The Commonwealth Government has opened a new Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) for Asthma and Airways based at Sydney University.

The Commonwealth Government today opened a new Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) for Asthma and Airways based at Sydney University.

The government has provided funding of $26.7 million over seven years to fund the CRC. An additional $9.5 million in cash and $19.2 million of in-kind support will come from its academic and industry partners.

This new CRC will work on developing new drugs for preventing and managing asthma, allergies and airways diseases; developing advanced diagnostic devices; and monitoring and establishing air quality standards.

Research support for the CRC will be provided through Monash University, the Garvin Institute of Medical Research, the University of Newcastle, the University of Sydney, the University of Western Australia and the Woolcock Institute for Medical Research. Industry support comes from GlaxoSmithKline, Pharmaxis and Bird Healthcare.

Asthma has been a National Health Priority Area since 1999. Over the past six years the government's focus on asthma awareness, education and best practice management has contributed to declining death rates from asthma, despite rising asthma rates worldwide. Hospitalisations for asthma have also dropped sharply, and there have been fewer GP consultations for asthma over the past 10 years.

The Asthma Management Program, which began in 2001, was renewed in this year's Budget, with funding of $54.7 million provided over four years. This included $27.6 million for best practice asthma management by GPs.