Research Roundup:
February 2017
Welcome Message
Welcome to 2017 and our first Research Roundup of the new year.
As I emerge briefly from my grant writing, I would like to let everyone know that icare dust diseases care have opened their award round for 2017. They will offer Discovery grants, Translational research grants, and Clinical trial infrastructure support grants. Please see below for more details.
I’d also like to introduce a new feature to the Research Roundup, the Respirology Editor’s Choice. In it you will find links to open access articles from each monthly publication, accompanied with photos of the authors – many of which are TSANZ members.
Lastly, for those of you who have en bloc membership with ERS, the ERS Gold Medalgrants of €50,000 are now available. This award goes to researchers who have made an outstanding contribution in COPD, Asthma, or IPF, and are currently pursuing an active research project in these fields.
I wish you well in your grant writing and preparation for the ASM.
Enjoy your February Research Roundup,
Prof Phil Hansbro
Chair, Research Sub-Committee
The following articles will take you to thelimbic.com
A watershed moment for COPD research. A genome-wide association study of almost 50,000 people has uncovered 68 high priority genes as targets for future COPD drug development. We find out more from co-author and respiratory physician Professor Alan James, from the University of Western Australia. Read more.
Respiratory infection an ‘under-appreciated’ MI risk. People have a 17-fold increased risk of acute MI within the first seven days of experiencing lower respiratory infection symptoms an Australian study shows. Read more.
+ Spirometry report highlights access issues. A new report into the use of spirometry in the diagnosis and management of chronic airways disease has highlighted “huge barriers” to access. Read More.
$1 million response to thunderstorm asthma. In response to the thunderstorm asthma event in Melbourne and Geelong last November, the Victorian Government has pledged $1 million to better understand and help predict the rare phenomenon. Read more.
Lung cancer remains #1 cause of cancer deaths. A report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare confirms that lung cancer remains Australia’s leading cause of cancer deaths – with over 9,000 deaths from the disease anticipated in 2017. Read more.
Open Awards
Watch this space for more award announcements…
Respirology Editor’s Choice
Respirology Issue 22.2
Infant lung function predicts asthma persistence and remission in young adults
By Owens et al. (resp.12901/ RES-16-007.R2)
Dr Louisa Owens with Infant Lung Function testing equipment
By Winterton et al. (resp12881/RES-15-779.R2)
Incidence of pulmonary embolism over time relative to intensive care unit admissions (top) and relative to the overall Australia and New Zealand population (bottom).
Respirology Issue 22.1
Ecological study on solid fuel use and pneumonia in young children: A worldwide association
By Accinelli et al. (resp.12865/ RES-16-237.R1)
Illustrative example of indoor biomass pollution and the favourable impact of the installation of a non-polluting stove in Peru.
Malignant pleural fluid from mesothelioma has potent biological activities
By Lee et al. (resp12874/RES-16-044.R1)
From left to right: Prof Gary Lee, Dr Su Lyn Leong, Hui Min Cheah, Dr Sally Lansley and Prof Jenette Creaney at the Harry Perkins Instituteof Medical Research in Perth, Western Australia.
Lungs for Life Grant Bulletin
The Lungs for Life project has identified the following direct-to-researcher grants and awards due between late March and mid-2017:
Ramaciotti Foundation’s (Perpetual Trustees) Biomedical Research Award – closes 17/03/17
Presented every two years to a group or individual undertaking biomedical research within universities, public hospitals, medical research institutes or other similar organisations. The award funds projects including personnel, equipment, major infrastructure improvements or new laboratories that help an existing, well-funded program of research or enable a major new program to begin. Traditionally, it funds a need that would not attract funding elsewhere.
Channel 7 Children’s Research Foundation Grants – closes 21/03/17
Supports health, educational or social research to encourage and advance investigation into the cause, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of any condition that may affect the general health, education or welfare of children in South Australia and the Northern Territory.
World of Children Health Award (2017) – closes 01/04/17
The Health Award recognises an individual who has made a significant contribution to children in the fields of health, medicine or the sciences.
L’Oreal Australia and New Zealand for Women in Science Fellowships – 2017 – closes 03/04/17
For early career women scientists to consolidate their careers and rise to leadership positions in science. The Fellowships are awarded to women who have shown scientific excellence in their career with an appropriate research plan that will be assisted by the one-year Fellowship.
Wellcome Trust Technology Transfer Translation Awards – closes 14/04/17
Translation Awards aim to bridge the funding gap in the commercialisation of new technologies in the biomedical area. Current highlight area is Restoring the Body; however projects covering any aspect of technology development from a range of disciplines – including physical, computational and life sciences – will be considered.
The Rebecca L. Cooper Medical Research Foundation Al and Val Rosenstrauss Medical Research Fellowship – closes 28/04/17
The Al and Val Rosenstrauss Research Fellowships are named in honour of the late Al Rosenstrauss OAM and his wife, Val, for their contribution to the work of the Foundation over a period of more than 28 years. Research project must be in one of the nominated areas of medical research that are supported by the Foundation; Brain Sciences, Diabetes, Geriatrics, Lung Disease (other than cancer), Rheumatology, and Vision Sciences. Applicants who have received previous funding, or worked in a laboratory supported by the Foundation, will be favoured.
