Respiratory Medicine research
Alfred Respiratory Medicine research seeks to advance knowledge, clinical care and patient outcomes in respiratory disease. Our research expertise spans laboratory-based research, clinical research, clinical trials, epidemiology and registry-based studies, qualitative research and implementation of research into practice.
About our research
Alfred Health is home to one of Australia’s largest departments of respiratory medicine. Respiratory medicine provides a unique environment for our research in diverse patient groups including:
- Asthma
- Allergic diseases
- Pulmonary fibrosis
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Pulmonary vascular disease
- Sleep disordered breathing
- Cystic fibrosis
We have a particular focus on advanced lung disease, with active research programs in adult and paediatric lung transplantation.
Our Respiratory Medicine research program is enhanced by state of the art respiratory and sleep physiology services. We offer clinical trials testing new respiratory treatments across the research pipeline, from first-in-disease to large Phase III and IV studies.
Respiratory Medicine research is multidisciplinary, linking senior clinician scientists, bench scientists, allied health professionals, primary care physicians and the community.
Our clinical and academic base is located at The Alfred, with experimental and clinical research laboratories located within the hospital and in the laboratories of Monash University at the Alfred Research Alliance.
In addition to our strong partnership with Monash University, we have research collaborations with a range of national and international partners including universities, research institutes, hospitals, industry, and leaders in patient advocacy.
Our achievements
- Prof Anne Holland was appointed head of Respiratory Medicine research at Alfred Health, to lead the development of our research strategy 2021-2024.
- Dr Jonathan Pham was awarded the 2020 NHMRC Gustav Nossal Postgraduate Scholarship Award, presented to the highest-ranked applicant for an NHMRC Postgraduate Scholarship in the Clinical Medicine and Science category.
- Rory Doolan was awarded the Robyn O'Hehir Honours Dux medal for being the top Honours student in 2020 at Central Clinical School, Monash University. Rory’s thesis was "Investigating the response of airway epithelial cells to damage - Use of the Helminth model of Nippostrongylus brasiliensis."
- Prof Michael Abramson and Prof Anne Holland were awarded Lung Health Legend Awards in 2021 by Lung Foundation Australia.
Grant success
- A/Prof Natasha Smallwood was awarded a grant from the Lord Mayors Charitable Foundation for a study titled "Future proofing the frontline: strategies to support frontline workers during times of crisis".
- Dr Narelle Cox received a COVID-19 Digital Grant from the Australian Academy of Science for her project "Easing health-service burden during COVID-19: Supporting implementation of remote rehabilitation in chronic lung disease".
- Dr Ryan Hoy, Prof Michael Abramson, Dr Hayley Barnes and Prof Anne Holland are co-investigators on a successful grant from the Medical Research Future Fund led by Prof Malcolm Sim from Monash University, entitled "Emerging techniques for earlier diagnosis and assessment of severity and progression of artificial stone silicosis".
Our partners
Publications
Ali GB, Bui DS, Lodge CJ, Waidyatillake NT, Perret JL, Sun C, Walters EH, Abramson MJ, Lowe AJ, Dharmage SC
(2021), J ALLERGY CLIN IMMUN, 148(3), 763-70
Borg BM, Thompson BR
(2021), Breathe, 17(3), 210099
Cox NS, Dal Corso S, Hansen H, McDonald CF, Hill CJ, Zanaboni P, Alison JA, O'Halloran P, Macdonald H, Holland AE
(2021), COCHRANE DB SYST REV, 1(1), CD013040
