strategic Plan for 2009 to 2011, which seeks a research program that addresses consumer and social, as well as scientific, factors.

2. Our work to align our research program nationally with those of other Asthma Foundations engaged in the research effort.

3. An opportunity created by our volunteers in Khancoban to establish a new travel grant.

The Foundation’s Research Advisory Committee has proposed a significantly changed program for 2010, featuring:

- Innovation Grants

- New Investigator Grants

- Asthma Research PhD Scholarships

- The Khancoban Travel Grant

The processes and timing of applications are also changing, as are the means to assess the program grants. Both sets of actions will bring us into better alignment with other Asthma Foundations working in this area.
Asthma Foundation NSW is also recruiting a new staff member with responsibility to lead, develop and promote our asthma research program.

For the future, we see an ever stronger alignment of our activities with other Asthma Foundation’s; we aim to play a role developing priorities for asthma and respiratory research in Australia; and plan to generate more resources and commitment for our future research activities.
We want our research program to reflect our values – knowledgeable and trustworthy, passionate and creative.