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The Western Australian Epithelial Research Program (WAERP) biobank is undertaking a number of research projects intended to improve the understanding and preclinical assessment of therapeutics for respiratory conditions.
Research
The potential of antisense oligonucleotide therapies for inherited childhood lung diseasesAntisense oligonucleotides are an emerging therapeutic option to treat diseases with known genetic origin. In the age of personalised medicines, antisense oligonucleotides can sometimes be designed to target and bypass or overcome a patient's genetic mutation, in particular those lesions that compromise normal pre-mRNA processing. Antisense oligonucleotides can alter gene expression through a variety of mechanisms as determined by the chemistry and antisense oligomer design.

News & Events
Top researchers recognised for respiratory researchTwo leading researchers from The Kids received significant endorsements to advance their research at last night’s Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand and the Australian and New Zealand Society of Respiratory Science (TSANZSRS) Annual Scientific Meeting in Adelaide.

News & Events
Cure4CF Grant a boost for innovative Cystic Fibrosis researchA $350,000 Cure4 Cystic Fibrosis grant is set to propel the Wal-yan Respiratory Research Centre’s Phage WA program forward, supercharging its fight against antimicrobial resistant (AMR) lung infections in people with Cystic Fibrosis (CF) using cutting-edge phage therapy.

News & Events
Respiratory researcher named joint winner of prestigious Premier’s Science AwardCongratulations to respiratory health researcher and clinician Dr Pam Laird, who was last night named joint winner of Early Career Scientist of the Year at the 2024 Premier’s Science Awards.

News & Events
Toxic, harmful chemicals found in popular Australian e-liquidsPerth researchers have found toxic and harmful chemicals in several dozen e-cigarette liquids readily available in Australia.
Research
Antenatal creatine supplementation reduces persistent fetal lung inflammation and oxidative stress in an ovine model of chorioamnionitisChorioamnionitis is a common antecedent of preterm birth and induces inflammation and oxidative stress in the fetal lungs. Reducing inflammation and oxidative stress in the fetal lungs may improve respiratory outcomes in preterm infants. Creatine is an organic acid with known anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
Research
Current and novel therapies for management of Acinetobacter baumannii-associated pneumoniaAcinetobacter baumannii is a common pathogen associated with hospital-acquired pneumonia showing increased resistance to carbapenem and colistin antibiotics nowadays. Infections with A. baumannii cause high patient fatalities due to their capability to evade current antimicrobial therapies, emphasizing the urgency of developing viable therapeutics to treat A. baumannii-associated pneumonia.
Research
Lung structural and functional impairments in young children with cystic fibrosis diagnosed following newborn screening – A nationwide observational studyNon-invasive and sensitive clinical endpoints are needed to monitor onset and progression of early lung disease in children with cystic fibrosis (CF). We compared lung clearance index (LCI), FEV1, functional and structural lung magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) outcomes in Swiss children with CF diagnosed following newborn screening.
Research
Erdosteine in children and adults with bronchiectasis (BETTER trial): study protocol for a multicentre, double-blind, randomised controlled trialBronchiectasis is a worldwide chronic lung disorder where exacerbations are common. It affects people of all ages, but especially Indigenous populations in high-income nations. Despite being a major contributor to chronic lung disease, there are no licensed therapies for bronchiectasis and there remain relatively few randomised controlled trials (RCTs) conducted in children and adults.