1800 278 462
Australia’s pioneering asthma researchers, who uncovered the immune pathways behind modern remission-inducing biologic treatments, are now driving a new frontier: using artificial intelligence and next-generation science to unlock the first realistic path toward curing asthma.
Most asthma can be successfully treated with combination inhalers that blend a steroid “preventer” with a long-acting “reliever”. For the 10 per cent of people with severe or difficult-to-control asthma, injectable biologic medicines based on monoclonal antibodies have changed lives.
Biologics work by blocking the effects of key immune pathways that cause airway inflammation and lung damage. Around one-third of patients on biologics now achieve what’s called “on-treatment remission” where they live free of daily symptoms, but we still lack true cures.
The advent of biologics has redefined severe asthma care and shown that remission is possible. But they also highlight what remains unknown — why some people respond so well, while others do not, and how this knowledge could one day unlock a cure.
A special supplement of the Medical Journal of Australia outlines the evidence and a “roadmap” towards cures for asthma. The supplement was coordinated by the University of Melbourne and Asthma Australia, co-organisers of the upcoming CURE Symposium, where its hypotheses will be explored in greater detail.
“We are at a critical juncture in the scientific discovery of cures for asthma,” said Kate Miranda, CEO of Asthma Australia. “Australia has the research excellence, the partnerships and the technological capacity to achieve what once seemed impossible. With sustained investment and national focus, we can realise a future where asthma is no longer a lifelong disease.”
These breakthroughs build on decades of pioneering research by Australian scientists, whose discoveries of key immune pathways laid the foundation for today’s biologic therapies.
Australian scientists and their collaborators have played a pivotal role in transforming asthma research worldwide. Professor Matthew Vadas discovered Interleukin-5 (IL-5), the immune messenger that drives eosinophils to attack the lungs.
Professor Paul Foster discovered that blocking IL-5 could stop this damage, leading to the first IL-5-targeting biologics: mepolizumab, benralizumab and reslizumab.
Professor Gary Anderson identified Interleukin-4 (IL-4) as another master switch driving allergic inflammation, paving the way for the next generation of “T2” biologics, including dupilumab and tezepelumab. Australian clinical research, including the work of Professor Peter Sly and colleagues uncovered key drivers of early asthma in children while Professors Peter Gibson, Vanessa McDonald, and their teams advanced research on achieving clinical remission.
Their discoveries not only changed treatment but redefined how the world understood asthma; proving that the disease could, in principle, be “switched off”. The challenge now is understanding why some people respond so well to these biologic “switches” while others do not, and how that knowledge can open new paths to prevention and cure for all.
Building on this foundation, Australia’s next major research effort is harnessing artificial intelligence to interrogate large datasets within the national CURE-ADIRE (Asthma Data Research Integration Engine) initiative. Researchers are aggregating data from more than 75,000 patients, including deep clinical profiles, lung function results and biological samples, into a single AI-enabled platform. Australia has the richest and longest cohort studies in the world, and this gives us a leading edge in this initiative.
By creating digital “twins” of individual patient’s virtual models that reflect human cell biology, researchers can see how different disease pathways behave, predict who will respond to particular treatments and uncover new mechanisms to target.
“This will allow us to see asthma not as a single disease but as a collection of biological “endotype” subgroups, each with its own drivers,” said Professor Gary Anderson from the University of Melbourne. “That understanding will let us discover new treatments and, prevent asthma from developing in the first place and reverse early asthma.”
Parallel to the AI work, researchers are exploring how early-life exposures and inflammation can reprogram the body’s gene regulation. Dr Christine Keenan (University of Melbourne) and Dr Rhys Allan (WEHI) are studying epigenetic changes — or “molecular scars” — which permanently alter how airway and immune cells respond to allergens and infection. Dr Rhiannon Werder (MCRI) is using ‘organoid’ methods to grow human lung tissue from stem cells in the laboratory and Dr Alen Faiz (Uni Technology Sydney) is probing subtle molecular defects that “switch” healthy lungs to persistent asthma.
“Once we learn how to reset those switches, cures become possible,” Dr Keenan said.These cutting-edge approaches — AI, epigenetics, and molecular biology — are driving the CURE Asthma initiative, a national effort led by Asthma Australia and the University of Melbourne. Its steering group brings together leading respiratory scientists, clinicians, and consumer representatives from Australia’s major universities, research institutes, and the peak asthma body.
Participating institutions include the Universities of Melbourne, Queensland, Newcastle, Sydney, NSW, Western Australia, Curtin University, Monash Health, the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, The Kids Institute, Griffith University, Macquarie University, The George Institute for Global Health, Bio21 Institute, the Royal Melbourne Hospital, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital Perth, Newcastle and Hunter Community Health, Hunter Medical Research Institute, Monash Health, and the University of Technology Sydney, with more to join.
At the upcoming CURE Asthma Symposium on 20 November 2025, researchers from across Australia will convene to accelerate the national effort to cure asthma. Over two days, early-career scientists, data analysts, senior clinicians, and laboratory pioneers will focus on one goal: understanding how to reverse disease and restore health in people with asthma.
The program includes keynote presentations from world-renowned scientists, interactive discussion sessions addressing major research questions, and workshops to design a broad, collaborative program of work beyond the lab. It marks the first time this scale of expertise has been gathered to chart a unified scientific roadmap for curing asthma.
“CURE Asthma represents a turning point,” said Anthony Flynn, Head of Health Knowledge and Translation at Asthma Australia. “Our progress in treating asthma has been extraordinary, but it’s time to shift our focus to curing it. The technology, the people, and the platforms are here, and Australia is uniquely placed to lead the way.”
ENDS
For more information:
Contact Trinity Frederick, 0413 99 22 82
ABOUT
Asthma Australia is the national peak body representing nearly 2.8 million Australians living with asthma. We’ve been here since 1962 and even though a lot has changed since then, asthma continues to claim a life each day and is the number one health condition burdening Aussie children. Asthma is an inflammatory condition of the airways, restricting airflow and can be fatal. There is no cure, but most people with asthma can experience good control.
