Viruses, Infections / Immunity, Vaccines & Asthma

The HMRI Viruses, Infections/Immunity, Vaccines and Asthma (VIVA) Research Program brings together basic laboratory scientists, clinical researchers, respiratory physicians and epidemiologists to investigate diseases of the airways.

This includes extensive research into the role of infections and inflammation in the development of asthma and other respiratory problems, including during pregnancy, in cystic fibrosis patients and even in the gut. The VIVA group also researches the biology of viruses, how they can affect respiration and methods of developing new vaccines for the treatment of diseases such as cancer.

The HMRI VIVA research program links two of Australia’s most successful respiratory researchers, Laureate Professor Paul Foster and Professor Peter Gibson. The collaboration of these two prestigious researchers enables multidisciplinary study into the cellular and molecular aspects of allergic diseases and airways inflammation and also in translational studies aiming to improve the treatment and management of diseases of the airways including asthma in pregnancy and the accurate diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

"What we have is diversity and common interest… The way the two are integrated here is what makes us unique and underpins our success” explains Program Co-Leader, Laureate Professor Paul Foster, to the University of Newcastle.

In conjunction with the University of Newcastle’s Priority Research Centre for Asthma and Respiratory Diseases, the HMRI VIVA Program is world class in bringing together both clinically based respiratory research and basic laboratory immunology. Key research topics include:​

Dr Kerith Duncanson
Research Program :
  • Viruses, Infections / Immunity, Vaccines & Asthma
Research Topics :
Gastrointestinal Inflammation & Infections, Healthy Lifestyles, Pregnancy & Babies
Research Program :
  • Viruses, Infections / Immunity, Vaccines & Asthma
Research Topics :
Asthma, Respiratory Diseases & the Immune System
Professor Chris Grainge
Research Program :
  • Viruses, Infections / Immunity, Vaccines & Asthma
Research Topics :
Asthma, Respiratory Diseases & the Immune System
Prof Philip Hansbro
Research Program :
  • Viruses, Infections / Immunity, Vaccines & Asthma
Research Topics :
Asthma, Respiratory Diseases & the Immune System
Dr Elizabeth Kepreotes
Research Program :
  • Viruses, Infections / Immunity, Vaccines & Asthma
Research Topics :
Asthma, Respiratory Diseases & the Immune System, Viruses & Vaccines
Research Program :
  • Viruses, Infections / Immunity, Vaccines & Asthma
Research Topics :
Asthma, Respiratory Diseases & the Immune System, Viruses & Vaccines

2021

Lung function and respiratory health at 6 weeks of age in a cohort of children born to non-asthmatic mothers
Project Grant
Researchers:

Dr Carla Da Silva Sena

Description:

Lung function and respiratory health at 6 weeks of age in a cohort of children born to non-asthmatic mothers

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2020

RNAi nanomedicine for coronavirus infection
Project Grant
Researchers:

Associate Professor Nathan Barlett (CI), Dr Rodger Liang

2019

Identifying the food trigger for Eosinophilic Oesophagitis
Project Grant
Researchers:
Description:

Eosinophilic Oesophagitis in childhood is associated with chronic heartburn, nausea, vomiting, dysphagia, failure to thrive, food getting stuck in the oesophagus and can result in permanent scarring of the oesophagus. Delays in diagnosis and treatment failure is not uncommon. There is no cure, and no predictor for treatment response has been identified.

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Repurposing emerging immunotherapies to treat antibiotic resistant urinary tract infections in children
Project Grant
Researchers:
Description:

Urinary tract infections are a common cause of bacterial infection, mostly affecting females. These infections can cause long-term damage to the urinary tract, especially when they occur in children.

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2018

Mini-organs in a dish: a personalised test for cystic fibrosis treatment to reduce the need for lung transplantation
Project Grant
Researchers:
Description:

Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is the most common life threatening genetic condition in Australia and affects many organs, in particular the lungs, and is one of the 3 most common reasons for a lung transplant. Although improved treatments have seen life expectancy extended, the average life expectancy of a CF patient in Australia is still only 38.

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Understanding how cohabiting bacteria in urine influence treatment of urinary infections and urinary leakage in children: a pilot study
Project Grant
Researchers:
Description:

Urinary leakage in the daytime, feeling of urgency to urinate and frequent urination are common and often incapacitating problems in school-aged children. If affects 5-10% of healthy, otherwise normal children and significantly disrupts their day-to-day life and learning.(6,7)  This has consequences for mental health and healthy development.

