Silicosis early detection research gets funding boost
By Rob Clancy, staff writer. Reviewed by Dr Maggie Lam
A research project aiming to develop a blood test for early detection of silicosis has been boosted by a 3-year fellowship from Dust Diseases Care (DDC).
Dr Maggie Lam will conduct the project in the Viral Immunity and Immunopathology Research group within Hudson Institute of Medical Research’s Centre for Innate Immunity and Infectious Diseases (CiiiD).
The project titled “Harnessing neutrophils as biomarkers for the early detection of silicosis” will be conducted under the supervision of Professor Michelle Tate.
Sharp rise in silicosis cases calls for early detection test
Dr Lam said the $240,000 Post-Doctoral Fellowship comes at an important time, when Australia has seen a sharp rise in silicosis cases over the past decade, particularly among workers involved in cutting and installing engineered stone benchtops.
“This research aims to support the development of a simple blood-based test to enable earlier diagnosis, reduce disease burden, and improve outcomes for Australian workers and their families,” Dr Lam said.
“This fellowship will help me better understand how dust exposure causes lung disease and identify new ways to detect silicosis earlier.”
“I hope this research will ultimately lead to better health outcomes and improved quality of life for workers and families affected by dust diseases.”
About silicosis
- Silicosis is a chronic, incurable lung disease caused by inhaling unsafe levels of respirable crystalline silica dust.
- There is no cure, and new treatments are desperately needed.
- In response to rapidly rising rates of the disease among stonemasons, Australia was the first country in the world to ban the manufacture, supply, processing and installation of engineered stone benchtops, panels and slabs, effective 1 July 2024.
- The importation of these products was also banned from 1 January 2025.
- The ban does not end the silicosis crisis.
- After two decades of exposure, workers already affected will continue to develop and live with the disease for decades to come.
- An estimated 600,000 Australian workers remain exposed to silica dust in industries such as construction, mining, quarrying and tunnelling.
Our silicosis research
Hudson Institute researchers are nationally and internationally recognised for advancing our understanding of the immune system’s inflammatory response and developing new approaches to treat inflammatory and pulmonary diseases.
Our teams are applying this expertise to silicosis in two key areas:
- Identifying biomarkers to assist early detection of silicosis
- Targeting the immune response to limit silicosis
This research was supported by | Post-Doctoral Fellowship from Dust Diseases Care (DDC) of $240,000
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