History

The Lung Institute of Western Australia was officially opened on 11th December 1998 by the then Health Minister, Mr John Day under the name of the Asthma and Allergy Research Institute (AARI). The opening coincided with the completion of the Population and Clinical Trials Centre, the first purpose-built centre of its kind in Australia. LIWA was incorporated in February 1999, and has been rapidly endorsed by respiratory groups across Australia and internationally. In December 2003 the Centre for Asthma, Allergy and Respiratory Research (CAARR) was formally established as a research centre within the University of WA to provide a stronger link between UWA and LIWA.

In 2001 the Institute assumed the additional role of managing the editorial office of the medical journal, Respirology , the official publication of the Asia Pacific Respiratory Society. Under LIWA’s stewardship the journal has reported an impact factor which increased from a debut of 0.927 to 1.264 in its second year of listing. 

In December 2004 LIWA, through its CAARR identity, was successful in being awarded a second Commonwealth Cooperative Research Centre grant (CRC for Asthma and Airways) for a further seven years to investigate asthma. The Institute is a major partner in the current CRC for Asthma and Airways and is investigating both the genetics and epidemiology of asthma and other airway diseases. This is one of the premier grants in Australia and together with our NHMRC programme grant helps the Institute to be recognised as a leader in the field of respiratory research.

As the Institute’s research focus broadened to include a wider range of respiratory diseases such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Bronchiectasis it was felt the Institute should change its name to reflect its work. At an annual general meeting of members in March 2006, it was unanimously ruled that hence forth the Asthma and Allergy Research Institute would be known as the Lung Institute of Western Australia.

Meanwhile, LIWA continues to grow in size with over 60 staff, including supervising post graduate students. Staff at the Institute continue to publish in a wide range of respected scientific and medical journals and give presentations at major scientific meetings, further enhancing our international reputation.