Focus on asthma and respiratory disorders

EMBARGOED UNTIL THURSDAY 7 JUNE 2007

Focus on asthma and respiratory disorders for Wellington health researchers

Common respiratory disorders in New Zealand, such as asthma, will be the focus of new Wellington based research following the announcement of the latest Health Research Council of New Zealand (HRC) annual funding round.

The HRC is the principal Government agency responsible for funding health research in New Zealand.

Professor Richard Beasley from the Medical Research Institute of New Zealand will follow up on a promising therapeutic approach to treating asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD).

The research team will investigate the role of magnesium sulphate in the treatment of these disorders, particularly in severe cases of asthma and COPD (which includes conditions such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis). Both disorders are associated with substantial morbidity and mortality in New Zealand.

The incidence and severity of asthma in New Zealand is higher in Māori than non-Māori. Ms Bernadette Jones from the University of Otago’s Wellington School of Medicine and Health Sciences will seek to address these disparities by finding out what parents know about their child’s asthma management and what difficulties and experiences they have had.

Ms Jones will use this information to develop culturally appropriate intervention strategies to improve asthma management in Māori children.

Dr Robin Olds, HRC Chief Executive, says this year’s funding round was very competitive and the successful research teams showed the potential to conduct world-class research.

“The HRC is pleased to be able to support high quality research that will produce local solutions for significant New Zealand health issues,” he says.

Funding in the Wellington region has also been allocated to projects investigating policymaking to reduce smoking around children, treatment of tuberculosis and sleep during pregnancy and postpartum.

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