Identifying new therapeutic targets for preventing the induction and progression of COPD

吸烟会导致肺部炎症，导致肺气肿，这是澳大利亚的一个主要健康问题。一旦诱发，健康状况就会逐渐下降，即使在戒烟后也会继续下降。没有治疗方法可以阻止这种下降。最近发现了控制炎症的小基因。我们也许能够控制这些小基因，阻止肺气肿的诱发和发展。这个项目可能会导致一个全新的方法来预防和治疗肺气肿。

Smoking leads to lung inflammation that causes emphysema, which is a major health problem in Australia. Once induced there is a progressive decline in health, which continues even after stopping smoking. There are no treatments that halt this decline. Recently small genes have been discovered that control inflammation. We may be able to control these small genes and stop the induction and progression of emphysema. This project may lead to a completely new way of preventing and treating emphysema.