Research Roundup:
June 2016
Welcome Message
Welcome to the fourth edition of the TSANZ Research Round Up and a special Call for Action from the President.
The TSANZ mission is to lead, support and enable all health workers and researchers who aim to prevent, cure and relieve disability caused by lung disease.
You are part of the Peak Body representing all health professionals working in all fields of respiratory health. The collective voice of our membership base of 1400+ individuals from a wide range of health and research disciplines can produce a powerful message. We are aware that respiratory health has long been neglected in research and health care priority setting, but the greater community is not. More than 1 in 4 Australians are now affected by chronic lung disease.
This month’s Research Roundup again features our collaborative research project with LFA; Lungs for Life – breathing life into respiratory research. We need our members to take ownership of this initiative by contributing their ideas to help prioritise research areas; and we need your help to engage your networks to drive support for the future of respiratory medicine. Please support Lungs for Life and respiratory research by:
Enjoy your June Research Roundup,
Peter Gibson
The following articles will take you to www.thelimbic.com
the limbic is a free, independent news site for respiratory health professionals that covers the latest in clinical research and medico-political news.
Call to revisit COPD guidelines. A leading Australian thoracic specialist and researcher has called for a revision of current COPD criteria to include cough and sputum as red flags for the disease. Read More.
Looking back for the future. In our latest Holy Grail we speak to recent recipient of the Lung Foundation Australia / Boehringer Ingelheim COPD Fellowship Dr Christian Osadnik about his research looking at ways to optimise rehabilitation for patients who experience acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Read More.
Unravelling the chaos of ACOS. Identifying ‘treatable traits’ is more useful than debating the validity of the diagnosis in patients with asthma-COPD overlap syndrome, TSANZ President Professor Peter Gibson has told delegates attending the American Thoracic Society conference here in San Francisco. Read more.
Unprecedented cough suppression. A new drug targeting receptors in the vagus nerve provides unprecedented control over refractory chronic cough, but patients can be slow to acknowledge the benefit. Read More.
‘Astonishing’ says Professor. A large study adds to a growing body of evidence linking childhood asthma to the development of COPD in early adulthood. Read More.
COPD highlights from 2015. Last year saw a plethora of COPD research hit the journals but what were the significant findings that could change practice as we know it? Read more.
If you have any issues accessing the limbic please contact editor@thelimbic.com
Lungs for Life
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The funding for respiratory research in Australia is disproportionately low compared to the national health burden it causes. Whilst respiratory disease affects 1 in 10 Australians, it receives only 7.5% of government research funding. The Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand and Lung Foundation Australia have joined forces in a new strategic research initiative called Lungs for Life.
Research Priority Areas Survey
The Management Committee of Lungs for Life is now asking all members to help with the development of a detailed research and fundraising plan by seeking members views on ideas for priority respiratory research areas. Please help the Lungs for Life team by giving your feedback at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SPTFCLT
Closing date: 6 June 2016
Reduce your taxable income by making a donation!
With the end of the financial year approaching, now is the best time to donate! A donation before the end of the financial year not only supports the initiatives of TSANZ to improve lung health, but also reduces your taxable income.
As a health promotion charity and an endorsed deductible gift recipient (DGR), your donation to TSANZ is claimable as tax deduction if the value of your donation is over AU$2 and you are an Australia tax resident.
TSANZ/LFA Lungs for Life Research Fund: https://www.thoracic.org.au/information-public/lungs-for-life
Please e-mail details of the EFT payment and your contact details to TSANZfinance@thoracic.org.au so a receipt can be sent to you.
Cycle to support Lungs for Life!
The money you raise by taking part in this exciting and fun filled event will allow Lung Foundation Australia and TSANZ to fund vital research so that we can improve lives today and find the cures for tomorrow
Medical Research Future Fund Consultation
Medical Research Future Fund consultation for the development of the Australian Medical Research and Innovation Strategy and related Priorities
Under the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) Act 2015, the Australian Medical Research Advisory Board (AMRAB) is tasked with determining the Australian Medical Research and Innovation Strategy and related Priorities for disbursement of funding. The Strategy is determined every five years and the Priorities every two years.
The Advisory Board is currently accepting written submissions from those who deliver, use or stand to benefit from health services and health and medical research regarding an appropriate focus for the Strategy, and the initial round of Priorities.
The Advisory Board will be accepting written submissions until the 6th of June 2016.
Please visit the Department of Health Consultation Hub to provide your views.