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Investigation of the role of mechanical forces in respiratory disease
Project Grant
Investigating the role of microbiomes in COPD
Project Grant
Researchers:
Description:

Smoking leads to lung inflammation that causes emphysema - a major health problem in Australia. Emphysema progressively declines even if smoking stops and there are no treatments. Recently changes in gut microbes have been linked to inducing or protecting against inflammation in the gut and lung. Thus we may be able to control inflammation by modifying these gut microbiomes. We may be able to ingest specific microbes or use specific antibiotics or other factors as new treatments for emphysema.

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Award for Mid Career Research - Lisa Wood
HMRI Award for Mid Career Research
Researchers:
Patient Reported Outcome Measure in Severe Asthma (PROMISe): Measuring Severe Asthma’s Impact on Health Status
Project Grant
Description:

Asthma is a common condition that causes tightness in the chest, coughing and wheeze and makes it difficult to breath. Around 10.2% of the Australian population (approximately 2.3 million people) have asthma, it is a major health problem here in Australia and worldwide.

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The role of apical mechanical shear stress on epithelial cell function in asthma
Project Grant
Researchers:
Description:

Bronchoconstriction is a cardinal feature of asthma, generating mechanical stresses within the airways including cell compression and increased shear stress due to increased air-flow.

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2017

Understanding immune and inflammatory mechanisms of disease in the urinary system
Project Grant
Researchers:
Description:

Kidney stones affect approximately 9% of the population, with rates increasing globally. Whilst the surgical techniques used to remove obstructive stones have improved, few if any advances have been made to prevent stone recurrence. Stones are a significant risk factor for the development of chronic kidney disease, which currently affects 2 million Australians.

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Does bronchoconstriction in asthma impair anti-viral immunity and promote airway inflammation
Fellowship
Description:

My research examines the causes and consequences of asthma attacks. As recent events in Melbourne have shown, severe attacks of asthma still kill in Australia and my aim is to understand what happens during these attacks, and treat them better. We will investigate how airway narrowing that happens during an asthma attack not only leads to worse asthma symptoms and in some circumstances death, but also has other effects.

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Investigation of the role of mechanical forces in respiratory disease
Project Grant
Investigating the role of microbiomes in COPD
Project Grant
Researchers:
Description:

Smoking leads to lung inflammation that causes emphysema - a major health problem in Australia. Emphysema progressively declines even if smoking stops and there are no treatments. Recently changes in gut microbes have been linked to inducing or protecting against inflammation in the gut and lung. Thus we may be able to control inflammation by modifying these gut microbiomes. We may be able to ingest specific microbes or use specific antibiotics or other factors as new treatments for emphysema.

more
Fellowship - Inflammatory Mechanisms of Airways disease
Fellowship
Description:

Post Doctoral Fellow (1.0FTE) + Research Assistant (0.5FTE)

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Equal Futures Award
Project Grant
Researchers:

Dr Kavita Prabeja

Description:

If successful, the funds will partly cover up for my enrolment in advanced or accelerated leadership program offered through The National Excellence in Educational Leadership Initiative (NEELI), Women & Leadership Australia (WLA). The program elements emphasizes on leadership foundation, interpersonal skills, leadership challenges and peer coaching through self-directed learning and online sessions, including an interactive online community portal to engage in effective discussions and feedback.

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Equal Futures Award
Project Grant
Researchers:
Description:

Oceanic Leadership in Nutrition Platform training program for ECRs

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Plasma Torque Teno Virus load as a novel tool to monitor intensity of immunosuppression in renal transplant recipients
Project Grant
Researchers:
Description:

A key problem with kidney transplantation is the potential for the patient’s immune system to reject the kidney. Hence all transplant patients are given medications to suppress their immune systems. If their immune system is too suppressed, patients are at risk of severe infection; if it is not suppressed enough, they are at risk of rejecting the kidney. Our current methods for monitoring the degree of immune suppression are crude and episodes of both severe infection and organ rejection are common. There is currently no simple and practical blood test which quantifies how suppressed the immune system is. Such a blood test would allow us to get the doses of immunosuppressive drugs just right in each patient, using an individually tailored approach. 

