Search for asthma gene gets serious down under

The largest ever Australian study looking into the genetic causes of asthma is about to get under way.

Queensland Institute of Medical Research (QIMR) geneticist Dr Manuel Ferreira is heading up the Australian Asthma Genetics Consortium, which has assembled a group of the country’s leading asthma genetics experts with the hope of finally solving the puzzle.

“We know some people are genetically more likely to develop asthma than others,” Dr Ferreira said.

“However we know little about how genes cause asthma – but we hope to change that.”

Current research indicates that asthma is influenced by myriad genetic changes which are of little consequence on their own.

“However when many of these changes are present in the same person, it may lead to the development of asthma,” Dr Ferreira said. “We now have the technology to search for these tiny genetic changes.”

The AAGC reports that around 10 percent of all Australians suffer from some form of asthma, with the condition responsible for around 36,000 hospital admissions each year, and around 400 deaths. Asthma is also thought to cost Australia about 1 million work days every year.

The AAGC will search the DNA of over 5,000 people (with and without asthma) and will apply the latest research techniquese to try and identify those genes which increase the risk of developing the illness.

“Ultimately we hope this research can help us more accurately identify those at higher risk and develop improved treatments that will allow asthma sufferers to live normal lives,” Dr Ferreira said.

The study is funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council and involves researchers from the Queensland Institute of Medical Research (QIMR), The University of Queensland, University of Melbourne, Monash University, University of Western Australia, Woolcock Institute and the Melbourne Royal Children's Hospital.

The researchers are looking to hear from anyone over the age of 18 who has a medical diagnosis of asthma to contact them on 1800 257 179 during business hours or visit www.asthma.qimr.edu.au.