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Research

Research Overview and History

The ARC is committed to building expertise and sustainable capacity in respiratory health by fostering innovative research to promote respiratory health. ARC’s contribution to the discovery of new knowledge and enhanced scientific understanding in the field of respiratory health has been through research grants and a Fellowship Program.

The funding provided through these programs has made a significant impact on the research landscape in Australia. Through the allocation of seed funding, it is ARC’s intention that there is a return on investment to create additional funding for research in respiratory health.

Each year ARC awards grants for research projects that address basic science, clinical research, and public health in infectious lung disease from tuberculosis or other infections such as COVID-19, or chronic respiratory diseases related to environmental factors such as tobacco or bushfire smoke exposure.

Since the 1990’s ARC has provided in excess of $2.5million in research funding to address a range of issues relating to respiratory disease and tuberculosis. A list of the research projects and Fellowship Grants supported over the past two decades can be found below.

Dr Jodie Simpson

Characterisation and treatment of innate immune dysfunction in older people with obstructive airway disease.
University of Newcastle
Final Report Click here

Dr Ingrid Laing

The genetic influences on causal pathways of acute lower respiratory tract infections (ALRIs) in highly susceptible infants in PNG.
Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, Perth
Final Report Click Here

Funding Recipients

2023

Dr Lauren Fairley
Centenary Institute
Mitochondrial transplantation as a next generation therapeutic for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
$19,366
 
2023
Professor Steve Graham & Dr Rina Triasih
University of Melbourne
Evaluation of detect-treat-prevent for Multi-Drug Resistant/Rifampicin Resistant tuberculosis in Indonesian children
$20,000
 
2023
Dr Emily MacLean
Sydney University
Finding tuberculosis among adolescents: new diagnostic tools and strategies
$18,500
 
2023
Professor Guy Marks AO
The Woolcock Research Institute
Barriers to latent tuberculosis treatment in Ca Mau, Vietnam
$20,000
 

2022

Associate Professor Stephen Corbett
Sydney University, Western Clinical School
A case control study investigating the high incidence of TB among Nepalese immigrants in NSW: Descent from altitude or a legacy of genetic adaptations to hypoxia?
$20,000
 
2022
Associate Professor Alexander Larcombe
Curtin University/Telethon Kids Institute
The impact of heated-tobacco-product use on gene expression in the lung – are they really a better alternative to cigarette smoking?
$20,000
 
2022
Professor Mark Nicol
University of Western Australia
A comparative evaluation of the accuracy of tuberculosis-specific skin tests in Thailand
$19,923
 
2022
Associate Professor Michelle Redman-MacLaren
James Cook University, Queensland
Understanding the experience of women in a TB hot spot in Solomon Islands to help effectively find, treat and care for people with TB
$20,000
 

2021

Associate Professor Anna Coussens
Walter & Eliza Hall Institute, Victoria
Identifying Age, Sex and Vitamin D Modified Immune Correlates of TB Risk     
$20,000
 
2021
Professor Graeme Zosky
University of Tasmania
The role of the placenta in determining the post-natal effects of in utero exposure to bushfire smoke  
$20,000

2020

Professor Gary Lee
Institute for Respiratory Health, University of Western Australia
Mechanisms of Streptococcus pneumoniae mesothelial cell invasion
$20,000
 
2020
Associate Professor Katharina Ronacher
Mater Research Institute – The University of Queensland
Pre-clinical validation of a novel target for host-directed therapy for the treatment of TB
$20,000
 
2020
Dr Hannah Moore
Telethon Kids Institute, WA
Understanding the true burden of paediatric respiratory syncytial virus in order to optimise prevention programs
$20,000
 
HARRY WINDSOR RESEARCH GRANTS
These grants were named in honour of the late Dr Harry Windsor, a leading Australian heart surgeon who played a key role in ARC for many years. Dr Windsor performed the first heart transplant operation in Australia and was a prominent cardiothoracic surgeon at Sydney’s St Vincent’s Hospital. Dr Windsor was actively involved with ARC and its Board from 1955 until his death in 1987. These awards were offered annually between 1999 and 2019 to support research projects that addressed basic science, clinical research, and public health in tuberculosis, respiratory diseases due to other infections, or respiratory diseases related to tobacco use.
 