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Understanding how diet modulates the gut microbiome in asthmatic children
Project Grant
Description:

The burden of asthma in children is unacceptably high. Asthma is the most common chronic childhood disease, affecting more than 10% of Australian children. Inhaled steroids are the most effective therapy for controlling asthma day to day, however, they do not prevent many acute attacks of asthma and many patients and carers are concerned about unwanted side effects, which reduces adherence to prescribed medications. Therefore, alternative strategies for managing asthma in children are urgently needed.

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Precision medicine in Cystic Fibrosis: A personalised test to target individual mutations to specific CFTR modulators
Project Grant
Researchers:
Description:

Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is the most common life threatening genetic condition in Australia and affects many organs, including the lungs, pancreas, and the gastrointestinal tract. Although improved treatments have seen life expectancy significantly extended, the average life expectancy of a CF patient in Australia is still only 38. Therefore, there is an urgent need for new therapies tailored to individual CF patient mutations.

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Mechanisms of inflammatory airways disease
Project Grant
Researchers:
Nutrition & Asthma
Project Grant
Researchers:
Freezer Racks, pipette, freezer and PC
Equipment Grant
Researchers:

Prof Zsolt Balogh, Dr Gabrielle Briggs, Dr Stephen Smith

Description:

Partial funding for 15x Racks for -80 freezer, multichannel pipette, conventional freezer.

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Software DEXA scanner
Equipment Grant
Description:

The CoreScan application is a software upgrade for the existing Lunar Prodigy Dual Energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) machine located within the clinical trials pod at HMRI.

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Flexivent FX base unit controller and software
Equipment Grant
Researchers:

Dr Jay Horvat, Dr Chantal Donovan, Dr Richard Kim, Dr Shakti Shulka, Dr Prema Nair, Dr Md Atiqur Rahman

Description:

The Baseunit controller extension is required to ventilate the models whilst on the machine and run the new lung function ""maneuvers"" that are required to gather the PFT/FEV data.

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Countess II FL
Equipment Grant
Researchers:

Dr Malcolm Starkey, Dr Adam Collison, Dr Hock Tay, Dr Aniruddh Deshpande, Dr Gang Liu & Dr Jemma Mayall

Description:

The countess II FL is the major component of this equipment and is the core module that enables highly accurate, reproducible and high throughput cell counting. The Countess II reuse slide enables the same slide to be used for an infinite number of experiments and reduces consumable costs associated with individual slides. However, this equipment allows options for users who need individual slides at their own expense. The two EVOS LED Cubes are removable components that allow quantification of fluorescent cells. We have chosen green fluorescent protein and red fluorescent protein as these are the major fluorophores used. However, these can be switched out for other detectors in the future, making it future proof and adaptable to future research needs.

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2016

Discovering genetic predictors of inflammatory activity in a group of female Australian lupus patients.
Project Grant
Researchers:

Associate Professor Glenn Reeves, Professor Caroline Blackwell, Marline Squance

Description:

Systemic lupus erythematous (SLE) is a common relapsing remitting inflammatory autoimmune illness affecting at least 1 in a 1000 of the population. Interplay of genetic and environmental factors has been established as playing a role in the pathogenesis of the disease.

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Novel Use Of Cyoprobe Transbronchial Lung Biopsies In The Diagnosis Of Interstitial Lung Disease
Project Grant
Describing the bacterial flora of the middle ear in health and disease
Project Grant
Researchers:

Conjoint Professor Caroline Blackwell

Description:

If persistent, painful ear infections of childhood can lead to long-term hearing and learning difficulties. Our multidisciplinary team has established an international reputation for studies of the slowly-growing Alloiococcus otitidis, present in over half of chronic ear infections among Indigenous and non-Indigenous children and some acute infections in which none of the usual bacterial pathogens that cause middle ear infection can be detected.

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A novel approach in restoring the airway epithelium integrity in asthmatics
Project Grant
Researchers:

Dr Fatemeh Moheimani, Professor Darryl Knight

Description:

Asthma affects more than 300 million people worldwide, with Australian’s suffering more from asthma (one in ten) than almost any other people in the world. Asthma is a major burden on Australia’s health care system and the economy. It can affect people of all ages - some people get asthma when they are young, others when they are older.

more
Investigating the role of microbiomes in COPD
Project Grant
Researchers:
Description:

Smoking leads to lung inflammation that causes emphysema - a major health problem in Australia. Emphysema progressively declines even if smoking stops and there are no treatments.

more
Understanding how immune cells repair the kidney after acute kidney injury
Project Grant
Description:

Acute kidney injury is increasing in incidence globally and there is a strong association between acute kidney injury and the development of chronic kidney disease.

