Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease | Lungs

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

Around one in every 20 Australians aged 45 years and over suffers from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

What is COPD?

What causes COPD?

Our COPD research

Hudson Institute scientists have discovered that COPD could be diagnosed and treated earlier, preventing the progression of the disease in thousands of patients. They are working on a blood test to bring the discovery to patients.

Drug halts progression of emphysema and lung cancer

Professor Brendan Jenkins from the Cancer and Immune Signalling Research Group at Hudson Institute

The team found that a drug called sgp130Fc could halt the progression of lung cancer and emphysema. In addition, they have identified a unique signature that could be used to detect both diseases much earlier through a simple blood test. Earlier diagnosis of emphysema will provide patients more treatment options and better quality of life.

Preventing debilitating respiratory infections

Finding new treatment strategies that limit the severity of viral exacerbations of COPD

COPD collaborators

Support for people with COPD

Hudson Institute scientists cannot provide medical advice.
If you would like to find out more information about COPD, please visit

Share this page