2019
Associate Professor Justin Denholm
Victorian Tuberculosis Program, University of Melbourne
Evaluating the impact of latent tuberculosis Infection treatment strategies in Australia.
$20,000
 
2019
Professor Warwick Britton, Professor Jamie Triccas and Dr Claudio Counoupas
Centenary Institute, University of Sydney
Protecting the lungs against tuberculosis by pulmonary delivery of a novel tuberculosis vaccine
$20,000
 
2019
Dr Chris Degeling and Professor Stacy Carter
Australian Centre for Health Engagement Evidence and Values, University of Wollongong
Tuberculosis elimination; A qualitative investigation of the perspectives of South Asian migrant communities in the Illawarra
$20,000
 
2018
Dr Cynthia Whitchurch
University of Technology, Sydney
Understanding the immunopathology of Pseudomonas aeruginosa lung infections
$49,997
 
2018
Dr Paul King
Monash University, Melbourne
The role of influenza infection in the development of phagocyte extracellular traps in the lungs
$49,815
 
2017
Professor Michael Berk
Deakin University, Victoria
Can we reduce tobacco smoking using N-acetylcysteine as a cessation treatment?
$50,000
 
2017
Dr Greg Fox
The University of Sydney, NSW
New digital strategies to enhance tuberculosis treatment adherence in Vietnam
$50,000
 
2016
Professor Ian Yang
The University of Queensland
Using the lung microbiome to predict response to continuous antibiotics in COPD
$50,000
 
2016
Laureate Professor Paul Foster
University of Newcastle
Understanding the role of the newly discovered CD4 T helper (Th)-22 cell subset in model of respiratory infection and inflammation
$50,000
 
2016
Dr Graeme Zosky
University of Tasmania
Iron laden particulate matter enhances bacterial growth in the lung
$50,000
 
2015
Dr Brian Oliver
The Woolcock Institute of Medical Research and the University of Technology, Sydney
Understanding the aetiology of small airway fibrosis in COPD
$50,000
 
2015
Associate Professor Harin Karunajeewa
The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Melbourne
Getting the dose right in Tuberculosis: Pharmacokinetics to improve outcomes in Tuberculosis
$50,000
 
2014
Associate Professor Daniel Chambers
The Prince Charles Hospital, Qld Lung Transplant Service, Qld
Disease tolerance and transplant tolerance – two sides of the same coin?
$50,000
 
2013
Brian Oliver
University of Sydney, NSW
Why do fibroblasts from people with COPD produce extracellular matrix proteins in response to ciagraette smoke?
$50,000
 
2012
Bernadette Saunders
Centenary Institute, Sydney, NSW
Microparticles and microRNA as biomarkers of TB disease
$50,000
 
2011
Ross Coppel, Paul Crellin et al
Monash University, Melbourne
Identification of inhibitors of PimA, a new target for tuberculosis therapy
$50,000
 
2010
Peter Bye
Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, NSW
Novel interventions for the diverse population of Australia with bronchiectasis
$50,000
 
2009
Sandra Hodge
Hanson Institute, Adelaide, SA
Investigation of macrophage function as a therapeutic target in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease/emphysema (COPD)
$50,000
 
2008
Jenny Alison
University of Sydney, NSW
Optimising mucus clearance with exercise in cystic fibrosis
$50,000
 
2008
Stephen Stick, Anthony Kicic and Siobhan Brennan
University of WA, Perth, WA
Characterisation of airway epithelial cells from young children with cystic fibrosis
$50,000
 
2008
Nicholas Anstey
Menzies School of Health Research, Darwin, NT
A randomised controlled trial of L-arginnine or vitamin D to improve outcomes in pulmonary tuberculosis
$50,000
 
2007
Siobhain Brennan and Anthony J Kettle
Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, Perth, WA
Investigating markers of oxidative stress in young children with cystic fibrosis: a driving mechanism of pulmonary investigation
$50,000
 
