Research Roundup:
April 2019
Welcome Message
The TSANZSRS19 was a great success and we thank all delegates and exhibitors for supporting respiratory research and professional development once again.
At TSANZSRS19 respiratory research received a much needed boost of funding from TSANZ, LFA, CFA, NAC, and our partners. These awards were announced at the Respiratory Research Excellence Awards session and the Gala Dinner. Please find a re-cap of all the Thoracic Society Board Awards and Research Awards below, including the winners of the Special Interest Group Awards.
During the conference we opened a number of larger TSANZ awards, namely the AstraZeneca Respiratory Research Fellowships, which will support one early-career researcher and one mid-career researcher and the Vertex Cystic Fibrosis Research Awards, which will support one adult CF research project and one paediatric CF research project. There are also opportunities for IPF PhD scholarships and Menarini travel awards from the Lung Foundation. Links to these awards can be found in the Open Awards section below.
Enjoy the April edition of your research roundup.
Prof Sandra Hodge
Chair, Research Sub-Committee
$1 MILLION FOR LUNG DISEASE RESEARCH ANNOUNCED
Top lung health bodies raise much needed funds but more investment needed
(Thursday, 8th April 2019): Over a million dollars in lung research investment was announced over the weekend at the Respiratory Research Excellence Awards at the Australia and New Zealand Annual Scientific Meeting for Leaders in Lung Health & Respiratory Science(TSANZSRS19) on the Gold Coast. The conference brings together Australia and New Zealand’s leading lung health experts to present latest research and improve knowledge and understanding of lung disease.
The Research Excellence Awards, run for the second year by Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand (TSANZ) – the hosts of the conference – alongside the Lung Foundation, Cystic Fibrosis Australia and the National Asthma Council of Australia, provides over 40 researchers with support in the form of project funding, fellowships and travel grants raised through private donations, sponsorship and leveraged financing from recipients’ institutions.
“We’re honoured to be able to support some of Australia’s greatest minds in lung disease research; research that’s making a difference to the lives of the 1 in 4 Australians with lung disease,” said TSANZ President Elect Professor Bruce Thompson.
“This funding enables our researchers to build respiratory knowledge and capacity in the respiratory workforce, with the overall goal of preventing, curing and alleviating disability from lung disease. Every dollar invested takes us one step closer to reaching that goal,” he said.
Despite the success of the Awards, the organisers warn that lung disease research is still grossly underfunded when compared to other diseases. Far more investment is required, they say.
“It’s important to recognise the exceedingly hard work that our organisations are putting in to raising the profile of respiratory research, and to express our thanks for the contribution of donors, sponsors and institutions This is only our second year and look at what we’ve achieved,” said TSANZ CEO Tanya Buchanan.
“However, fundraising alone is not the way to manage diseases affecting a quarter of Australians. Lung disease has to attract the same level of research funding enjoyed by other disease areas such as breast, prostate, and heart disease. We look forward to seeing if the implementation of the National Strategic Action Plan for Lung Conditions delivers this,” she said.
2019 RESPIRATORY RESEARCH EXCELLENCE AWARD WINNERS
TSANZ would like to congratulate the following Award winners. For information on how to apply for next year’s Awards visit the TSANZ website Research and Awards page.
