TTAP Asthma in Pregnancy

16/11/2025

Did you know that mothers with asthma are more likely to have a preterm baby?

05/11/2025

The Asthma and Pregnancy Research Team kicking some major goals - 3 out of 5 pilot grants awarded by the Hunter Children's Research Foundation - HCRF were given to our team last Thursday 30 October!

Professor Vanessa Murphy for the project 'The Role of the Infant Microbiome in Asthma and Allergy Development Among Children at High Risk' - studying samples provided by our incredible BLT babies and their parents.

Dr Bronwyn Brew for the project 'Tracking Severe Wheeze from Infancy to Asthma in Childhood' - building on the solid foundation of BLT research.

Dr Gabriela Martins Costa Gomes for the infant lung function follow up study - for our new TTAP study cohort to develop new ways of predicting bronchiolitis.

Congratulations to the entire team!

24/10/2025

23/10/2025

Come and talk to us about all things asthma and pregnancy, or medical research in general! Here till 10am. There’s free coffee!

23/10/2025

Poor air quality across parts of NSW due to bushfire.

Smoke exposure is dangerous to human health. Asthma attack risks are high with bushfires causing widespread poor air quality across parts of NSW.

If smoke is a trigger for your asthma, try and stay indoors during this time to lower your exposure to smoke. Keep your reliever medicine close by, pay attention to your symptoms and treat them immediately. Follow the steps for Asthma First Aid.

If you experience any asthma symptoms and these don't improve, please seek medical care or in an emergency call 000 (Triple zero).

If smoke is a trigger for your asthma, call our FREE 1800ASTHMA (1800 278 462) service and speak with an Asthma Educator.

More info: https://buff.ly/eqjIqxk

22/10/2025

The weather is heating up! 🔆 Large parts of NSW will have high temperatures and strong winds today, ideal conditions for bushfires to start unfortunately.
🔥Bushfire smoke impacts our health, and people with respiratory conditions, the elderly and children are particularly at risk.
To help prepare for the warmer months, check out our Infographics from the Severe Asthma toolkit, which were developed in association with - they contain helpful information regarding the health impacts of bushfire smoke, vulnerable populations and how to reduce risk.
👉https://toolkit.severeasthma.org.au/resources/infographics/

19/10/2025

Thunderstorm asthma is the combination of high grass pollen levels and a dramatic change in weather conditions caused by a certain type of thunderstorm.

In the event of a thunderstorm warning:

➡️ Go inside and close your doors and windows. If you have your air conditioner on, turn it to recirculate.
➡️ Keep your reliever and hay fever medicine on hand or know how to access this medicine if your loved one has asthma.
➡️ Follow your written Asthma Action Plan.
➡️ Never ignore asthma symptoms like breathlessness, wheezing and tightness in the chest. Start Asthma First Aid immediately and call Triple Zero (000) for help if symptoms do not get any better or if they start to get worse.
➡️ Keep up to date with alerts and advice in your local area.

Book a call with an Asthma Educator to learn how to stay safe and what to do in a thunderstorm asthma event: https://buff.ly/OLvD2Y7

17/10/2025

Most people with asthma know about taking oral steroids after an asthma attack, but what about the long-term risks?
Join our free live class with experts to learn how to prevent asthma attacks before they happen and get answers to your questions. https://buff.ly/4h84AmT

27/09/2025

As the weather continues to warm up, NSW Health is warning residents of the risk of asthma related to thunderstorms, particularly for people already prone to hay fever and asthma.

Thunderstorm asthma refers to episodes of asthma symptoms which occur when high pollen levels are combined with a thunderstorm.

In NSW, the peak period for a higher risk of thunderstorm asthma is between October and December, when pollen levels are higher and thunderstorms become more common with warmer weather.

Senior Staff Specialist in Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Professor Connie Katelaris, explained that thunderstorm asthma requires very specific conditions to occur together.

“We do know that specific thunderstorm conditions related to moisture and airflow can increase people’s exposure to high concentrations of very small fragments of pollen,” Professor Katelaris said.

“This exposure can trigger symptoms wheeze, chest tightness, breathing difficulty and cough. Symptoms can escalate very quickly and may become life threatening”
In NSW, high levels of rye grass pollen appear to be associated with thunderstorm asthma in some areas.

“Anyone with diagnosed asthma should continue to use their preventor and have access to their reliever medication during this high-risk period,” Professor Katelaris said.

“Even if you don't have asthma, pollen is at its highest throughout spring and may spark problems in people with allergies like hay fever or those who have undiagnosed asthma."

Thunderstorm asthma events can occur anywhere where there are both high pollen levels and thunderstorms. The greatest risk of thunderstorm asthma is in areas across southern NSW and the Riverina but events have been recorded west of the dividing range from Tamworth to Albury.

Residents in the Riverina area can register for an automated notification system which notifies registered residents by SMS or email of high thunderstorm asthma risk in the area.

There are some simple steps people can take now to prepare. These include:
- If you have ever been diagnosed with asthma or have hay fever, make sure you have an up-to-date action plan in place, including how you should manage your symptoms if they flare-up.

- If your child has asthma, provide any updated asthma action plans to their preschool, childcare centre or school

- check that you or your child's asthma reliever medication and spacer is up-to-date and stored in an easy spot for you to get quickly

- know the warning signs of asthma like wheezing, breathlessness, feeling tight in the chest or persistent cough and when to seek advice from your doctor or urgent emergency care

- when there is high pollen and a thunderstorm, where possible remain inside and keep windows and doors closed.

The symptoms of thunderstorm asthma can escalate very quickly and may become life threatening. These include:

- difficulty breathing
- laboured breathing making it difficult to speak in full sentences or lips turning blue
- asthma reliever medication providing little relief.

In an emergency dial 000 to call an ambulance.

For more information on thunderstorm asthma, visit: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/environment/factsheets/Pages/thunderstorm-asthma.aspx

24/09/2025

17/09/2025

You CAN make a difference for pregnant women with asthma.

We are actively recruiting across five different sites right now, looking for women with a medical diagnosis of asthma, who are between 12-17 weeks pregnant, and over the age of 18 years.

Recruitments sites are:
Newcastle - John Hunter Hospital
Maitland - The New Maitland Hospital
Gosford - Gosford Hospital
Sydney - Royal North Shore Hospital
Melbourne - Royal Women's Hospital

With more to come soon!

Don't wait - contact us today!

Hunter New England Central Coast Primary Health Network

NSW Health

The Royal Women's Hospital VicHealth Central Coast Health

Royal North Shore Hospital