2007
Stephen Bozinovski and Ross Vlahos
University of Melbourne, VIC
Cigarette smoke chemically modifies and inactivates lung innate immunity mediated by the bacterial receptor, TLR4
$50,000
 
2006
David Jans
Monash University, Melbourne, VIC
Role of phosphorylation in regulating nuclear trafficking during infection of respiratory syncitial virus matrix protein
$50,000
 
2006
Paul Kelly, Graeme Maguire, Peter Morris, Ivan Bastian and Nicholas Anstey
Menzies School of Health Research, Darwin, NT
Nutritional intervention to improve tuberculosis treatment outcome in Timika, Indonesia: the NUTTS study
$50,000
 
2006
Robert Capon
University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD
A new non-toxic approach to controlling bacterial infection
$49,000
 
2005
Kwung Fong and Annalese Semmler
Prince Charles Hospital, Chermside, QLD
Novel methylated genes in lung cancer
$52,250
 
2005
Paul Reynolds, Gregory Hodge, Sandra Hodge and Mark Holmes
Royal Adelaide Hospital, SA
Infection versus rejection in lung transplant related bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome: can intracellular cytokines help?
$50,000
 
2004
Paul Kelly, Nick Anstey, Graeme Maguire et al
Menzies School of Health Research, Darwin, NT
Pulmonary Function in Tuberculosis patients in Mimika District, Papua Province , Indonesia
$43,267
 
2004
Warwick Britton, Guy Marks and Bernadette Saunders
Centenary Institute of Cancer Medicine & Cell Biology, Sydney, NSW
Evaluation of genetic and environment risk factors for progression to active tuberculosis in the Liverpool cohort
$44,701
 
2003
Jennifer Alison, Peter Bye and Campbell Thompson
Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, NSW
Evaluation of individual components of pulmonary rehabilitation in subjects with COPD
$47,880
 
2002 – 2003
James Triccas and Warwick Britton
Centenary Institute of Cancer Medicine & Cell Biology, Sydney, NSW
New strategies to vaccinate against Mycobacterium tuberculosis
$112,588
 
2002
Amanda Leach, Heidi Smith-Vaughan Marius Puruntamerri, Ross Baillie and Peter Morris
Menzies School of Health Research, Darwin, NT
Improved hygiene measures for reduced infection in Australian Aboriginal Children: a randomised controlled trial
$48,424
 
2002
Evangelia Daviskas, Sandra Anderson and Iven Young
Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, NSW
Effect of mannitol on the clearance of mucus in patients with COPD
$38,593
 
2001
Terence Amis and John Wheatley
Westmead Hospital, Sydney, NSW
The role of snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea in the pathogenesis of hypertension
$45,665
 
2001
James Wiley and Tania Sorrell
University of Sydney, NSW
The monocyte-macrophage P2x7 receptor and susceptibility to tuberculosis
$45,000
 
2001
Amanda Baker and Vaughan Carr
University of Newcastle, NSW
Randomised controlled trial of a smoking cessation intervention among people with a mental illness
$63,370
 
2000 – 2001
John Wiggers, Afaf Girgis, Robyn Considine and Jenny Bowman
University of Newcastle, NSW
Preventing infant exposure to tobacco smoke: evaluation of an early childhood intervention
$53,006
 
2000
Peter Gibson
John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle, NSW
Quality of Life in Chronic Cough
$25,500
 
2000
Warwick Britton and James Triccas
Centenary Institute of Cancer Medicine & Cell Biology, Sydney, NSW
Interlukin-18 as an adjuvant for DNA Immunisation against Tuberculosis
$26,500
 
2000
Peter Bye, Iven Young, Jenny Alison and Marney Isedale
Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, NSW
Evaluation of lung volume reduction surgery in patients with chronic airflow limitation
$38,000
 
1999
Ronald Grunstein
Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, NSW
Sleep Apnoea and Cytokines
$22,000
 
1999
Karen Waters
University of Sydney, NSW
Potential neurotoxicity of repetitive hypercapnic hypoxia during early treatment
$10,000
 