|
Society Medal |
Professor Helen Reddel |
|
Research Medal |
Professor Philip Hansbro |
|
Laennec Medal |
Professor Allan R Glanville |
|
Ann Woolcock New Investigator Award |
Jesse Armitage |
|
Best training Video |
Elizabeth Salamon, Selena West, Ursula Swan, Sandra Daly |
|
CSL Behring TSANZ / LFA Alpha-1 Anti-trypsin Deficiency Research Award |
Gang Liu |
|
Australian Cystic Fibrosis Research Trust Innovation Grant |
Gerard Kaiko, Peter Wark, Shafagh Water, and Adam Jaffe |
|
TSANZ and National Asthma Council Australia Asthma and Airways Career Development Fellowship |
Kimberly Wang |
|
Boehringer Ingelheim COPD Research Award 2019 |
Tatt Jhong Haw |
|
Maurice Blackburn Grant-in-Aid for Occupational Lung Disease |
Jane Bourke and Ryan Hoy |
|
Boston Scientific Research Award for Interventional Pulmonology |
Sanjeevan Muruganandan |
|
Vertex Cystic Fibrosis Research Awards |
ECFS: Elena Schneider-Futschik NACFC: Rebecca Stockwell |
|
TSANZ Peter Phelan Research Award |
Elena Schneider-Futschik |
|
TSANZ Rob Pierce Grant-In-Aid for Indigenous Lung Health |
Gabrielle McCallum |
|
TSANZ / Boehringer Ingelheim Australia COPD Travel Award |
Alen Faiz |
|
TSANZ / Boehringer Ingelheim New Zealand COPD Travel Award |
Eskandarain Shafuddin |
|
TSANZ/JRS Early Career Development Award |
Jemma Seyfang |
|
Janet Elder International Travel Awards |
Mid-Career Award Recipient: Kimberley Wang Early Career Award Recipient 1: Vikas Goyal Early Career Award Recipient 2: Yet H Khor |
|
TSANZ Respiratory Nurse Career Development Award for Indigenous Research |
Betty Poot Christine Sullivan |
|
Maurice Blackburn ASM Travel Award |
Leona Dowman |
|
Shine a light a lung cancer PhD 2019 |
Kanishka Rangamuwa |
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David Wilson PhD Scholarship in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Research 2019 |
Archana Gaikwad |
|
Shine a light on lung cancer grant-in-aid |
Surein Arulananda |
|
Lung Foundation Australia/ Eleanor Greenwood Memorial Grant in Aid for Interstitial Lung Disease Research |
Yet Hong Khor |
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Lung Foundation Australia /Lizotte Family Research Award for Interstitial PF Research |
Leona Dowman |
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Lung Foundation Australia /Ludwig Engel GIA for Physiological research |
Katrina Tonga |
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Lung Foundation Australia /Ivan Cash Research GIA – IPF |
Adelle Jee |
|
Lung Foundation Australia /Cochrane |
Jenifer Liang |
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Shine a light on lung cancer nursing/allied health fellowship in lung cancer research |
Vanessa Brunelli |
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Lung Foundation Australia Travel Awards: Menarini Travel Grants |
ERS – Hannah O’Farrell and Jack Bozier ATS – Thomas Altree and Razia Zakarya APSR – Leanne Ross and Hai Bac Tran |
|
Lung Foundation Australia/Eleanor Greenwood Memorial ILD Travel Grant |
Cecilia Prele Michael Schuliga Jade Jaffar |
SIG AWARDS
Supported by TSANZ
Cell, Immunology and Molecular Biology: Dhammika Leshan
Evidence-based Medicine and Practice: Yet Hong Khor
Peter van Asperen Paediatric: Kiara Sclip
Physiotherapy: Jamie Wood
Respiratory Infectious Disease: Benjamin Diggins
Tobacco: Henry Gomez
Supported by Asthma Australia
Asthma & Allergy: Teresa Williams
Supported by National Asthma Council