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Research Position Opportunities |
Looking for employment opportunities? Need to recruit someone? We can help.
We regularly post vacant research positions on our website so check in frequently if you are looking for change.
Please be advised – the CSL Centenary Fellowships are now open and targeting outstanding Australian Researchers. These five year fellowships are valued at $1.25million
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Research Project and Survey Requests
Anti-viral Immunity in Asthma – Call for participants in Brisbane
The LUNG AND ALLERGY RESEARCH CENTRE is conducting a research project on antiviral immunity in asthma to understand why asthmatic people suffer from worse colds and flus. We need people with and without asthma to donate 40mL of blood. Participation takes place at the PA hospital and takes only 15-30 minutes. Option for allergy testing with total 100mL blood donation.
For more information please contact Liisa Murray | 07 3443 7133 | Flyer
International Malignant Pleural Effusion Practice Survey
In 2003, an international survey was conducted to gain an idea on the variations in pleurodesis practices for malignant pleural effusions in different parts of the world. The study provided useful data and highlighted areas of significant differences in practice that could be addressed with clinical trials. In the last 12 years, malignant pleural disease management has dramatically changed especially with the increasing use of indwelling pleural catheters and medical thoracoscopy. Given the options available researchers would like to see how opinions and practice vary across the world. (Lee, Rahman, Ahmed, Feller-Kopman, Sivakumar).
They would be most grateful if colleagues could find the time to complete the following survey which will take approximately 15 minutes to complete.
To ensure that all information will remain confidential and anonymous, researchers will not record any personal information including IP addresses. You have the option of providing your email address if you would like to receive a copy of the analysed results. Email addresses will be recorded on a separate database to keep responses anonymous. Your email address will not be used for any other reason or correspondence.
The survey can be found at http://www.tinyurl.com/pleuralsurvey
Thank you!
Austrailan Co-ordinator: Prof YC Gary Lee
The Breathing for Life Trial (BLT)
BLT is a randomised trial of fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FENO)-based management of asthma during pregnancy and its impact on perinatal outcomes and infant and childhood respiratory health.
We are seeking volunteers with doctor diagnosed asthma, asthma symptoms or medication use in previous 12 months, 18 years of age or older, 12-22 weeks gestation, smokers and non-smokers.
This trial will take place at;
– John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle NSW
– Royal Hospital for Women, Randwick NSW
– Nepean Hospital, NSW
– Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, QLD
– Royal North Shore Hospital, NSW
– Canberra Hospital, ACT
Click here to read more about this trial
Participant Information Statement and Consent Form [PDF]
For more information please contact Dr Megan Jensen: Ph (02) 4042 0130 | breathingforlifetrial@gmail.com | Facebook
Venous Thrombo-Embolism Survey
Dear Colleague,
Our research team is conducting a brief survey to better understand how physicians currently approach the management of patients with suspected and proven venous thromboembolism. We are currently inviting physicians who manage patients with venous thromboembolism throughout Australia to take part. The results of the survey will provide valuable information to guideline developers and may help in the development of educational resources for physicians and trainees who manage this group of patients.
We invite you to take part in a voluntary online survey, which will take approximately 10 minutes to complete. There are no right or wrong answers to the questions in this survey.
Ethics approval has been granted for this study by Melbourne Health (Approval number QA2015182) and there are no anticipated risks to you by taking part in this research. All survey responses will be anonymous and confidential. No personal information that could identify you is being collected and your email address will not be linked to your survey response. Your consent to participate in this study is implied by completing the survey.
If you have any questions regarding this research, please do not hesitate to contact Dr Renee Manser or Mr Rory Wallace directly. Thank you in advance for participating.
If you have any complaints about any aspect of the project, the way it is being conducted or any questions about your rights as a research participant, then you may contact Ms Jessica Turner, Manager Human Research Ethics Committees, Melbourne Health on (03) 9342 8530. You will need to tell Ms Turner the number or name of the project (see above).
Please click on the link below to proceed to the survey. If the link fails to load automatically, please cut and paste it into your internet browser.
Survey Link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/rmhvte
Dr Renee Manser, Respiratory Physician, Department of Respiratory Medicine, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Tel: 03 9342 7708
Mr Rory Wallace, Medical Student, Department of Respiratory Medicine, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Tel: 03 9342 7708
A/Prof Louis Irving, Director of Respiratory & Sleep Medicine, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne
Dr Mary Ann Anderson, Haematologist, Department of Clinical Haematology and Bone Marrow Transplant Service, The Royal Melbourne Hospital