6 January 2026
Early diagnosis of childhood asthma is now a step closer following the completion of the Metabolomics for Asthma Prediction (MAP) study supported by PLS in partnership with the Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation (PCHF).
Asthma remains one of Australia’s most common chronic childhood conditions and diagnosing it in pre-school aged children continues to be a major clinical challenge.
This innovative research study, led by Perth paediatric respiratory physician Professor André Schultz, is aiming to develop the world’s first early diagnostic test for asthma using a simple, non-invasive urine sample. Detecting asthma before symptoms become severe has the potential to enable earlier, more effective treatment and improved long-term health outcomes.
The two-year study engaged more than 300 children, with researchers analysing 183 genetic samples to advance early asthma detection.
PLS Chief People and Sustainability Officer Sandra McInnes said PLS was proud to be supporting research with the potential to transform millions of lives.
“At PLS, we believe that shaping tomorrow begins with investing in the health and wellbeing of our communities. That’s why we partner with organisations that are making a real difference – especially those focused on improving outcomes for children and families.”
Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation CEO Carrick Robinson said partnerships with generous supporters like PLS were essential to progressing paediatric research.
“We thank PLS for their support of research such as the MAP study, which contributes valuable knowledge to our understanding of childhood asthma. Through this work, Associate Professor Schultz and his team have generated important learnings that will help guide future research.
“Meaningful partnerships like this enable us to keep asking critical questions, deepen our understanding, and continue working towards healthier, happier futures for WA kids living with chronic disease.”
In Australia, it’s estimated that 2.7 million Australians live with asthma, with 470,000 of them are children aged 0-14. Furthermore, children aged 0-4 years are hospitalised for asthma more than any other age group. Asthma and related conditions are especially prevalent in First Nations communities, where early diagnosis and intervention are critical.
Findings from the MAP study represent a meaningful step forward in improving the way childhood asthma is identified and managed, laying the groundwork for future clinical applications that could bring greater certainty to families and lead to better health outcomes for children across Australia.