For Di Cox, a gift towards lung health research meant creating a legacy for a future without Pulmonary Fibrosis.
In 2012, Di was diagnosed with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF), a severe and progressive disease that causes irreversible damage to the lungs. Little is known about the incidence or prevalence of the disease in Australia. Eight years later, the retired general practitioner, loving wife and golf enthusiast passed away.
Throughout her career, Di saw many people receive “unfair” diagnoses and her own came as a shock. From a young age, Di was aware of the importance of research and was inspired by her father, also a doctor, and his revolutionary research work in his field of medicine.
When interviewed in 2019, Di said she was encouraged by many “amazing developments” made possible through dedicated research; developments which are helping to improve diagnosis and treatments, save lives and make other lives “more comfortable”. She hoped that research would, one day, lead to a treatment to prevent further fibrosis, or even reverse it.
“It was an easy decision to make a gift to Lung Foundation Australia and it makes me feel, in a small way, as if I’m involved in IPF research … it will help other people in the future.”
Through her generous support, the Lung Foundation Australia Diana Cox PhD Scholarship in IPF Research was founded. This award is supporting PhD student Dr Laura Glenn in her work to uncover more easily accessible, accurate and safe methods to diagnose Interstitial Lung Disease.
Like Di, you can help make a real difference and give hope to Australian families affected by PF and other lung diseases. Give hope. Give to research today.
Meet the researcher
Dr Laura Glenn is working to identify and better understand diagnostic pathways for patients with Insterstitial Lung DisDonaease such as pulmonary fibrosis.
She hopes her research can improve holistic management of people with respiratory illnesses, and can help to create a future with better treatments and quality of life for those with a chronic lung disease.