Asthma is an inflammatory disease of the airways that affects 235 million people worldwide (World Health Organisation). The disease is characterised by reversible airway narrowing, mucus hypersecretion and the pro-inflammatory response of cytokines and chemokines that results in the respiratory symptoms of wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath and tightness in the chest. This can have a detrimental effect upon quality life, leading to disability and in some cases death. Unfortunately, there is no cure for asthma and the treatments available to help manage the condition can lead to the user becoming tolerant and have several undesirable side effects. The care for individuals with asthma is also very costly. Accordingly, there is an urgent need to develop cheaper, more effective and less harmful treatments to manage and potentially cure asthma. Recent novel research suggests that nutritional interventions may represent a cost-saving, effective and safe method for reducing the incidence of asthmatic attacks. Several nutritional interventions have been shown to be effective at reducing a specific phenotype of asthma called exercise induced bronchoconstriction without any harmful side effects. This PhD will investigate further dietary interventions to reduce exercise induced bronchoconstriction and airway inflammation. The candidate will join a successful team of multi-disciplinary scientists from several institutions, and will work in state-of-the-art laboratories with exceptional core facilities.

Assoc Prof Dean Mills

• Centre for Health Sciences Research
• School of Health and Medical Sciences

• Biochemistry and Cell Biology
• Human Movement and Sports Science
• Immunology
• Medical Physiology
• Nutrition and Dietetics
• Physiology

• Doctor of Philosophy (DPHD)