1999
Peter Bye, Stefan Eberl and Jenny Alison
University of Sydney, NSW
Pharmacological and Physical Therapies to enhance mucociliary clearance in chronic lung disease and mucus hypersecretion
$39,000
 
1999
Evangelica Daviskas
Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, NSW
Effects of beta2-adrenceptor agonists on mucociliary clearance in persons with asthma
$5,000
 
1999
Guy Marks
Institute of Respiratory Medicine, Sydney, NSW
Does BCG vaccination in infancy prevent allergy
$5,000
 
1999
Graeme Maguire, Norma Benger and Bart Currie
Menzies School of Health Research, Darwin, NT
Chronic Lung Disease in Aboriginal Australians: factors in aetiology and treatment
$69,136
 
1999
Bernadette Saunders and Helen Briscoe
Centenary Institute of Cancer Medicine & Cell Biology, Sydney, NSW
Apoptosis in the control of Mycobacterial infection
$38,000

 

ANN WOOLCOCK FELLOWSHIPS

This award was established in 2004 and named in honour of the late Professor Ann Woolcock AO, former head of the Institute of Respiratory Medicine at the University of Sydney and Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. Professor Woolcock was a strong supporter of trainee scientists and physicians.

This is a 4 year full time postdoctoral fellowship in biomedical, clinical or public health research Australia based and is valued at approximately $100,000 per year. The Fellowship aims to encourage people of outstanding ability to develop research as a significant component of their career. The Fellowship supports research relating to TB, respiratory diseases due to other infections, or respiratory diseases related to tobacco use, community issues or the health of disadvantaged groups.

2010-2014
Jodie Simpson
Newcastle University, NSW
Characterisation and treatment of innate immune dysfunction in older people with obstructive airway disease

$227,013



2005 – 2009
Ingrid Laing
Telethon Institute for Child Research, Perth, WA
Genetic Influences on causal pathways of ALRIs in highly susceptible infants (awaiting final data)
$285,000
2003 – 2004
Kylie Turner
University of Sydney, NSW
Investigation of the structure of cryptococcal phospholipases
$40,143
 
2003 – 2004
Corrina Parker
Australian National University, Canberra, ACT
Detection, isolation and characterisation of novel anti-effective agents from cultured micro-fungi
$40,143
 
2002 – 2004
Zoe Barker-Whittle (McKeough)
Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, NSW
Evaluation of lung volume reduction surgery in patients with chronic airflow limitation
$59,214
 
2002 – 2003
Anup Desai
University of Sydney, NSW
The contribution of obstructive sleep apnoea to driver fatigue in transport drivers
$55,793
 
2002 – 2003
Rita Machaalani
University of Sydney, NSW
Neurone receptor systems in sudden infant death and piglets exposed to hypercapnic-hypoxia
$29,214
 
2002 – 2003
Shoma Dutt
Westmead Hospital, Sydney, NSW
Biliary lipids in liver disease and interstitial phospholipid metabolism in children with cystic fibrosis
$41,793
2001
Anup Desai
University of Sydney, NSW
Interaction of mild obstructive sleep apnoea, sleep deprivation and circadian factors in cognitive function
$27,793
 
2000 – 2001
Rita Machaalani
University of Sydney, NSW
Neurone receptor systems in sudden infant death and piglets exposed to hypercapnic-hypoxia
$37,454
 
2000 – 2001
Shoma Dutt
Westmead Hospital, Sydney, NSW
Biliary lipids in liver disease and interstitial phospholipid metabolism in children with cystic fibrosis
$40,311
 
1999 – 2001
Anna Hansen
University of Sydney, NSW
The role of cytokines in the immunity and pathology of malaria
$56,703
 
1999 – 2001
Rosemary Santangelo
Westmead Hospital, Sydney, NSW
Phospholipases of Cryptococcus neoformans
$63,498
 
1999 – 2001
George Latouche
University of Sydney, NSW
Phopholipases as potential virulence factors of Cryptococcus neoformans variety Gattii
$55,089