National grant towards improving the lives of people living with chronic lung conditions

Congratulations to reNEW Melbourne Associate Investigator Dr Rhiannon Weder on receiving significant funding from the MRFF to improve support for children and adults living with chronic lung conditions.

Dr Rhiannon Werder has been awarded an AUD$986,000 (EUR 574,000) Chronic Respiratory Conditions Grant by the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF). Her research will investigate why children with preschool wheeze and adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) often experience severe health setbacks when they contract common respiratory viruses.

Viral infections are known to damage lung tissue and are the primary cause of death among people with chronic respiratory illnesses.
Dr Werder said the Australian Federal Government funding would allow her team to push beyond current approaches and speed up the development of new treatments.

“Despite decades of research, there have been no breakthroughs in treating the specific impacts of viral infections on chronic lung conditions,” she said.
“By examining lung stem cells, grown in the lab using a patient’s own tissue, we can better understand why some many experiences significant worsening of symptoms following a viral infection and if this can be prevented.”

Dr Werder said the project’s insights could pave the way for future therapies and ultimately improve the lives of people affected by chronic respiratory disease.
The study will be carried out in collaboration with researchers from the University of Melbourne and the University of Western Australia.