The Queensland Lung Transplant Service Research Centre is an internationally renowned research group that innovates to progress the current scientific understanding of the biology of lung diseases and conduct first-in-human trials to pioneer new therapies and bridge the ‘bench-to-bedside’ gap.
The group’s research to reduce the impact of post-lung transplant diseases and lung failure is critical. In 2022, there were more than 24 members of this research group conducting more than eight trials and studies.
Queensland Lung Transplant Service Research Centre’s Ground-breaking Research
The centre’s work advances the number of treatment options available for patients, increases the success of lung transplant procedures and ensures positive long-term outcomes for transplant recipients so they can maintain quality of life into the future.
Group members have been responsible for numerous world-first studies, along with research into post-lung transplant rejection.
Current projects include a focus on treatments and personalised medicine for lung disease. For example, ongoing research to develop new treatments for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) targets telomere maintenance and repair.
The centre also has active programs identifying biomarkers associated with transplant rejection and drug discovery looking at new treatments for pulmonary fibrosis. Its lung fibrosis and lung transplantation clinical trial centre is one of the largest in the world.
A few Highlights for the Centre in 2022
In 2022, the centre had multiple clinical trials underway, including a multi-site trial to treat chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD) with stem cells (ASSIST CLAD) – the world’s largest ever study of stem cell therapy for lung disease.
During the year, the centre’s multi-site trial to develop new treatments for patients with Silicosis (SHIELD), received widespread media attention. Supported by seed funding from the TPCH Foundation, it has conducted a world-first program of whole lung lavage for silicosis as part of this study.
New Collaborations for the Queensland Lung Transplant Service Research Centre
A new collaboration has been established with Pathology QLD to develop new treatments for antibody-mediated rejection.
Other new collaborations include The Centre of Research Excellence for Interstitial Lung Disease – towards Individualised Care; which has been funded by the NHMRC for five years from 2022.
