Our Impact

Lung conditions like asthma and COPD can be incredibly unpredictable, and it can be very hard to foretell when an attack is likely to occur. Inconsistent use of an inhaler (or other treatment), smoking, obesity, history of respiratory infections, and more, are associated with higher risk of attacks. Despite knowing so many risk factors, identifying who is actually going to have an attack has proven a challenging task.

This research will examine conventional and newer medications used in rheumatology. This will include medicines for inflammatory diseases, like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. These diseases occur when the body's immune system overreacts, causing swelling and pain. It will also include medicines used in diseases that affect the bones, like osteoporosis and rickets. We will study the benefits and side effects of medications over a longer time period compared to trials and consider groups often excluded from trials, such as those with more medical conditions. We will also examine differences in clinical factors and patient characteristics to see if these can help with treatment decisions. This is important because in many cases we cannot predict which medication will work for a patient before starting the treatment.