Respiratory

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Advancing research and improving health for people with respiratory conditions

An estimated 3.5% ($4 billion) of total disease expenditure in the Australian health system is due to respiratory conditions

By developing new, and supporting existing, collaborations from across the Partnership, we aim to support the implementation of evidence into practice that will ensure respiratory patients receive the highest level of evidence-based care.

Now entering its third year, the Network combines clinicians from all facets of respiratory care, from specialist physicians to physiotherapists and pharmacists. Four sub-groups work together to generate ideas within sub-specialties:

  • Asthma
  • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
  • Pulmonary Fibrosis and Pulmonary Vascular Disease
  • Cystic Fibrosis and Bronchiectasis.

Network Leads

COVID-19 Response

Establishing a platform for a series of community-based trials of treatments for the virus

Professor Guy Marks, Head of the Woolcock’s Respiratory and Environmental Epidemiology Group, is leading this project in collaboration with the clinical trials centre which will expand over time to link to projects across the nation and internationally, in the UK and New Zealand.

Projects looking at the immune response in patients, contacts and healthcare workers

Woolcock epidemiologist Associate Professor Greg Fox (also at the University of Sydney and SLHD) has been working on COVID-19 modelling in collaboration with Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. He is also leading a project to study COVID-19 in Vietnam, where the Woolcock has an established research base.

Developing novel COVID-19 therapies for the upper and lower respiratory tract; Investigating how to ‘Cap’ COVID-19 to ‘cloak’ this virus, making it ineffective

Professor Paul Young, Professor Daniela Traini and Dr Hui Xin Ong from the Respiratory Technology group, Woolcock and the University of Sydney are collaborating with colleagues from the University, a number of international pharmaceutical companies as well as with Canadian researchers.

Investigating the Value of Pulmonary Rehabilitation

The COPD sub-group have been working to deliver consolidated data on the value of pulmonary rehab to prevent hospitalisations in Australia. It draws from hospital data about patients throughout Australia who have received pulmonary rehabilitation.

Pulmonary rehabilitation involves exercise training and behavioural therapies designed to improve how people with chronic lung disease function in daily life. While there is international evidence on the value of pulmonary rehabilitation in preventing hospitalisations, no studies have been conducted in Australia at this scale.

Get Involved

The best way to get involved with the SHP Respiratory Network is to contact the leaders directly, or visit the Woolcock Institute's website for more information about their work.

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