Respiratory disorders are common in the Australian community. One common disorder is asthma, which affects around 10% of the population. Another common disorder is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which affects between 10-20% of people over the age of 40 – around 2.1 million Australians at any one time. Lung cancer is the fourth most commonly diagnosed cancer and the most common cause of cancer-related death in both men and women.
Other conditions that IBAS is actively involved in researching include fibrotic lung diseases, such as pulmonary fibrosis, mesothelioma and bronchiectasis.
All respiratory disorders have a range of negative health outcomes for those affected. Given how essential breathing is to everything we do, the specific symptoms of the condition can be both debilitating and frightening. The ongoing effects of a respiratory illness can lead to frequent hospitalisations and affects people’s ability to work and enjoy their lives.
Respiratory diseases burden people experiencing the disease as well as their family, friends and carers. In addition, respiratory disease places a financial burden on the Australian community. These costs include health and hospital costs as well as lost productivity.
Since the Institute was established in 2000, our team has led successful research in a number of key areas including:
IBAS also runs clinical trials that are sponsored by pharmaceutical companies – these trials can provide individuals with access to new treatments as well as benefitting society by advancing our knowledge of treatments.
Respiratory Research
Respiratory research focuses on conditions including asthma, bronchiectasis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung cancer and the treatment of dyspnoea caused by a range of conditions.
To see current IBAS respiratory projects, click here.
As breathing and sleep disorders often overlap, our research into breathing and sleep disorders are interlinked. To find out more about our sleep research, click here.
More information on respiratory disorders can be found at the following websites:
If you have concerns about yours or someone else’s breathing, please either:
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HONORING EXCELLENCE IN RESEARCH
Congratulations to Prof. Anne Holland and A/Prof. Narelle Cox for being featured in the NHMRC's 10 of the Best - 16th Edition. Their work exemplifies groundbreaking research delivering extraordinary outcomes.
Grants Success: The Institute for Breathing and Sleep (IBAS) has received two research grants from the Austin Medical Research Foundation (AMRF) for 2025. Congratulations to Dr Charissa Zaga and Dr Catherine Hill from IBAS.
Congratulations to Professor David Berlowitz, Dr Marnie Graco, and Dr Nicole Sheers who were recognised by Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Australia at a Parliament House event sponsored by the Parliamentary Friends of MND in Canberra last week.
WORLD SLEEP DAY ON 15TH MARCH 2024
The benefits of quality sleep and to acknowledge the issue of sleep problems and their medical, educational, and social aspects as well as the prevention and management of sleep disorders, is promoted on World Sleep Day on the 15th March 2024.
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