Sylvia and Charles Viertel Charitable Foundation Clinical Investigatorships – closes 30/04/17
To stimulate and encourage clinical research in Australia. In particular the grants are intended to assist new investigators to establish their research programs at the time of the difficult transition from doctoral and post-doctoral training posts to their first definitive clinical positions in an academic environment.
Sylvia and Charles Viertel Charitable Foundation Senior Medical Research Fellowship – closes 30/04/17
Providing salary and project grant support for outstanding medical researchers.
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Grand Challenges Explorations Round 19 – closes 11/05/17
Early-stage innovative research projects from a range of disciplines and regions.
Winston Churchill Memorial Trust Fellowship – closes 15/05/17
To provide an opportunity for Australians to travel overseas (for 4 – 6 weeks) to conduct research in their chosen field that is not readily available in Australia.
The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation Experienced Researcher Project Grants – closes 20/05/17
To support strategic, world-class, sophisticated research on the Foundation’s campus or in significant partnership with this campus in the priority areas of: Heart disease – heart failure, valvular heart disease, congenital heart disease; Lung disease – lung cancer, asbestos related diseases, COPD, pulmonary hypertension, cystic fibrosis, sleep disorders, asthma; Dementia – Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, Lewy Body disease, fronto-temporal dementia; Arthritis – osteoarthritis, joint replacement, growing cartilage.
Australian Institute of Policy and Science – CSL Florey Medal – closes 28/05/17
Award for an Australian biomedical researcher with significant achievements in biomedical science and/or human health advancement for research conducted primarily in Australia. Winners are expected to attend a presentation ceremony in Canberra in November.
The NVIDIA Foundation Compute the Cure Cancer Research Grants – closes 28/05/17
To advance the fight against cancer. Will fund projects that use computational omics to dramatically impact the battle against cancer and reduce the time it takes for research outcomes to be used effectively in a clinical environment.
Australian Institute of Policy and Science – CSL Young Florey Medal – closes 06/06/17
Award for an Australian biomedical researcher with significant early career achievements in biomedical science and/or human health advancement. Selection Criteria: Excellence in research achievement in the biomedical science and/or human health advancement; and Excellence and passion in communication and community engagement to promote understanding and engagement in science.
John T Reid Charitable Trusts – closes 28/06/17
The John T Reid Charitable Trusts is a national funding organisation with a wide ranging commitment to philanthropy around Australia. Funding focus is on community and social welfare, health support, aged and palliative care, education and youth support, arts and cultural heritage and the environment.
Lung Cancer Research Foundation Grants 2017 – closes 01/07/17
Lung cancer projects focused on one or more of the following: basic science; translational research; clinical research; supportive care; quality of care/outcomes.
Research Project and Survey Requests
Reminder: Survey invitation for Nurses and Allied Health on advance care planning in COPD
Dear Colleague
Our research team is conducting a survey to understand Palliative Care Nurses, Respiratory Nurses, and Allied Health Professionals that work in respiratory care’s knowledge and practice around advance care planning in patients with COPD. From the results of this study we hope to develop educational resources to assist health professionals when caring for this patient group.
We invite you to participate in a survey, that should take only 10-15 minutes to complete. Several disciplines are represented in the overall survey, however you will be directed to only those questions relevant to your discipline.
Ethics approval has been granted for this study from the University of Sydney. All 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.
Further information about this research study is provided in the enclosed document [DOWNLOAD]. If you have any questions regarding this research, please do not hesitate to contact Dr Rebecca Disler directly. Thank you in advance for participating.
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: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ACPHealthProf
Kind regards
Dr Rebecca Disler | Senior Lecturer in Chronic Disease | The University of Sydney
Email: rebecca.disler@sydney.edu.au | Tel: 0406 876 587
Dr Natasha Smallwood | Respiratory Physician Department of Respiratory Medicine | The Royal Melbourne Hospital
A/Prof Louis Irving | Respiratory Physician Department of Respiratory Medicine | The Royal Melbourne Hospital
Prof David Currow | Palliative Care Physician Flinders University | Adelaide
STUDENT DECLARATION
Yuxiu Cui will be analysing the anonymous study results as the basis for her degree of Bachelor of Advanced Nursing (Honours) at The University of Sydney. This will take place under the supervision of Dr Rebecca Disler.
Acceptability and Perceived Benefit of Prehabilitation amongst Thoracic surgeons throughout Australia
Dear TSANZ members
This survey is being conducted to determine the Acceptability and Perceived Benefit of Prehabilitation amongst Thoracic Surgeons throughout Australia. It is part of a larger research project looking at the benefits of prehabilitation for individuals having lung cancer surgery in Australia.
This survey is open to thoracic surgeons currently practicing in Australia and New Zealand.
Your help in completing this survey is greatly appreciated. It is hoped that the results of this survey will assist the direction of future research into exercise interventions for patients with lung cancer.
It is anticipated this survey will take approximately 10 – 15 minutes to complete. Responses to this survey are anonymous and will remain confidential. All responses are voluntary. Completion of the survey will indicate your consent to participate. Please follow the link below to complete the survey online.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PREHAB
For further information or assistance with completing this survey please contact Anna Shukla (Senior Cardiorespiratory Physiotherapist – St Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne):
Email: anna.shukla@svha.org.au
This research has been approved by the School Of Health Sciences Human Research Ethics Advisory group (Ethics I.D 1646932) at the University of Melbourne