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Development and pilot study of an evidence-based internet intervention to improve symptoms, functioning and health-related quality of life in children with functional abdominal pain
Project Grant
Researchers:

Dr Scott Nightingale, Dr Milena Heinsch, Associate Professor Maria Kangas (Macquarie University), Professor Mike Jones (Macquarie University)

Description:

Cognitive-Behaviour Therapy, or CBT, is one of the few effective therapies for children with functional abdominal pain. But CBT sessions can be costly and difficult to access, particularly as multiple sessions are required.

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Prader-Willi Syndrome
Project Grant
Researchers:

Dr Komal Vora, A/Professor Patricia Crock, Dr Vicki Maltby

Description:

HCRF has funded Dr Komal Vora’s study into Prader-Willi Syndrome – a complex genetic disorder that affects development and growth of the child, manifesting as cognitive disability, obesity, short stature and a chronic feeling of hunger.

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The role of microbiome development in the early origins of asthma in a high risk population
Project Grant
Description:

Children born to mothers with asthma are three times more likely to develop asthma themselves than those with asthmatic fathers, which suggests that a risk factor extends beyond genetics. There is emerging evidence that bacteria in the infant’s gut can impact immune function and contribute to the types of immune responses that are seen in asthma.

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Brand new assay for prediction of anaphylaxis risk
Project Grant
Description:

Food allergies cause an enormous health burden to our community and peanut allergy is the most severe and persistent food allergy.

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Greaves Family Postgraduate Scholarship in Medical Research
Scholarship
Researchers:

Kurtis Budden

Description:

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a condition of persistent, progressive lung destruction caused by inhalation of damaging particles. Many current treatments are expensive, come with side-effects, or have very little effect on some patients.

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Award for Mid Career Research - Jodie Simpson
HMRI Award for Mid Career Research
Specifically targeting the airways to prevent virus-induced asthma attacks
Project Grant
Description:

Current therapies prevent only ~40% of asthma exacerbations. These figures are in the context of clinical trials - real life asthma exacerbations are even less likely to be prevented.

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Investigation of the role of mechanical forces in respiratory disease
Project Grant

2015

A novel peanut allergy biomarker to predict anaphalaxis risk
Project Grant
Description:

Year 1 - $16,050
Year 2 - $10,700
Total - $26,750

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Viral infections in the BLT cohort in the first year of life
Project Grant
Award for Early Career Research - Susan Hua
HMRI Award for Early Career Research
Researchers:
Greaves Family Postgraduate Scholarship in Medical Research
Scholarship
Researchers:

Mr James Pinkerton, Jay Horvat, Phil Hansbro

Description:

The Greaves Family Postgraduate Scholarship in Medical Research will allow James Pinkerton to complete his PhD studies to understand the mechanisms that underpin steroid-resistant asthma.

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Inflammatory Mechanisms of Airways disease - Post Doctoral Fellow (1.0FTE) + Research Assistant (0.5FTE)
Project Grant
Researchers:
MERINO2: A randomised controlled trial comparing two different antibiotics for blood stream infections caused by the 'ESCaPM' group of antibiotic resistant Gram negative bacteria
Project Grant
Researchers:

Dr Joshua Davis, Associate Professor Michael Boyle

Description:

Blood stream infection caused by bacteria known as ESCaPMs (an acronum standing for their names: Enterobacter, Serratia, Citrobacter, Providencia and Morganella) is common and promlematic, with over 45 cases at JHH annually. 

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Exploring Novel Therapies for Cystic Fibrosis
Project Grant
Researchers:

Dr Hock Tay, Dr Maximilian Plank, Dr Steven MaltbyLaureate Professor Paul Foster

Description:

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disorder that affects 1 in 2,500 people born in Australia. 

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Specifically targeting the airways to prevent virus-induced asthma attacks
Project Grant
Description:

Around 10% of the Australian population sufffer from Asthama. Current therapies prevent only ~40% of asthma exacerbations. 

more
Investigation of the role of mechanical forces in respiratory disease
Project Grant
Improving diet quality to reduce risk of asthma attacks in children
Project Grant
Description:

Asthma is the most common chronic childhood disease, affecting 10% of Australian children.

more
Investigating the role of microbiomes in COPD
Project Grant
Description:

Smoking leads to lung inflammation that causes emphysema - a major health problem in Australia.

more
Lung-function in early life for children at high asthma risk
Equipment Grant
Description:

Currently infants from the BLT cohort will be followed-up at birth, 6 weeks of age and 12 months of age.

