WA clinical trials offer hope for thousands living with COPD

Every day, more than 63,800 Western Australians struggle to breathe because of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a serious lung condition that outnumbers cases of breast and prostate cancer combined. Many people aren’t aware they could join lifechanging clinical trials happening right now in Western Australia (WA), led by some of the country’s top respiratory specialists.

COPD is an underfunded and often misunderstood disease, yet it costs Australia over $831 million a year. Professor Yuben Moodley from the Institute for Respiratory Health said, “COPD not only affects your ability to breathe but also takes away your ability to live fully. On World COPD Day, we want people to know there is hope. We’re leading clinical trials to find new treatments and therapies that can improve lives and one day, we hope to find a cure.”

COPD includes conditions like emphysema and chronic bronchitis, which slowly damage the lungs and often go unnoticed until it’s too late. Professor Moodley said early diagnosis is key. “Many people don’t realise they have COPD until their condition worsens. That’s why raising awareness and offering innovative treatments is so important,” he said.

The disease hits some groups harder than others. Older Australians, those in regional and remote areas and people in lower-income communities are most at risk. Indigenous Australians are 2.5 times more likely to develop COPD than non-Indigenous Australians.

Through clinical trials, WA researchers are working on new ways to treat COPD and prevent the flare-ups that lead to hospitalisations and reduced quality of life.

“These trials give people access to cutting-edge treatments and therapies years before they’re available to the public,” Professor Moodley said. “This could be lifechanging for those living with COPD, especially since treatment options are so limited.”

COPD’s impact goes far beyond dollars. It’s about the daily struggles of people living with it. “Every hospital visit, every breathless moment—these are the things we’re fighting to change,” Professor Moodley said.

The Institute for Respiratory Health is encouraging anyone in WA with COPD to consider joining a clinical trial. For more information, call (08) 6151 0888 or email clinicaltrials@resphealth.uwa.edu.au.

If you’d like to support medical research that could change lives, donate today at resphealth.org.au.

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