Rheumatoid arthritis medication could also be effective for asthma sufferers, according to Dr Manuel Ferreira of the Queensland Institute of Medical Research.
Dr Manuel Ferreira is the winner of the Australian Academy of Science’s 2012 Ruth Stephens Gani Medal for distinguished research in human genetics.
Dr Manuel Ferreira established the Australian Asthma Genetics Consortium, which recently carried out the largest asthma genetics study in Australia, identifying the interleukin-6 receptor gene as playing an important role in asthma.
Interleukin-6 is a signalling molecule that plays an important role in the immune system and inflammation and is involved in many diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis.
“As this gene is already a target for drugs that treat rheumatoid arthritis, we are embarking on a three-year trial to see whether the rheumatoid arthritis drug is also effective on asthma patients,” said Dr Ferreira.
“The trial is commencing in June 2012 and will hopefully offer more treatment options for asthma sufferers.”
Dr Manuel Ferreira will present his work at the Shine Dome in Canberra on Thursday 3 May at 11.30 am, as part of the Australian Academy of Science’s annual Science at the Shine Dome.
© 2024 Australian Academy of Science