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2014

Investigation of the role of mechanical forces in respiratory disease
Project Grant
Identifying biomarkers that predict severe asthma exacerbations during pregnancy
Project Grant
Researchers:

Dr Katherine Baines, Professor Michael Hensley

Investigation of the progression of Alzheimer’s Disease: Identification of potential drivers of disease
Project Grant
Researchers:
Description:

Our research group is investigating the link between smoking and infection in disease progression in an experimental model of Alzheimer’s disease.

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A descriptive observational study of infants aged < 24 months with severe bronchiolitis requiring critical care
Project Grant
Researchers:

Mrs Elizabeth Kepreotes, Professor Joerg Mattes, Dr Peter Harrigan, Associate Professor Bruce Whitehead, Professor John Attia, Dr Mark Lee 

Description:

This observational study is designed to enhance our understanding of the factors assocaited with the development of servere brochiolitis in infants aged < 24 months, presenting to JHH/JHCH for care.

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PIANO - Prosthetic Joint Infection in Australia and New Zealand Observational Study
Project Grant
Researchers:

Dr Joshua Davis, Mark Lowewnthal

Description:

Over 70,000 hip and knee replacements are performed in Australia each year. Unfortunately approximately 2% of these will become infected and there is a lack of high quality evidence to guide the management of these prosthetic joint infections (PJI). 

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Inflammatory Mechanisms of Airways disease
Project Grant
Researchers:
Do asthma attacks worsen asthma in the long term?
Project Grant
Description:

In patients with asthma, the airways narrow leading to shortness of breath, cough and asthma attacks.

more
Improving diet quality to reduce risk of asthma attacks in children
Project Grant
Description:

Asthma is the most chronic childhood disease affecting  10% of children.

more
Describing the bacterial flora of the middle ear in health and disease
Project Grant
Researchers:

Professor Caroline Blackwell, Dr Christopher Ashhurst-Smith 

Description:

If persistent painful ear infections of childhood can lead to long-term hearing and learning difficulties. 

more
Mast cell proteases as therapeutic targets for stroke
Project Grant
Researchers:

Dr Michael Fricker, Professor Phil Hansbro, Dr Rohan Walker 

Predicting who is at risk of worsening lung disease in Cystic Fibrosis
Project Grant
Description:

An acute exacerbation (also known as infection) is a critical event for a CF patient.  

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Virus Infections Change the Bone Marrow: Effects on Immunity, Bone Development and Inflammatory Disease.
Project Grant
Researchers:

Dr Steven Maltby, Dr Maximilian Plank, Dr Hock Tay, Laureate Professor Paul Foster

Description:

Growing evidence suggests viruses can cause serious long term changes throughout the body. 

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A novel diagnostic blood test for peanut allergy
Project Grant
Researchers:

Dr Adam Collison, Dr Rani Bhatia

Description:

While symptoms of food allergy range from mild to severe, patients with peanut allergy are at the highest risk of a potentially life threatening reaction known as anaphylaxis affecting up to half of all individuals who are allergic to peanut. 

more
The role of comorbidities and inflammation in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Scholarship
Researchers:
Investigating the role of microbiomes in COPD
Project Grant
Description:

Smoking leads to lung inflammation that causes emphysema - a major health problem in Australia. Emphysema progressively declines even if smoking stops and there are no treatments.

more

2013

Award for Research Excellence - Phil Hansbro
HMRI Award for Research Excellence
Award for Early Career Research - Vanessa McDonald
HMRI Award for Early Career Research
Researchers:
Dietary antioxidant intervention for reversal of airway inflammation and respiratory illness in athletes
Project Grant
Researchers:

Dr Lisa Wood, Professor David Pyne, Professor Maree Gleeson, Professor Robin Callister

Description:

The risk of common respiratory illnesses compromising the ability of an athlete to train and/or compete to their optimal ability is well understood by coaches and athletes.

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Inflammatory Mechanisms of Airways disease - Post Doctoral Fellow (1.0FTE) + Research Assistant (0.5FTE)
Project Grant
Researchers:
Immunometabolism In Obese Asthmatics
Scholarship
Description:

Project investigating the developmental influence of immunometabolism in obese asthmatics. Obesity is associated with increased incifence, prevalence and severity of asthma across all age groups.

