Developmental aspects of respiratory inflammation, allergy and asthma

哮喘是发生在生命早期的遗传易感性和环境暴露之间的一系列复杂的相互作用。虽然许多儿童长大后哮喘已经痊愈，但另一些儿童却没有，而是发展为这种疾病的慢性形式，并持续到成年。我们的研究包括了解为什么一些易感儿童会患上哮喘，为什么有些会变成慢性哮喘。我们将对儿童进行研究，以找出这种情况是如何发生的以及为什么会发生。我们研究的一个主要部分是对出生前招募的儿童进行纵向研究。拥有研究儿童成长和发展状况的能力，如过敏和哮喘，使我们能够理解这些状况发生的原因，并使我们能够预测哪些儿童可能会发展成这些状况。我们的研究计划还将重点放在转化研究上，在这项研究中，我们将利用我们的基础科学研究成果来开发和测试预防和治疗哮喘的新方法。这些研究将包括预防过敏发展的新方法，预防早期严重病毒呼吸道感染对肺部造成的损害，以及通过改进免疫治疗技术来治疗已确定的过敏性哮喘的更好方法。从本质上讲，幼儿疾病的初级预防是有争议的，并提出了一些有趣的问题。作为该计划的一部分，我们打算在公共、学术、监管和行业圈子中发起咨询和辩论。我们计划的一个重要作用是将目前的重点从治疗既得性疾病转向预防疾病发生。这是减轻哮喘等慢性病造成的健康、社会和经济负担的最好办法。

Asthma develops as a complex series of interactions between genetic susceptibility and environmental exposures occurring in early life. While many children grow out of asthma others do not and develop the chronic form of the disease that persists into adult life. Our research involves understanding why some susceptible children develop asthma and why this becomes chronic in some. We will undertake studies in children to find out how and why this occurs. A major part of our studies involve longitudinal studies in cohorts of children recruited before birth. Having the ability to study children as they grow and develop conditions such as allergies and asthma allows us to understand why these conditions occur and allow us to predict which children are likely to develop them. Our research Program also has a solid focus on Translational Research, in which we will use the findings from our basic science studies to develop and test new methods of preventing and of treating asthma. These studies will include new methods for preventing the development of allergies, preventing the damage done to the lungs by severe viral respiratory infections in early life and better methods of treating established allergic asthma by improving immunotherapy techniques. By its very nature, primary prevention of disease in young children is controversial and raises some interesting questions. As part of this Program we intend to initiate consultation and debate in public, academic, regulatory and industry circles. An important role for our Program is shifting the current emphasis away from treatment of established disease towards preventing disease occurring. This is the best way to decrease the health, social and economic burden of chronic diseases such as asthma.