International asthma clinical expert to visit NZ

Media advisory

International asthma clinical expert to visit NZ

World-renowned asthma researcher Professor Paul M O'Byrne will be in New Zealand between 18 – 24 February.

Professor O'Byrne has transitioned from childhood asthma sufferer to recent chair of the executive committee for the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA)[1]. 

He is also chair of medicine in McMaster University's Faculty of Health Sciences in Ontario, Canada, EJ Moran Campbell professor of respiratory medicine and executive director of the Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health.

The Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) works with health care professionals and public health officials around the world to reduce asthma prevalence, morbidity, and mortality[2].

Professor O'Byrne is committed to reducing the prevalence of asthma, and the resulting economic and social costs.  Following extensive research for GINA he has concluded asthma can be controlled in most patients[3].

"Eliminating the disease is, I think, improbable in my lifetime. But I'm very sure we can reduce the prevalence, reduce the risk of children developing it -- and even for those that do develop it, reduce the burden of disease in those children," says Professor O'Byrne[4].

But it is not only children who are affected by asthma. In New Zealand about one in six adults, and up to 600,000 Kiwis in total, experience symptoms of asthma[5].

New Zealand also has one of the highest prevalence rates of asthma in the world[6].

And while GINA's recommendations for asthma management have been adopted successfully in many countries including the USA and China, there is no sign that New Zealand authorities are planning to do so.

Professor O'Byrne will speak to New Zealand clinicians in Wellington, Christchurch and Auckland on Advances in Asthma Management and the Impact on Patients - with specific focus on Early Intervention in Asthma Treatment and Global Initiative on Asthma (GINA) 2009.

Dr O'Byrne’s visit is sponsored by AstraZeneca and he will be available for interview with the media.

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