Busselton breathes new life into lung research

• Busselton Health Study reveals genetic respiratory risk factors

• 'Lifetime health' message as research marks 50-year milestone

• Liberal National Government provides $400,000 support 

Liberal National Government funding of $400,000 over four years will help Busselton's internationally renowned population health study - celebrating its 50th anniversary this year - solve more mysteries about the health impact of genetics.

Visiting the study centre in Busselton today, Health Minister John Day highlighted the latest respiratory research results, which indicate people's basic lung function and how they react to environmental influences such as smoking and disease, are controlled by different genes.

"This type of research is exactly why the State Government supports this globally significant population health study," Mr Day said.

"Results like these promise to tease out the specific genes which determine how our lungs develop from conception, and others that control their reaction to outside influences in later life.

"These findings will help tailor future treatment in individual patients, by allowing doctors to use genetic tests to determine and minimise risks. The information could also prove vital for preventative medicine.

"The overwhelming message from this latest research is that promoting health is something we need to be mindful of throughout life, from the unborn child to old age."

Some of the Government funding will be used to recall and remeasure participants in the long-running Busselton Baby Boomer Study which is investigating the impact of multiple illnesses on physical and mental wellbeing.

"This project, which began as an initiative of local GP, the late Kevin Cullen, is one of the longest-running longitudinal studies in the world and has made an enormous contribution to international health and medical research," the Minister said.

"Since it began in 1966, it has attracted some of our leading researchers and more than 25,000 participants, with many of its initial cohort still involved in surveys today.

"That it began when Busselton was a still a holiday and retirement destination with a population of little more than 6,000 people - and yet is still going strong today - is a credit to the researchers, participants and community of Busselton."

Until the Government made permanent premises available to the study in 2005 - leading to continuous survey activity - much of the study's early data was collected by researchers travelling to Busselton from Perth every three years.

"The researchers would stay about three months at a time and operate from makeshift laboratories set up in tents, caravans or spares room in the homes of locals," Mr Day said.

"Busselton locals were so proud and supportive of their study they even organised lamington drives and other grassroots fundraising activities to supplement its shoestring budget.

"It was this determination, resourcefulness and unwavering commitment of researchers, participants and the Busselton community that has seen the study defy all odds to become the jewel in the crown of Western Australian health research data."

Data and biospecimens from the Busselton Health Study have contributed to research around the world in areas as diverse as healthy ageing, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, sleep apnoea and thyroid disease.

It has also been instrumental in key scientific findings, including:

• discovery of the first genetic association with asthma
• discovery of the gene associated with haemochromatosis (an iron overload disorder)
• understanding the impact of smoking and asthma on long-term lung function.  

During his visit, the Minister met retired building inspector Bert Johnson, who has been involved in the study's surveys since the beginning.

Mr Day said it was the generosity of people such as Mr Johnson that had made the study such a success.

Fact File

• Leading researchers including Fiona Stanley Hospital (child health), Barry Marshall (gastroenterology), Bill Musk (mesothelioma and respiratory disease) and David Mackey (eye health) have all been involved with the Busselton Health Study

• More than 100,000 study biospecimens have been banked since 2005

• More than 10,000 participants have been tested in six major studies conducted since 2005, when the study team moved into permanent accommodation

• It takes four hours to conduct the tests on each participant

• For more information, visit http://bpmri.org.au 

Minister's office - 6552 6200