Event Details

Towards the elimination of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a Lancet Commission

Online registrations have closed for the live webinar, however please note that following the webinar this will be re-opened for on-demand viewing.

If you have any questions please contact us at communications@thoracic.org.au .

Date and time: Friday 10th March 2023 | 12:00-1:50PM AEDT

Program

12:00 - 12:15 Welcome and Webinar Open
12:15 - 12:40 Professor Shyamali Dharmage - Towards elimination of COPD: overview of the core strategies of the Lancet commission
12:40 - 13:05 Dr Ian Yang - COPD in people who have never smoked: an update on risk factors, pathogenesis, prevention and treatment
13:05 - 13:30 Professor Christine Jenkins- Achieving COPD control
13:30- 13:50 Panel Discussion

Webinar Topic:

COPD has for too long been seen as a self-inflicted disease of smokers and there are only few treatment options, all aimed at symptom control. However, recognition of the importance of non-smoking-related risk factors for COPD has increased over the past decade, with evidence on the burden, risk factors, and clinical presentations of COPD in never-smokers. About half of all COPD cases worldwide are due to non-tobacco-related risk factors, which vary by geographical region. There has been no major progress in treatment or prevention for decades. The global burden of COPD is predicted to continue to increase in the future. To achieve better outcomes and ultimately prevent at least some forms of COPD, a complete rethink is needed. Only by doing so will there be a chance to diagnose it early, develop disease-modifying treatment, and ultimately prevent COPD by putting attention to lung health across the life course as the guiding principle. This webinar will help attendees gain a better understanding of COPD with recent updates from the experts in the field.

Chairs: Dr Sukhwinder Singh Sohal & A/Prof Natasha Smallwood

Speakers

• Professor Christine Jenkins

Christine is head of the Respiratory Group at The George Institute for Global Health; Clinical Professor at the University of Sydney; and Professor of Respiratory Medicine at UNSW Sydney. She is a thoracic physician with a clinical and research focus on the management of airways disease. At The George Institute she supervises a research group and PhD students, implementing several trials in asthma, COPD and pulmonary rehabilitation in Australia, New Zealand and Asia. She has been active in advocacy and leadership for lung health in Australia over many years. 

• Professor Shyamali Dharmage

Professor Shyamali Dharmage is a world-recognised leader in Life Course Epidemiology of Chronic Respiratory Diseases. She developed and leads the Allergy & Lung Health Unit, Centre for Epidemiology & Biostatistics, University of Melbourne and has been awarded the esteemed title of Redmond Barry Distinguished Professor and four prestigious Fellow titles (Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand, European Respiratory Society, College of Community Physicians of Sri Lanka, Dame Kate Campbell). Professor Dharmage is currently the top ranked obstructive lung diseases epidemiologist in Australia and third globally.  She is in the top 0.068% among 150,888 all obstructive lung disease researchers worldwide (Expertscape) and she was documented as a top female leader in Australian respiratory research recently (Respirology 2021;26:997).  She has more than 500 publications and has been awarded >$75 million in grants. Prof Dharmage leads an internationally recognised research program on allergies and lung health and is the custodian and PI of two of the world’s key studies in allergies and lung health; including NHMRC funded Melbourne Atopy Cohort Study (MACS) and Tasmanian Longitudinal Health Study (TAHS). Her recognition of research excellence is evidenced by national and international advisory board invitations such as the Lancet Commissioner in COPD. She was also a member of the expert committee that developed the Australian COPD Blueprint and led its prevention chapter.