Asthma is a common and increasing condition that affects people of all ages and around 2.2 million people in Australia. In children, asthma is the most common chronic illness that causes loss of time from school. The prevalence of asthma has doubled in the past 20 years and now affects 1 in 10 adults and 1 in 4 children. The annual cost of asthma to the health care system is estimated to be at least $720 million, which does not include time lost in absence from work or school. Asthma has now been listed as a National Health Priority Area by the Commonwealth Government and by both the NHMRC and the ARC, which are the major national competitive scientific funding bodies. This listing recognises the large and increasing burden of illness caused by asthma in Australia, as well as the recognised potential to achieve major health gains through improved prevention and treatment strategies for asthma. Research is urgently needed to identify ways to improve asthma control and reduce asthma prevalence.

Our proposed project is in line with the FRDC priorities and R&D plans in that we will promote the benefits of consuming biomolecules contained in fish and shellfish as well as whole foods. The definitive results obtained in the study will significantly reinforce and complement the benefits of eating seafood described in the SSA publication “What’s so healthy about seafood”. In combination with TUNRA and SSA we will actively promote the consumption of these items both in the medical and wider community, which will provide significant new commercial opportunities for the seafood industry.