How do our genes cause lung disease?

It is well known that genes play a very important role in the healthy development of our lungs, both in the womb and during childhood. If these genes become damaged or mutated this can result in a lung disease like cystic fibrosis or asthma and may contribute to a host of other lung diseases.

During this study, Dr Dean intends to identify new genes that play a part in lung disease (specifically asthma and pulmonary fibrosis) and to find out how these genes affect the lung as it grows and develops. This will shed more light on how our genes affect lung health in general and, more specifically, will point the way towards new treatments, such as ways to replace damaged genes with working ones, or drugs that alleviate the problems caused by these genetic faults.

Amount awarded: £117,009
Relevant disease area(s): Asthma, pulmonary fibrosis
Relevant age group(s): All