Research Roundup:
September 2017
Welcome Message
We are pleased to announce that the TSANZ Awards for Research and Career Development are now open!
The TSANZ awards that you all know well are now open. We would like to highlight two of these awards which have been revised to open up the eligibility and use of these important funds. The TSANZ Peter Phelan Research Award is no longer limited to travel and funding may now be used to support any research venture in paediatric research, including but not limited to; training, travel, equipment, methodology, analysis, technical consult and/or consumables. Furthermore, the Maurice Blackburn Grant-in-Aid for Occupational Lung Disease is no longer bound to asbestos-related research and is open for applications for research into any occupational lung disease. We also have a brand new award – we are excited to offer for the first time the TSANZ/LFA CSL Behring Research Award for Alpha-1 anti-trypsin deficiency.
Remember too, abstract-linked awards will close on 13 October as submissions for the TSANZSRS ASM 2018 close. Apply now for some of the many abstract-linked awards and take the opportunity to present your work to our full membership by entering the Ann Woolcock New Investigator competition.
The full list of awards and more information on these can be found in the Open Awards section of this newsletter and on the TSANZ Awards web page.
Like many of our members, we have recently returned from the European Respiratory Society Congress where an overwhelming amount of scientific and clinical advances, discussions and debates were had over five days. The abstracts for most sessions can be found here and the limbic have provided us with some articles below highlighting key messages.
Enjoy the September edition of your research roundup.
Prof Phil Hansbro
Prof Sandra Hodge
Co-Chairs, Research Sub-Committee
The following articles will take you to thelimbic.com
ERS Review
We need to radically rethink asthma
Quadruple ICS a game changer for severe asthma
Revised GOLD criteria under scrutiny
CT scans help guide emphysema treatment
Mixed results for biologic in eosinophilic COPD
Vaping: Smokers also vape, respiratory irritants rife
The Holy Grail
How the heart matters in COPD. In this week’s holy grail Rain Shafuddin from New Zealand tells us how his work is contributing to the changing paradigm of cardiac dysfunction in COPD patients. Read More.
Top articles from the limbic
Stormy debate over thunderstorm asthma. Clinicians are debating whether to suggest seasonal preventative corticosteroids for people who have mild asthma plus hay fever in new guidelines for thunderstorm asthma prevention in Victoria. Read More.
Oxygen in ILD is complicated. The stigma associated with oxygen use, its complexity of use and an ‘evidence-free zone’ conspire against achieving optimal management of patients with interstitial lung disease. Read More.
Fan-tastic intervention for chronic breathlessness. Patients with breathlessness are using hand-held fans to delay the use of oxygen therapy and inhaled beta-agonists. Read More.
ICS/LABA combination dominates Australian asthma treatment. Australians using an inhaled corticosteroid for asthma are almost twice as likely as New Zealanders to take it in combination with a long-acting beta agonist but disease control is equally poor in both countries, new research has shown. Read More.
COPD and asthma contribute to global burden of disease. COPD caused 3.2 million deaths worldwide in 2015 – up almost 12% from 1990 as population growth and ageing outweighed any downward trend in age-standardised death rates. Read More.
Open Awards
Thoracic Society Awards
Abstract-linked awards now open
To apply for an abstract-linked award, you must complete the application coversheet using the upload functionality in the online abstract submission portal.
Ann Woolcock New Investigator Award
Boehringer Ingelheim COPD Travel Award
Janet Elder International Travel Award
Japanese Respiratory Society (JRS) Early Career Development
TSANZ Travel Grants to 2018 ASM
For more information visit http://www.tsanzsrs2018.com/abstracts/tsanz-awards-criteria/
Abstracts close 13 October 2017
TSANZ Research and Career Development Awards now open
TSANZ Peter Phelan Research Award
TSANZ Indigenous Respiratory Nursing Award
TSANZ / National Asthma Council Australia – Asthma and Airways Fellowship
Boeringher Ingelheim COPD Research Award
Maurice Blackburn Grant-in-Aid for Occupational Lung Disease
TSANZ Rob Pierce Grant-in-Aid for Indigenous Lung Health
TSANZ/LFA CSL Behring Research Award for Alpha-1 anti-trypsin deficiency
Awards close 13 November 2017
For more information visit https://www.thoracic.org.au/researchawards/tsanz-awards
More opening coming soon!
