F&P Healthcare to develop Auckland research centre

By NZPA

Friday 28th June 2002

Fisher and Paykel Healthcare said today it has secured up to $3.6 million in funding over four years to establish a research centre with South Auckland Health.

The centre, funded by the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology, will target breakthrough treatments for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

COPD includes two closely related diseases of the respiratory system: chronic bronchitis and emphysema. It is projected to be the fifth major cause of death worldwide by 2020.

Lewis Gradon, Healthcare's senior vice president, research and development, said the respiratory technologies market worldwide was valued at about $US400 million ($NZ827.81 million) a year.

The grant would enable Healthcare to tap into that market, and could lead to spin-off respiratory support technologies to treat other diseases like cystic fibrosis, acute respiratory distress syndrome and asthma.

The funding takes effect from July 1 and will be applied over four years, with payment from the end of year one dependent on agreed research goals being met.

Healthcare will fund 40 percent of research costs and will commercialise any viable products that result from the research.

The clinical research will be lead by Harry Rea, Academic Head of Medicine at Middlemore Hospital, South Auckland Health, and Professor of Medicine at The University of Auckland, South Auckland Clinical School.

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