Major asbestos research initiative

The Australian Governmen has devised a comprehensive national strategy plan for dealing with the tragedy. A new National Research Centre for Asbestos-Related Diseases would be established in Perth, Western Australia and that funding had been allocated for the pursuit of research into 11 medical, scientific, social and biological asbestos-related projects. The sum to be dispersed in this tranche of funding over the next decade, millions in additional funds will be provided to enable Australian researchers to study and ultimately combat the devastation caused by asbestos-related illnesses.

Research projects which have been approved for funding in 2006-2007 include work on the following:

• epidemiology and the consequences of asbestos exposure;
• development of serum markers for improved diagnosis, monitoring and screening for early detection of mesothelioma, asbestos cancer;
• study of genes present in asbestos-related disorders and the relationship to environmental exposure;
• the body's mechanisms to inhibit collagen production and thereby slow growth of malignant mesothelioma tumors;
• studying people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who were formerly exposed to asbestos and tobacco smoke.

Source - WA Press

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