Lung Foundation Australia Awards
Lung Foundation Australia / Cochrane Airways Australia Scholarship 2018
Lung Foundation Australia and Cochrane Airways Australia invite applications for the Lung Foundation Australia/Cochrane Airways Australia Scholarship 2018 valued at $2,500. This scholarship is intended to assist with the completion, update and/or presentation of a Systematic Review. Cochrane Review Scholarships have been awarded on an annual basis since 2001, and have been highly productive.
A Cochrane review is an ideal topic for an advanced trainee in any health profession, or when initiating a PhD program, as most reviews can be completed within a year. Completed reviews are published on the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (Impact Factor 6.124 effective July 2016) and indexed in Medline. Conducting a review provides experience in critical appraisal of the literature, and other aspects of Evidence-Based Medicine.
Lung Foundation Australia / A Menarini Pty Ltd 2017 Travel Awards deadline extended to midnight 01 October 17
Lung Foundation Australia and A Menarini Australia Pty Ltd are offering two (2) Travel Grants of up to $1,500 for national conferences to key health professionals and researchers in Australia whose work is focused on improving outcomes for patients living with COPD.
The Travel Grants will be allocated across the following conference:
- APSR – Asian Pacific Society of Respirology Congress, 23 – 26 November 2017, Sydney, Australia. Applications close midnight 01 October 17.
Extra weighting will apply to those who have submitted an accepted Abstract (oral or poster) for the particular conference being applied for. Click here for more information.
Please note: Existing travel payments can be reimbursed for the successful applicants
How to participate
Follow the links above to access each award application form and download the information sheet.
Please email the TSANZ Awards Coordinator with any questions, comments or enquires.
Watch this space for more award announcements…
TSANZ Awards by Nomination
Nominations for the 2018 year have opened!
The following prestigious awards are presented annually to TSANZ members as an acknowledgment of the recipients’ outstanding and sustained contributions to respiratory health via advocacy and/or clinical practice, research and education. The nomination deadline for all the below awards is midnight AEDT Sunday 15 October 2017. All valid award nominations are submitted to the TSANZ Board for review and selection.
All of TSANZ’s Awards by Nomination are open to all financial members of the TSANZ. Nominees must be a financial member in the year they are nominated (2017) as well as the year the medal is awarded (2018). All nominations require support from two TSANZ members who are financial in the year the nomination is submitted (2017).
The Society Medal
The Society Medal was conceived as an acknowledgment of excellence in fields other than research, i.e. for the advancement of the practice of thoracic medicine in its widest sense by outstanding teaching or advocacy. Apply Now!
The Research Medal
The Research Medal is awarded in recognition of outstanding contributions to the advancement of knowledge in respiratory medicine or science carried out primarily in Australia or New Zealand. The award recognises an individual who has demonstrated sustained excellence in their field of research. Apply Now!
The 50th Anniversary Medal for Education & Training
The 50th Anniversary Medal for Education & Training was introduced in 2011 to mark the Society’s 50th Anniversary. The 50th Anniversary Medal is awarded in recognition of outstanding contributions to respiratory education and training in Australia or New Zealand. The award recognises an individual who has demonstrated sustained excellence in education and training.
This might take the form of formal and informal teaching within a university, hospital or other health care setting; curriculum development at an undergraduate or postgraduate level; using research to enhance the efficacy of educational activities; career mentoring of junior members of the Society; integration of teaching into clinical practice; or advocacy on behalf of medical education as applied to respiratory medicine. Apply Now!
Members from all disciplines and all branches of the Society are strongly encouraged to nominate a colleague for one of TSANZ’s Awards by Nomination!
Assistance
If you have any queries about submitting a nomination for any of the above awards, please contact the TSANZ office on + 61 2 9222 6200 between 9:00am and 5:00pm AEST or email TSANZoffice@thoracic.org
Fellow of the Thoracic Society
Nominations for the 2018 year have opened!
In 2012 the TSANZ Board created the official honour, Fellow of the Thoracic Society of Australia & New Zealand, to recognise TSANZ members with exceptional expertise and experience in respiratory medicine, research or health service and to acknowledge major contributions to the advancement of respiratory health in Australia or New Zealand.
All valid applications will be submitted to the TSANZ Professional Standards Sub-Committee (PSS) for review, before final ratification by the TSANZ Board.
Criteria
TSANZ Members considering applying for Fellowship of the TSANZ will need to meet the following criteria:
- A continuous financial member of TSANZ for five consecutive years in Australia and/or New Zealand as well as a minimum of ten years post-specialist qualification
- Contribution to advocacy and/or policy development
- Service within the community
- Distinguished leadership
- Contribution to research
- Contribution to teaching or training
- International recognition in his or her discipline.