Asthma & Allergy : Cherry Thompson
Supported by Lung Foundation Australia
Pulmonary Physiology and Sleep, John Reid Prize: Graeme Zosky
David Serisier Memorial Award for Translational Research in Bronchiectasis: Su Wei Khung
Supported by Cystic Fibrosis Australia
Cystic Fibrosis: Elena Schneider-Futschik
Supported by Maurice Blackburn
Lung Cancer: Lara Edbrooke
Occ Env Lung Disease / Population Health: Edward Harris
Palliative Care and Symptom Support: Thomas Moran
Supported by Carroll & O’Dea
Interventional Pulmonology and Bronchoscopy: Deirdre Fitzgerald
Supported by Boehringer Ingelheim
Orphan Lung Diseases, Lung Transplant, Interstitial Lung Disease and Pulmonary Vascular Disease: Jemma Seyfang
Primary Care: Mary Roberts
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Sonia Cheng
Respiratory Nurses: Jane Neil
TSANZ Best Poster: Kris Nilsen: A new tool to monitor disease in IPF
CONGRATULATIONS TO…
TSANZ would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate the following New Fellows for 2019:
- Prof Anne Holland
- Dr Denise O’Driscoll
- Dr Jane Bourke
- A/Prof Jeff Garrett
- Prof Paul Foster
- Prof Peter Eastwood
- Prof Sandra Hodge
Open Awards
Thoracic Society Awards
AstraZeneca Respiratory Research Fellowships – closes 2nd June 2019
Vertex Adult Cystic Fibrosis Research Award – closes 2nd June 2019
Vertex Paediatric Cystic Fibrosis Research Award – closes 2nd June 2019
Lung Foundation Awards
Lung Foundation Australia Brian Eaton Memorial PhD Scholarship in IPF – closes 10th June 2019
Lung Foundation Australia Diana Cox PhD Scholarship in IPF – closes 10th June 2019
Lung Foundation Australia / A Menarini Pty Ltd 2019 Travel Awards
Travel application deadlines
ATS: 22nd March 2019 (5pm AEST)
ERS: 31st July 2019 (5pm AEST)
APSR: 13th September 2019 (5pm AEST)
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…
The following articles will take you to thelimbic.com
Antibiotics prevent asthma exacerbations, but at a cost
Could FOT be the next home monitoring tool for COPD?
TSANZ ‘no’ to e-cigs: pharmacotherapy first for patients who want to quit
Polysomnography backed for NIV titration
Why extrapolating success from CF to bronchiectasis is tricky
Potential biomarkers for IPF found
Respiratory impacts of mining extend to communities: public health expert
Functional decline at end of life shows ‘tipping point’ for respiratory patients
Half of RACP physician trainees are depressed, stressed, anxious
Video consultations have limited role in rural outreach, specialists say
Access to e-cigarettes will improve Australia’s health
Head-to-head biologics trial to address ‘age discrimination’ in severe asthma
Respirology – Editor’s Choice
Respirology Issue 24.4 2019
Helen E. Jo, Ian Glaspole, Nicole Goh, Peter M.A. Hopkins, Yuben Moodley, Paul N. Reynolds, Sally Chapman, Eugene Haydn Walters, Christopher Zappala, Heather Allan, Sacha Macansh, Christopher Grainge, Gregory J. Keir, Andrew Hayen, Douglas Henderson, Sonja Klebe, Stefan B. Heinze, Anne Miller, Hannah C. Rouse, Edwina Duhig, Wendy A. Cooper, Annabelle M. Mahar, Samantha Ellis, Samuel R. McCormack, Bernard Ng, David B. Godbolt, Tamera J. Corte
DOI: 10.1111/resp.13427
Distribution of participants in the Australian IPF Registry
Shane A. Landry, Siobhan Banks, Peter A. Cistulli, Garun S. Hamilton, Laure Héraud, Kristina Kairaitis, Steven Lubke, Sutapa Mukherjee, Teanau Roebuck, Joesph Soda, Darren Umbers, Shantha M. W. Rajaratnam, Darren Mansfield.
