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Urban farm-like dust: microbial origin and protective effects on later asthma

Year:
2023
Duration:
48 months
Approved budget:
$1,196,993.73
Researchers:
Dr Caroline Halley
,
Professor Julian Crane
,
Professor Jeroen Douwes
,
Dr Nick Waipara
,
Professor Nevil Pierse
,
Ms Cheryl Davies
,
Professor Dr Philippa Howden-Chapman
,
Professor Dr Lynn McBain
,
Dr Collin Brooks
,
Dr Marine Corbin
,
Dr Pirkka Kirjavainen
,
Dr Steven Taylor
,
Mrs Phillipa Barnes
Host:
University of Otago
Health issue:
Respiratory/asthma
Proposal type:
Project
Lay summary
New Zealand has high rates of asthma and hospitalisations for asthma. A follow up is proposed for a study carried out in 450 urban Wellington homes, to examine whether the recently discovered protection for wheeze by 'farm-like' microbes found in the initial study, have resulted in less asthma at aged 12, than those who did not have 'farm-like' dust. Additionally, refining the Finnish 'farm-like' dust and investigating what factors create farm like dust in urban environments is proposed. Understanding these factors gives us our first opportunity to confer the protective effects of farming to urban settings, by modification of the early infant indoor environment.