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Greaves Family Early Career Support Grant
Fellowship
Researchers:
Description:

The first paper from Hayley’s PhD was published in the highly prestigious journal, European Respiratory Journal. 

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Immunosenescence in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease leads to abnormal innate immune responses to human rhinovirus infection
Project Grant
Description:

Immunological aging in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

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Investigating the role of dietary fat in reducing the efficacy of bronchodilator medications in asthma
Project Grant
Researchers:
Description:

Dietary fat and asthma

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The Nanostring nCounter System
Equipment Grant
High-flow Nasal-prong Warm Humidified Oxygen Pilot
Project Grant
Description:

Bronchiolitis is a very common life-threatening virus infection of the terminal airways affecting infants only.

more
The prediction of egg allergy severity in children by non-invasive exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) measurement confirmed with food challenge
Project Grant
Researchers:

Dr Adam Collison, Dr Rani Bhatia

Description:

Six to eight percent of children suffer from clinically relevant food allergy and the prevalence is increasing worldwide(1-3).

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Inflammometry-based management of asthma in pregnancy for the prevention of preterm birth: the iMAP study
Project Grant
Researchers:
Description:

Clinical trial renamed to "The Breathing for Life Trial (BLT): A randomised trial of fractional exhaled nitric oxide based management of asthma during pregnancy and its impact on perinatal outcomes and infant and childhood respiratory health."

more
Characterisation of a macromolecular complex essential for rapid microbial cell proliferation
Project Grant
Researchers:

Professor Peter Lewis 

Effect of better asthma management in pregnancy on antiviral responses, atopy and airways inflammation in early childhood
Project Grant
Description:

Asthma affects up to 10% of Australians and is the most common chronic disease complication during pregnancy. 

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Molecular and cellular characterisation of TLR7 signalling in rhinovirus-induced asthma exacerbation
Project Grant
Description:

One third of the total annual asthma-related health care expenditures may be attributable to asthma related hospitalisations. 

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2012

HMRI Exchange Visit Travel Award 2012
Travel Grant
Researchers:
Inflammatory Mechanisms of Airways disease - Post Doctoral Fellow (1.0FTE) + Research Assistant (0.5FTE)
Project Grant
Researchers:
A double blind cross over trial in young insulin pump users comparing their glucose control when their insulin pump settings have been set from continuous glucose sensing data interpreted by a new computer program (PumpTune), to when a doctor reviews the
Project Grant
Researchers:

Dr Donald Anderson, Dr Bruce King, Hphelan, Associate Professor P Cook, Mneylan, Carmel Smart
 

A laboratory-based model to identify the risk of respiratory illness in athletes
Project Grant
Researchers:

Emeritus Professor Maree Gleeson, David Pyne, Lisa Wood, Robin Callister, Peggy Horn

2011

Development of novel therapeutic approaches for rhinovirus-induced asthma exacerbation
Project Grant
HMRI Grant in Sports Medicine
Project Grant
Researchers:

Professor Maree Gleeson, David Pyne, Lisa Wood, Robin Callister

Fatty acids, Carbohydrates and Bronchodilator Responses in Asthma - HMRI Foundation Chairmans Grant
Project Grant
Stress Related Relapsing Chronic Fatigue Syndrome relationship to EBV reactivation, impaired generation of IFNγ, and response to probiotic therapy
Project Grant
Researchers:

Professor Robert Clancy, Professor Maree Gleeson
 

COPD-induced systemic inflammation activates mast cell specific tryptases which lead to cardiovascular disease - Radford Bequest Cardiovascular Research Project Grant
Project Grant
Researchers:

Professor Philip Hansbro, Dr AG Jarnicki
 

PULSE Education Prize
Project Grant
Researchers:
HCRF Education Prize
Project Grant
Researchers:
Elucidating the mechanisms of steroid-resistant asthma.
Project Grant
A double blind cross over trial in young insulin pump users comparing their glucose control when their insulin pump settings have been set from continuous glucose sensing data interpreted by a new computer program (PumpTune), to when a doctor reviews the
Project Grant
Researchers:

Dr Donald Anderson, Dr Bruce King, Associate Professor Pcook, Mneylan, Carmel Smart
 

The Growing into Asthma Study: Wheezing prevalance and markers of airways inflammation in preschoolers born to mothers in asthma exacerbations in pregnancy
Project Grant
Researchers:

