07/05/2025
Deemed by the European Respiratory Society as one of the most neglected lung diseases in clinical practice, Professor Marchant said the condition was relatively under-researched with large unmet needs.
“There are no current therapies, other than antibiotics, for children with bronchiectasis,” she said.
“Our study will examine whether colchicine – an old, safe, inexpensive drug – used as an adjunct anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory therapy can improve clinical outcomes of children with bronchiectasis respiratory exacerbations.”
The QUT research team comprises chief investigators Professor Marchant, Professor Anne Chang AM, Professor Stephanie Yerkovich, Dr Vikas Goyal and Dr Hannah O’Farrell, all from the School of Medicine and AusHSI, and associate investigator Professor Steven McPhail, from the School of Public Health and Social Work and AusHSI.
Other chief investigators include Professor Keith Grimwood (Griffith University), Professor Hiran Selvadurai (Children’s Hospital at Westmead), Professor Andre Schultz (University of Western Australia), Mrs Lesley Versteegh (Menzies School of Health Research), Associate Professor Katherine Baines (The University of Newcastle), Associate Professor Anna Nathan (University of Malaya), Professor Peter Morris (Menzies School of Health Research). Dr Pamela Laird (University of Western Australia) is also an associate investigator.
Partner organisations include Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Royal Darwin Hospital, Queensland Children’s Hospital, Perth Children’s Hospital and Pharmacor.
