This initiative explores the role of gender issues in respiratory diseases such as asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), sleep apnea and lung cancer. Led by respirologist Anna Day, much of this work focuses on effective education and knowledge transfer around smoking behaviours and other pulmonary health issues.

Dr. Day was also recently part of a research team that looked at the degree of asthma control achieved by men and women with asthma in Canada and to explore differences in patient perspectives, treatments used, and health care resources used between men and women with asthma. Telephone interviews with Canadians diagnosed with asthma were used to collect this information.

Dr. Day works works with clinicians in the Healthwatch program and the medical imaging department. The most recent collaboration will evaluate a smoking cessation program for women that combines counselling and other supports with low-dose CT screening for early lung cancer.