Professor Joerg MattesProfessor Peter Gibson, Professor M.Hensley, Associate Professor B.Whitehead, Dr Vanessa Murphy

Phenotype based management of severe persistent asthma
Project Grant

2010

Identification of a specific biomarker signature that identifies asthma phenotype
Project Grant
Obesity Risk in Childhood Asthma (ORCA) - RhD Support
Scholarship
Researchers:
Antioxidant therapies for suppressing infection-induced asthma in children
Project Grant
Award for Research Excellence - Paul Foster
HMRI Award for Research Excellence
Researchers:
Pulse Education Prize
Project Grant
Researchers:
Pulse Education Prize
Project Grant
Researchers:
Inflammatory Mechanisms of Airways disease - Post Doctoral Fellow (1.0FTE) + Research Assistant (0.5FTE)
Project Grant
Researchers:
Identifying novel biomarkers of oxidative stress in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Project Grant
Molecular markers of reversible airway obstruction in early life and correlation with clinical wheezing patterns
Project Grant
Researchers:

Associate Professor Joerg Mattes, Paul Foster, Bruce Whitehead, Ana Pereira de Siqueira 

2009

Award for Early Career Research - Lisa Wood
HMRI Award for Early Career Research
Researchers:
A study of obesity and inflammation in children with asthma
Project Grant
Description:

Asthma prevelance has increased in many western countries over recent decades. Currently, 1 in 6 children in Australia are affected by the disease. Over this time, obesity rates have also increased, and obesity now effects around 10% of Australian children.

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Growing into Asthma - a birth cohort to investigate the prenatal and developmental origins of asthma
Project Grant
Intergrated Problem Based Management of Obstructive Airways Disease in Older people.
Project Grant
Researchers:
The role of Gabapentin in the treatment of refractory chromic dry cough: A ramdomised double-blind placebo-controlled study - PhD Topup.
Project Grant
Researchers:
PULSE Early Career Researcher Grant - "Growing into asthma": A birth cohort study to investigate the prenatal and development origins of asthma"
Project Grant
Researchers:

Dr Vanessa Murphy
 

PULSE Education Prize
Project Grant
Researchers:
HCRF Meningococcal Research
Project Grant
Researchers:

Professor Caroline Blackwell
 

2008

Inflammatory Mechanisms of Airways disease - Post Doctoral Fellow (1.0FTE) + Research Assistant (0.5FTE)
Project Grant
Researchers:
PhD Top-Up
Scholarship
Researchers:
Equipment Grant $1995.00 Bio-Rad Power Pack for Gel Electrophoresis $2399.00 Gel Drying System
Equipment Grant
Researchers:

Professor Caroline Blackwell
 

AXAD Project
Project Grant
Researchers:
PULSE Education Prize
Project Grant
Researchers:
Understanding Non-eosinophilic Asthma: Triggers and Treatment
Project Grant
Exploring the link between obesity and asthma
Scholarship
Description:

Student is Hayley Scott.

more
MicroRNA and antagomirs in the regulation and suppression of interferon (IFN)-g and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced steroid-resistant airways hyper reactivity
Project Grant
Trans Fatty acids and airway inflammation
Project Grant
Therapeutic potential of targeting the IL-3/IL-5/GM-CSF common beta receptor to treat allergic inflammation and asthma
Project Grant
Researchers:

Dr Kelly Asquith, Professor Paul Foster
 

Development of a therapeutic vaccine for Herpes Simplex Virus.
Project Grant
Researchers:

Dr Erin O'Neil
 

Award for Early Career Research - Jodie Simpson
HMRI Award for Early Career Research
Researchers:

2007

Bolus insulin card calculator randomised controlled study
Project Grant
Researchers:

Dr Donald Anderson
 

The effects of passive smoking on children with asthma
Project Grant
Researchers:

Professor Peter Gibson, Dr BJ Whitehead, Professor M Hensley
 

PULSE Education Prize
Project Grant
Researchers:
Elucidation of the association between Haemophilus influenza infection & neutrophilic asthma
Project Grant
Researchers:

Dr Philip HansbroDr Jodie Simpson, Professor Paul Foster, Associate Professor Margaret Dunkley

Healthy AiRways and Obstructive Lung Disease (HAROLD)
Project Grant
Researchers:

Professor Wayne Smith, Dr Lisa Wood, Associate Professor John Attia, Dr Regina Berretta, Dr Pablo Moscato
 