DOI: 10.1111/resp.13413
From left to right: Prof Shantha Rajaratnam, Dr Shane Landry, A/Prof Darren Mansfield from Monash University and the Monash Medical Centre in Melbourne, Australia
Research Review
Australian Respiratory Research Review Issue 77
New Zealand Respiratory Research Review Issue 158
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 to reach consensus. This is the second round of a multi-national Delphi process to reach a consensus and there may be follow-up questions based on the answers we receive from this round (with likely 2-3 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 Masters by Research 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=78M2nn61
*for issues with the survey link, please try copying and pasting into your browser and/or using Firefox browser. Feel free to contact the investigators with any questions*
Thank you,
Peter Wark
Jodie Simpson
J. Michael Ramsahai JamesMichael.Ramsahai@uon.edu.au
Survey of Attitudes of Australian Specialists to Lung Cancer Screening with Low Dose Computed Tomography
To Members of the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand,
Lung cancer screening with low dose computed tomography has been implemented overseas however is still a debated topic within Australia. We are conducting a survey of Australian specialists and their knowledge and attitudes towards lung cancer screening and perceived barriers to the implementation of lung cancer screening with low dose computed tomography within Australia.
The anonymous survey is available online using the SurveyMonkey survey tool and takes approximately 7 minutes to complete. It can be accessed via the following link. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/AttitudesToLDCT
Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you require any further information. We attach our study protocol and copy of HREC approval (The Prince Charles Hospital Human Research and Ethics Committee LNR/2018/QPCH/44970).
Thank you for your kind support.
Yours truly
Rachel McLellan, Advanced RACP Trainee
Kwun Fong
Henry Marshall
Rayleen Bowman
Ian Yang
University of Queensland Thoracic Research Centre at The Prince Charles Hospital
Metro North Hospital and Health Service | Queensland Government
Rode Road, Chermside, Brisbane QLD 4032, AUSTRALIA
t. 61 7 [31394000] e. ILST@health.qld.gov.au | www.health.qld.gov.au
New survey about Victorian doctors’ end-of-life decision-making
Victorian doctors in specialties likely to be involved in end-of-life decisions are being surveyed about their decision-making practices involving adult patients. Researchers from the NHMRC-funded Centre of Research Excellence in End-of-Life Care are conducting a study to determine what sort of end-of-life decisions are being made by doctors, how often these decisions occur and for what sort of patients.
At present, there are no up-to-date, representative Australian data describing the frequency and nature of medical end-of-life decisions involving adults, and the characteristics of patients about whom such decisions are made. The research aims to provide an evidence base to understand current medical practice in Victoria including the extent to which palliative care is provided to patients at the end of life. Findings from this research will also inform improvements in the quality of end-of-life care.
A sample of Victorian doctors will be contacted in April and May by the AMA’s Australia Medical Publishing Company (AMPCo) to invite them to complete a survey. The survey can be completed in hard copy or online. Participating doctors who complete their survey before 16 May will go into the draw for one of three prizes to the value $100, in fine wine, or a donation to a registered charity of your choice.
If you have any queries about this research, please feel free to contact Dr Rachel Feeney[rachel.feeney@qut.edu.au]. The research team is grateful for the time and insight of the doctors who support this research by completing this survey.
Management of complicated parapneumonic effusions and empyemas with the use of intrapleural fibrinolytics
Dear TSANZ Member,
You are invited to participate in a survey that is being conducted as part of a research study. The following survey asks a series of questions about your current practice, specifically with regards to the management of complicated parapneumonic effusions and empyemas with the use of intrapleural fibrinolytics. Insights gained will be considered for future presentation and publication. The estimated time to complete the survey is 10 minutes. Partial responses will not be saved if you exit out the survey early. Your participation is voluntary and anonymous. Responses will be kept confidential. Your contribution is greatly appreciated.
The survey can be completed here: https://hms.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8ddQsXRFwaqAtPD
If you have any questions about the survey, please contact the study team at: vholden@som.umaryland.edu
We thank you in advance for your participation.
Sincerely,
Van Holden, MD
Mihir Parikh, MD
Alex Chee, MD
Adnan Majid, MD
Division of Thoracic Surgery & Interventional Pulmonology
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Harvard Medical School
The attached survey has been approved by the Beth Israel Deaconess Institutional Review Board – The IRB Protocol # is 2018P000052.