Please Note: Applicants need to demonstrate exceptional contributions to 5 out of the 7 criteria listed above. For the remaining 2 criteria, the applicant must demonstrate a proven track record.
Application
If you would like to submit an application for TSANZ fellowship, or nominate a colleague, please CLICK HERE to download the application form.
Awarding of TSANZ Fellowship
- All successful TSANZ Fellow awardees will be announced at the Annual General Meeting at the Adelaide Annual Scientific Meeting in March next year.
- Following announcement, successful applicants for TSANZ Fellowship may employ the post nominal FThorSoc whilst remaining a financial member of the TSANZ.
- All FThorSoc recipients will receive a certificate, following the AGM.
TSANZ Fellows
The following members are recognised as having achieved TSANZ Fellow Status:
2017
- Abe Rubinfeld
- David Fielding
- Hubertus Jersmann
- Matthew Peters
- Peter Wark
- Phil Hansbro
- Scott Bell
- Vanessa McDonald
2016
- Christine McDonald
- Kwun Fong
2015
- Adam Jaffe
- Anne Chang
- Graham Hall
- Haydn Walters
- Ian Yang
- Jennifer Alison
- John Upham
- Peter Gibson
- Peter Middleton
- Robyn O’Hehir
2014
- Anthony Breslin AM
- Christine Jenkins
- David Langton
- David Serisier
- Gary Anderson
- Graham Simpson
- Jo Douglass
- John Armstrong
- Martin Phillips
- Paul Reynolds
- Peter Frith
- Peter Sly
- Peter van Asperen
- Philip Thompson
2013
- Robert Edwards
Grant Bulletin
This grant bulletin contains direct-to-researcher grants and awards due between October and December, 2017:
World Cancer Research Fund International – closes 06/10/17
To fund research studies exploring the link between diet, nutrition, body composition, physical activity, and cancer prevention and survival. There are 2 types of grants: Investigator Initiated Grants for Principal Investigators; and Pilot Grants to be used as start-up funds for pilot research. Two main themes: identifying the mechanisms that underpin the effects of diet, nutrition and physical activity on cancer; addressing the host factors that influence an individual’s susceptibility to cancer development or progression.
The Bonser Family Research Grant and Mi-tec Publishing Medical Research Grant – closes 21/10/17
Cancer Council Tasmania calling for research relating to the reduction of the incidence and impact of cancer on individuals and the community. It includes every aspect of care, from prevention and early detection that leads to a better outcome, treatment and supportive care. The priority area is cancer control.
2017 VicHealth Innovation Research Grant – EOI closing date 26/10/17
VicHealth is calling for applications from researchers to undertake a two-year innovative research project that has the potential to generate large health gains for Victorian population groups. Projects must address one of VicHealth’s research priorities: promoting healthy eating; encouraging regular physical activity; preventing tobacco use; preventing harm from alcohol; improving mental wellbeing.
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Grand Challenges Explorations Round 20 – closes 08/11/17
Early-stage innovative research projects from a range of disciplines and regions. The challenges for Round 20 are: Healthy Minds for Adolescent Mothers: Achieving Healthy Outcomes for the Family; Innovations for Integrated Diagnostics Systems; Novel Approaches for Improving Timeliness of Routine Immunisation Birthdose and Healthcare Worker Skill in Low-Resource Settings.
Integra Underground Community Investment – closes 01/12/17
Funding is provided for the following focus areas: Capacity Building, including education/training, enterprise development, and economic diversification; Health; Environment.
Pro Bono Australia – Impact 25 Awards (2017) – closes 01/12/17
Award to name the year’s most influential people who have made a significant and positive impact. Nominees should embody the principles of integrity, initiative, foresight, and collaboration.
Australian Respiratory Council Harry Windsor Research Grants Scheme – closes 07/12/17
For projects which address research in tuberculosis, respiratory diseases due to other infections, or respiratory diseases related to tobacco use. Within these categories, projects examining TB/HIV, community issues or the health of disadvantaged groups that relate to the work that the ARC undertakes within Australia and the Pacific Region are particularly encouraged. The proposals can encompass clinical research, public health research or basic scientific research. Grants are available for projects submitted to the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) which are considered fundable but which do not reach the cut-off mark for funding in any one year.
