A research project aiming to develop a blood test for early detection of silicosis has been boosted by a 3-year fellowship from Dust Diseases Care (DDC).
Dr Maggie Lam will conduct the project in the Viral Immunity and Immunopathology Research group within Hudson Institute of Medical Research’s Centre for Innate Immunity and Infectious Diseases (CiiiD).
The project titled “Harnessing neutrophils as biomarkers for the early detection of silicosis” will be conducted under the supervision of Professor Michelle Tate.
Sharp rise in silicosis cases calls for early detection test
Dr Lam said the $240,000 Post-Doctoral Fellowship comes at an important time, when Australia has seen a sharp rise in silicosis cases over the past decade, particularly among workers involved in cutting and installing engineered stone benchtops.
“This research aims to support the development of a simple blood-based test to enable earlier diagnosis, reduce disease burden, and improve outcomes for Australian workers and their families,” Dr Lam said.
“This fellowship will help me better understand how dust exposure causes lung disease and identify new ways to detect silicosis earlier.”
“I hope this research will ultimately lead to better health outcomes and improved quality of life for workers and families affected by dust diseases.”
