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What is asthma?
People with asthma have sensitive or hyperactive airways (bronchial tubes) which narrow in response to environmental factors like allergens or air pollution. This reduces the airflow in and out of the lungs and leads to the characteristic wheezing and cough.
Read about asthma
Key Statistics
2.7 million
2.7 million Australians (one-in-nine) live with asthma
14%
Asthma affects up to 14% of children
$1.2 billion
Amount spent on asthma-related medical costs in 2015 in Australia
Asthma research at Garvan
We study the mechanisms of allergic inflammation, and the various cells and molecules (like cytokines) involved. In collaboration with researchers at the Centre for Applied Medical Research of St Vincent’s Hospital, we’re investigating the role of IgE, cytokines and lymphocytes in nasal allergy.
Our asthma research