Media Release
- Research offering hope for earlier detection of silicosis, a serious lung disease caused by silica dust exposure in construction, mining, tunnelling and stonemasonry
- The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation’s Tradie Health Institute initiative is funding pioneering world-first research designed to detect occupational lung disease before irreversible damage occurs
- Industry support, including a $100,000 commitment from CPB Contractors, is helping accelerate breakthrough research with the potential to improve outcomes for workers across Australia
EMBARGO: 21 July 2026 – World-first research is underway that could change the way occupational lung diseases, including silicosis, are detected and understood, with a strong emphasis on earlier diagnosis and future prevention, following the funding of Australia’s first dedicated PExA (Particles in Exhaled Air) machine at The Prince Charles Hospital in Brisbane.
Supported by The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation through its Tradie Health Institute initiative, researchers are using the technology to investigate whether silicosis can be identified before irreversible lung damage occurs – creating the potential for earlier intervention and improved outcomes for thousands of Australian workers.
Unlike current invasive diagnostic methods, the PExA machine captures microscopic particles naturally exhaled from the very deepest part of the lung through a simple breathing test. Researchers believe the proteins expressed in these particles could reveal the earliest biological changes associated with silicosis, long before the disease can be detected through existing testing.
Professor Dan Chambers, Senior Thoracic Physician and Head of Research at the Queensland Lung Transplant Service (QLTS), which is supported by the Tradie Health Institute initiative, says the technology represents a major shift in what is possible for workers at risk.
“We’re trialling a new technology that can detect tiny particles from the deepest part of the lungs using a breath sample,” says Professor Chambers. “This could allow us to identify disease much earlier – before serious damage occurs.”
Silicosis, most commonly associated with occupations such as construction, mining, tunnelling and stonemasonry, is an incurable chronic lung disease caused by breathing in fine silica dust and remains one of the most serious occupational lung diseases which can be fatal. The inhaled dust causes inflammation and scarring in the lungs, which can lead to symptoms such as shortness of breath, persistent cough, fatigue, chest pain, and an increased risk of lung infections.
Despite stronger workplace protections and growing awareness, silicosis is frequently diagnosed only after significant and irreversible scarring has developed within the lungs.
The PExA technology was first introduced to Australia in 2024 through research supported by The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation. Until now, researchers have relied on a machine on loan from Sweden. Industry investment will enable the purchase of Australia’s first dedicated PExA machine, ensuring ongoing access to the technology and allowing the research program to expand.
“Positioning Queensland at the forefront of global efforts to detect occupational lung disease earlier, more safely and more precisely than ever before, our research has the potential to reshape how these conditions are identified, monitored, treated, and ultimately prevented,” adds Professor Chambers.
“What excites us is not just better diagnosis, but the possibility of earlier intervention. If we can identify disease at a much earlier stage, we have a real opportunity to change outcomes for workers and their families.”
The PExA technology is already enabling world-first research comparing breath samples, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and blood-based biomarkers, with researchers analysing samples from both silicosis patients and healthy volunteers to identify early disease signatures and develop future non-invasive screening tools.
Long term industry support has played a key role in enabling this next phase of research, including $300,000 over three years from CPB Contractors. CPB Contractors has been proudly building Australia’s transformational infrastructure for more than 90 years, including Cross River Rail in Brisbane, Suburban Rail Loop East in Melbourne, and Western Sydney Airport in Sydney.
CPB Contractors Queensland & PNG General Manager, Vince Sanfilippo, says the partnership reflects the company’s long-term commitment to protecting workers and supporting a healthier future for the construction industry.
“As part of our commitment to improving health outcomes for those impacted by occupational lung disease and silicosis, we are proud to support the Tradie Health Institute’s groundbreaking research,” says Mr Sanfilippo.
“The work being undertaken is genuinely moving the dial towards earlier detection, better treatment outcomes and greater protection for workers. It demonstrates how industry can play a meaningful role in advancing innovative health solutions and investing in the long-term wellbeing of workers in our industry.
“Construction is one of the most exciting and rewarding industries to be part of. We’re creating the infrastructure that connects communities, transforms places and shapes the future of our cities and regions, and protecting the health and wellbeing of our workforce remains our highest priority.
“The continued trialling and development of technologies such as the PExA machine have the potential to transform how we protect our workers from silicosis through non-invasive and accessible early detection methods. This is a gamechanger for our workforce today and into the future.”
QLTS Researcher, Kiara Knuckey, says industry support has been instrumental in accelerating the research.
“Support from industry has allowed us to explore the full potential of the PExA technology and accelerate research that could ultimately benefit workers across Australia. This could completely change what early detection looks like in practice. The idea that we may one day identify disease before symptoms appear is incredibly powerful,” says Ms Knuckey.
Researchers supported by the Tradie Health Institute initiative are working toward a future in which lung screening is portable and on-site, enabling high-risk workers to be monitored before symptoms appear–an innovation that has garnered much support from industry.
Research and Impact Manager at The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation, Dr Rebekah Engel, emphasises that philanthropy was helping researchers pursue ideas that had the potential to change lives.
“Early-stage research is often the most difficult to fund, yet it has the greatest potential to create meaningful change,” says Dr Engel.
As the construction industry faces workforce shortages and an ageing workforce, investment in research is critical. Funding Australia’s first dedicated PExA machine marks a major milestone in occupational lung disease research and strengthens Australia’s capacity to better understand, diagnose and ultimately prevent these conditions. For more information, visit: www.thecommongood.org.au/40-years-of-the-prince-charles-hospital-foundation/40-stories-for-40-years/protecting-the-lungs-of-australias-tradies.
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About The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation
The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation, through its initiatives of The Common Good and the Tradie Health Institute, has the principal objective of funding medical research and patient care projects at The Prince Charles Hospital and Caboolture Hospital. The Foundation actively engages with the community, philanthropists and the corporate sector to generate funding for new and on-going projects that are innovative, purpose driven and dedicated to making breakthroughs, primarily in the areas of heart disease, lung disease, mental health and ageing conditions.
The Tradie Health Institute, an initiative of the Foundation, is bringing together leading clinicians, researchers, industry and philanthropy to transform how occupational lung disease is detected and understood, with a strong emphasis on earlier diagnosis, prevention and better outcomes for Australian workers.
About CPB Contractors
CPB Contractors is trusted to construct Australia and New Zealand’s most complex, critical infrastructure projects, delivering for clients and communities for more than 90 years. The company is solutions-focused and puts its people’s safety first, working collaboratively with delivery partners on construction projects that connect communities, support economic growth, build skills and create rewarding careers.
Supported by industry-leading delivery systems and operations spanning Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea, CPB Contractors’ expert teams work across all key sectors of the construction industry, including roads, rail, tunnelling, defence, building, resources, water and new energy infrastructure.