Perpetual Trustees 2018 IMPACT Philanthropy Application Program – closes 08/12/17
Perpetual distributes to all sectors including social welfare, health, medical research, conservation and environment, education, and arts and culture. As is consistent with Perpetual’s IMPACT Philanthropy Application Program process, an organisation’s submission will be assessed against Leadership, Capability, Strategy and Outcomes. Further 2018 information will be released later in 2017.
Allen Foundation Grants (2018) – closes 31/12/17
Priorities are: to fund relevant nutritional research; to support programs for the education and training of mothers during pregnancy and after the birth of their children; to assist in the training of persons to work as educators and demonstrators of good nutritional practices; to encourage the dissemination of information regarding healthful nutritional practices and habits; in limited situations to make grants to help solve immediate emergency hunger and malnutrition problems.
Rolling Grants
Auswide Community Grants Scheme – grants under $5 000 close 30/09/17, grants over $10 000 close 21/10/17, grants over$ 5 000 close 01/12/17.
Supports local activities, organisations, events and projects covering a wide range of sporting, cultural and community interests and endeavours. Includes community services, events and celebrations, buildings, public spaces and facilities, research, and organisational development.
John Templeton Foundation
Interest areas are: science and the big questions; character virtue development; freedom and free enterprise; exceptional cognitive talent and genius; genetics; voluntary family planning.
Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds Travel Grants
Grants for non-European researchers to travel to Europe for up to three months to pursue an experimental project in basic biomedical research.
Baxalta Bioscience Grants – Medical Education & Fellowship Grants
Baxalta provides Medical Education & Fellowship Grants to support accredited or unaccredited educational symposia, seminars, web-based sessions, or fellowship programs directed at certified healthcare professionals. They are currently interested in supporting the following areas: Immunology; Hematology; Oncology.
Coopers Brewery Foundation – current round closes 01/08/2017
Medical research and health care; educational development for the young; aged care; promotion of family and community support based on Christian values.
The Balnaves Foundation
The Balnaves Foundation supports organisations that aim to create a better Australia through education, medicine and the arts with a focus on young people, the disadvantaged, and Indigenous communities.
allport bequest – closes 30/06 and 31/12 yearly
Must benefit citizens of Hobart. Organisation must be charitable or the project must be for charitable purposes.
Respirology
Congratulations and thank you to our members involved in the publication of the new TSANZ/LFA IPF position papers.
Treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in Australia and New Zealand: A position statement from the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand and the Lung Foundation Australia
Helen E. Jo, Lauren K. Troy, Gregory Keir, Daniel C. Chambers, Anne Holland, Nicole Goh, Margaret Wilsher, Sally de Boer, Yuben Moodley, Christopher Grainge, Helen Whitford, Sally Chapman, Paul N. Reynolds, Ian Glaspole, David Beatson, Leonie Jones, Peter Hopkins, Tamera J. Corte
DOI: 10.1111/resp.13146
Jyotika D. Prasad, Annabelle Mahar, Jane Bleasel, Samantha J. Ellis, Daniel C. Chambers, Fiona Lake, Peter M.A. Hopkins, Tamera J. Corte, Heather Allan, Ian N. Glaspole
DOI: 10.1111/resp.13163
Editor’s Choice – Respirology Issue 22.7
Serum YKL-40 is a reliable biomarker for pulmonary alveolar proteinosis
Francesco Bonella, Xiaoping Long, Xuan He, Shinichiro Ohshimo, Matthias Griese, Josune Guzman and Ulrich Costabel
DOI: 10.1111/resp.13082
Research team members from Germany and Japan. From left to right: Francesco Bonella, Ulrich Costabel and Shinichiro Ohshimo
Matthew R. Lammi, Lesley A. Saketkoo, Jessica K. Gordon, Paula Lauto, Karen Fagan, Virginia D. Steen and on behalf of the PHAROS Investigators
DOI: 10.1111/resp.13067
‘River Spirit’ by glass artist Ray King, displayed in the lobby of University Medical Center New Orleans
APSR Fukuchi Award for Best Original Research Paper published in Respirology
Randomized controlled trial of the effect of regular paracetamol on influenza infection
Sarah Jefferies, Irene Braithwaite, Steven Walker, Mark Weatherall, Lance Jennings, Michelle Luck, Kevin Barrett, Robert Siebers, Timothy Blackmore, Richard Beasley, Kyle Perrin, On behalf of the Pi Study Group
DOI: 10.1111/resp.12685
The paper was shortlisted, from all 2016 Respirology research papers, by an international expert panel comprising of Prof Antonio Anzueto (University of Texas, San Antonio, USA), Prof John Mastronarde (Ohio State University, Columbus, USA), Prof Chunxue Bai (APSR Research Committee, Shanghai, China), Prof Albert Li (Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong) and Prof Christina Spengler (ETH Zurich, Switzerland), chaired by Prof Michael Niederman (Weill Cornell Medical College, NY, USA).The award will be formally presented at the next APSR Congress in Sydney, Australia in November 2017.
