Woolcock researchers are tackling childhood asthma on several fronts:
* Prevention research – The 15‑year‑old Childhood Asthma Prevention Study (CAPS) follows children from early life to see how asthma can be prevented and how early‑life factors relate to asthma and cardiovascular disease in adolescence.
* Air‑quality studies – In partnership with Queensland University of Technology, the UPTECH study examines how ultrafine particles from traffic emissions affect children’s lung health.
* Infection and environment research – The SAVE Study (Asthma, Viruses and Environment) investigates how viral infections, allergies, allergen exposure, vitamin D and medications influence asthma flare‑ups.
* Fundamental science – Using cutting‑edge technologies, researchers identify the genes and environmental triggers that cause cellular changes leading to asthma and attacks, paving the way for new treatments.
* Patient‑level initiatives – They study how children use and interact with their medicines, develop ways to monitor lung function to predict attacks, create education programs for patients and clinicians, design advanced, child‑friendly inhaler devices, and improve communication about asthma management and medication use.