Murdoch Children's Research Institute's (MCRI) Dr Rhiannon Werder has received a grant to examine the immune systems of patients with genetic chronic lung disease.
Image: Dr Rhiannon Werder
Dr Werder has been awarded a $375,000 Carty Signature Grant from the L.E.W. Carty Charitable Fund. Her study will use stem cells to explore how serious bacterial infections impact healthy individuals, compared to those with cystic fibrosis (CF) or alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD).
CF is a genetic disorder that affects 1 in every 2,500 babies in Australia. It impacts the cells that produce mucous, making this fluid thick and lowering overall lung function.
AATD is a condition where the body does not produce enough of a particular protein that helps to protect the lungs, resulting in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).
Dr Werder said her team would use human stem cells in the lab to grow lung cells and model disease. These cells would then be infected with various types of bacteria.
"Serious bacterial infections can be fatal for people who have CF and AATD," she said. "It's critical that we look at how their immune system is impacted and how we can work to better bolster it.
"This research will examine the early infection process in both healthy individuals and those with chronic lung conditions, hopefully leading to new treatments for these serious preexisting lung diseases."
Dr Werder said she would also try to determine whether existing immune therapies and anti-inflammatories could be effective.
"Antibiotic resistance is a growing issue and something we are mindful of in this research," she said.
"We have seen recent success in using existing therapies to treat COVID-19-based pneumonia and we want to drive similar innovations in the bacterial lung infection space."