Research Project and Survey Requests
Current Opinions of Severe Asthma Specialists on the Utility of Biomarkers for the Management of Corticosteroid Treatment: A Survey
If you are an Australian clinician involved in the care of patients with severe asthma, we would be very grateful if you could complete a brief questionnaire.
We would ideally like to sample opinions from specialists involved in the care and management of patients with severe asthma. This is the first round of a multi-national Delphi process to reach a consensus and there will be follow-up questions based on the answers we receive from round one (with likely three rounds in total).
A strategy to optimize corticosteroid use in the severe asthma population using biomarkers is currently being investigated. Professors Peter Wark and Jodie Simpson at the University of Newcastle, Australia are looking at an algorithm to adjust corticosteroid dose using exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), and peripheral blood eosinophils. This survey is being conducted by them, and will also be part of a Research Masters degree by Dr. James Michael Ramsahai. As part of this project, we would like to seek your views on some aspects of biomarker based corticosteroid adjustment in severe asthma.
For more details, please see the attached information statement. Please note that completion of the survey will imply consent to participate, and for the data collected to be used for analysis. You may withdraw at any time.
If you agree to participate, please follow the link to complete the survey
http://selectsurvey.hnehealth.nsw.gov.au/TakeSurvey.aspx?SurveyID=l6M2m5m3
Thank you,
Peter Wark
Jodie Simpson
J. Michael Ramsahai JamesMichael.Ramsahai@uon.edu.au
Case Management of Venous thromboembolism
Many thanks for your time in completing this short survey, which should take no longer than 5 minutes. At St. John of God, we are exploring the management of VTE in patients with or without malignancy and in the perioperative setting.
We appreciate there are a large number of guidelines, many of which can be contradictory in their recommendation. Irrespective of this, we would greatly value your feedback on how you would manage the following cases, recognising that several answers may be appropriate.
This survey consists of 4 short cases which will cover a range of clinical scenarios with regards the management of VTE in the immediate post-operative and preoperative period, as well as the management of VTE in the setting of suspected and confirmed solid organ malignancy.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/IVCFilter
All results are completely anonymised and your participation is greatly appreciated.
Kind regards,
Prof Eli Gabbay egabbay@respiratorywest.com.au
Dr Philip Craven
Australian Society for Medical Research National Scientific Conference
Held in Sydney, at the Charles Perkins Centre, from November 14th to 15th, 2017 the NSC has an exciting new design all packed up in a shorter format.
In these highly competitive times, the NSC 2017 will fulfil an important yet unmet need for early to mid career health and medical researchers.
Entitled “Science and Survival – equipping you with the tools to further your research career” the aims of the conference are:
- To empower and inspire our present and future scientific leaders.
- To provide a springboard for early to mid-career researchers to showcase their research.
- To promote scientific excellence, collaboration and transdisciplinary research.
- To upskill in grantsmanship and understand the promotion process.
We are very excited about the new format of NSC 2017 with both scientific presentations and visionary professional development workshops.
Conference highlights
Mock GRP session with all the elements of a GRP and the perspective of a narrator.
Inside the scientist studio – Norman Swan interviews Nobel Prize Winner Professor Peter Doherty.
Politics of promotion to provide invaluable insights into the intricate and necessary journey to Associate Professorship.
The Edwards Orator is Distinguished Professor Jagadish Chennupati from ANU. A stellar transdisciplinary researcher and a nanotechnology pioneer. He is also a charismatic leader and mentor who will inspire our participants.
Dr Bon-Kyoung Koo from the University of Cambridge will deliver the Firkin Oration. Dr Koo is an ascending star in stem cell research and a world leading researcher in the experimental dissection of human stomach development – all generated from stem cells.
ASMR Peter Doherty Leading Lights Award. This year ASMR will launch a new award aimed at recognising the outstanding contributions of Australian mid-career researchers.
The Networking and Mentoring Breakfast. A unique opportunity for students in particular to share their concerns and ask questions of experienced mentors.