Respiratory Viral infection induces pulmonary angiogenesis; implications for the development of asthma
Project Grant
Researchers:

Dr Nicole Hansbro, Dr Simon Phipps, Dr Phil Hansbro, Professor Paul Foster
 

2006

PULSE Education Prize
Project Grant
Researchers:
The interaction between airway epithelial cells infected with rhinovirus and lymphocytes from subjects with COPD
Project Grant
Researchers:
Role of TRAIL on development of atopic dermatitis and T helper type 2 immunity
Project Grant
In Vitro assessment of genetic and environmental risk factors for sudden infant death syndrome
Project Grant
Researchers:

Professor Caroline Blackwell
 

2005

Donation for research into Haemochromatosis
Project Grant
Researchers:

Ms Adrianne Milward
 

Chlamydia infection of dendritic cells drives the development of pro-asthmatic Th2 cells
Project Grant
Researchers:

Associate Professor Ken Beagley, Professor Paul Foster, Dr Phil Hansbro and Professor Peter Gibson
 

Airway inflammation in childhood asthma
Project Grant
Researchers:

Professor Peter Gibson, Dr B Whitehead, Professor M Hensley
 

Assessment of Alloiococcus Otitis for its potential as a pathogen in otitis media
Project Grant
Researchers:

Associate Professor John Stuart, Professor C Blackwell

Award for Early Career Research - Peter Wark
HMRI Award for Early Career Research
Researchers:

2004

Post Doctoral Research Fellowship in Respiratory Medicine
Fellowship
Evaluation of a stepwise approach to multidisciplinary management of chronic cough: medical and behavioural treatment
Project Grant
Investigation of a novel molecular target for a new anti-asthma therapy
Project Grant
Researchers:

Associate Professor Alistair Sim
 

2003

The effects of cigarette smoke on immune and inflammatory responses in aboriginal and non-aboriginal children with middle ear infections
Project Grant
Researchers:

Dr John Stuart, Professor C Blackwell
 

Investigation of a novel molecular target for a new anti-asthma therapy
Project Grant
Researchers:

Associate Professor Alistair Sim
 

Inflammatory mechanisms in non-eosinophilic asthma (Tomago money $20000 - MONEY IN)
Project Grant
Researchers:
Treatment of asthma by vaccination with bacterial antigens
Project Grant
Researchers:

Dr Philip HansbroAssociate Professor Peter Gibson, Associate Professor Ken Beagley

Award for Research Excellence - Peter Gibson
HMRI Award for Research Excellence
Researchers:

2002

Respiratory outcomes in the first three years after neonatal respiratory support: comparison of conventional management versus columbia style respiratory support
Project Grant
Researchers:

Dr Christopher Wake, Dr IMR Wright

Sleep related breathing disorders in children with cleft palate
Project Grant
Researchers:

Dr Bruce Whitehead, Dr JM Hilton
 

The Role of the Immune System in Asthma
Project Grant
Researchers:

2001

Use of expression library immunisation to identify protective Chlamydial antigens
Project Grant
Researchers:

Associate Professor Ken Beagley
 

Oxidative stress and antioxidant defences in asthmatic airways in relation to disease severity
Project Grant

2000

Development and environmental risk factors for respiratory infections in aboriginal and non-aboriginal children
Project Grant
Researchers:

Dr Maree Gleeson
 

To characterise the effect of rhinoviral infection in children ages 7-16 years with an acute exacerbation of asthma requiring admission to hospital
Project Grant
Researchers:

Dr P Jones, Dr Darren Shafren and Dr Peter Gibson
 

Lung cancer: patterns of care in the Hunter region
Project Grant
Researchers:

Professor Michael Hensley    Dr Niloofar Esmaili
 

Targeting Protein Phosphatase 2A to Regulate DNA Repair
Project Grant
Researchers:

Dr Alistair Sim
 

1999

Development of Vaccines
Project Grant
Researchers:

Professor Robert Clancy
 

1998

The Evolution of Asthma and Allergy
Project Grant
Researchers:

Professor Maree Gleeson
 

Development of a possible cure for the common cold.
Project Grant
Researchers:
PhD scholarship for Virology laboratory assistant for Darren Shafren
Scholarship
Researchers:

Mr Darren Shafren, Nicole Newcombe
 

HMRI Award for Early Career Research - Darren Shafren
HMRI Award for Early Career Research