Research Roundup
October 2022 Volume 7.08

IN THIS EDITION

► Open Awards - NEW LFA Awards open and last days to apply for TSANZSRS ASM 2023 abstract-linked awards

► Research News

► External Grant Opportunities

► Articles from the Limbic

► Editors Choice from Respirology

► Articles from Research Review

► Surveys and Research

Open Awards

Thoracic Society Awards

• TSANZ Past Presidents Scholarship Award
• TSANZ Peter Phelan Paediatric Research Award
• TSANZ and NAC Asthma and Airways Career Development Fellowship
• TSANZ Indigenous Respiratory Nurses Development Award
• TSANZ Robert Pierce Grant-In-Aid for Indigenous Lung Health Award
• TSANZ and LFA Sukhdev Singh Sohal COPD Research Award
• TSANZ Chiesi Advancing Women in Respiratory Health Award

How to participate
Follow the links above to access each award application and follow the instructions online. Applications for all of the above awards close on the 13th of November 2022 at midnight. 

Please email the TSANZ Awards Coordinator with any questions, comments or enquiries.

Lung Foundation Australia Awards

• LFA Helen Irving Memorial Award for Innovation in Lung Cancer Research
• LFA Kha Kiang Khoo Memorial Award in ROS-1 Lung Cancer Research
• LFA Laxmi Vanza Grant for Innovation in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Research
• LFA David Wilson PhD Scholarship for Research in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
• LFA Ivan Cash Grant for Research in Pulmonary Fibrosis
• LFA Lizotte Family Grant-in-Aid for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Research
• LFA Ludwig Engel Grant-in-Aid for Physiological Respiratory Research

How to participate
Follow the links above to access the details for each award then visit Lung Foundation Australia's website here and follow the instructions to apply online.

Applications for all of the above LFA awards close on the 9th of December 2022 at 5pm.

Please email the TSANZ Awards Coordinator with any questions, comments or enquiries.

TSANZ Abstract Awards

• TSANZ Ann Woolcock New Investigator Award
• TSANZ Janet Elder International Travel Award
• TSANZ Boehringer Ingelheim New Zealand Lung Health Award
• TSANZ Travel Grant ASM 2023

How to participate

For information regarding the TSANZSRS 2023 ASM and how to apply for the above awards visit https://www.tsanzsrsasm.com/

Applications for all of the above abstract-linked awards close on the 20th of October 2022.

Research News

TSANZ Member Success with NHMRC Grant Funding

TSANZ wishes to extend our congratulations to the TSANZ members who were awarded NHMRC Investigator Grants. It is great to see such exciting research projects being funded!

• Dr Narelle Cox from Monash University for "Improving access to non-pharmacological treatment in chronic respiratory disease".
• Dr Kathryn Ramsey from the University of Western Australia for "Improving prognosis and quality of life in children with muco-obstructive lung disease".
• Assoc Prof Tamera Corte from the University of Sydney for "Transforming Outcomes for Pulmonary Fibrosis".
• Prof Y C Gary Lee from the University of Western Australia for "Transforming Care and Outcomes for Patients with Pleural Effusion".
• Prof Guy Marks from the University of New South Wales for "Innovation for global lung health".

ARC Grant Calendar

Australian Research Council (ARC) have released a grant calendar for the remainder of the 2022-23 financial year. This calendar can be accessed on the ARC website where it is available as a pdf.

GACD Non-Communicable Disease Prevention Funding Call for 2023

NHMRC is considering supporting Australian researchers for the Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases (GACD) Non-Communicable Disease Prevention in Cities Funding Call 2023, which will focus on implementation research that leads to improved understanding of how specific interventions that reduce the risk of non-communicable disease onset or progression can be better adapted to different city environments and/or scaled within and across cities, taking into account unique local social, political, economic, and cultural contexts.

Research must be conducted with disadvantaged populations in low- and middle-income countries and/or in high income countries. In Australia, research must focus on the Indigenous population. Investigating strategies that can positively impact planetary health and/or climate change resilience and prevention will be encouraged, though not required. For more information please visit https://www.gacd.org/news/2022-08-09-gacd-prepares-for-launch-of-8th-funding-call-focused-on-ncd-prevention-in-cities

Researchers are encouraged to engage with the TSANZ and other relevant community advocacy groups to maximise chances of funding. Please email TSANZAwards@thoracic.org.au to find out how TSANZ can support your project.

Centre of Excellence Treatable Traits Annual Report 2021-2022

The Centre of Excellence Treatable Traits annual report for 2021-2022 has been released. You can view this report here.

External Grant Opportunities

Asthma Australia Grants and Awards

Asthma Australia continues to be dedicated to contributing to vital asthma research to help people with asthma live freely, as well as promoting and encouraging emerging researchers in the field. We are excited to announce multiple funding opportunities for early career researchers working to improve the lives of people with asthma. Applications are now open for:

• Two x $15,000/year for 3 years PhD top-up scholarships
• Three x $2,000 Career Development Grants
• One x $6,000 Honours Scholarship

Vertex Circle of Care Grant Program

Circle of Care is a competitive charitable grants initiative that encourages non-profit groups and academic organizations to submit innovative, patient-centric proposals focused on supporting the cystic fibrosis community worldwide. Like the previous rounds, collaborative proposals and trans-national programs are encouraged, with a maximum grant award of $100,000. Organizations that submit a request and are not collaborating with another organization may receive a maximum grant award of $50,000.

Further details on the criteria, eligibility and key project requirements, and application instructions can be found on the Grants and giving page on the VRTX.com website here.

Circle of Care requests must be submitted via the Request Management System (CyberGrants) by November 9^th, 2022, 5pm EST.

The following articles will take you to thelimbic.com

National lung cancer screening program wins MSAC approval

Special report: major CPD changes for specialists next year

Asthma is not simple in Indigenous patients: study

Trial sheds light on why never-smokers develop lung cancer

Home-based initiation of NIV in stable OHS is safe and effective

Rethink use of dual bronchodilators in smokers without COPD

Respirology - Editor's Choice

Respirology Issue 27.10 October 2022

Effectiveness of influenza and pneumococcal vaccines on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbations

Yan Li, Pingshu Zhang, Zhijie An, Chenyan Yue, Yamin Wang, Yunqiu Liu, Xiaodong Yuan, Ying Ma, Keli Li, Zundong Yin, Liye Wang, Huaqing Wang

DOI: 10.1111/resp.14309

Research Review

Asthma Research Review Issue 3 - PDF

NZ Respiratory Research Review Issue 201 - PDF 

Respiratory Practice Review Issue 10 - PDF
Respiratory Practice Review Issue 11 - PDF

Surveys and Research
SINFONIA Singing for breathing trial

SINFONIA is a multi-site, online singing for breathing trial for people with COPD or ILD and their caregivers. This study is led by a research team at Monash University (A/Prof Natasha Smallwood) and aims to investigate if group singing classes assist with improvement in symptom management and overall wellbeing. The trial is not just limited to people in Victoria, as people from around Australia can be referred or self-refer to take part. In case you are interested in telling your patients about the study, the eligibility criteria are:

• Patients aged over 18 with a confirmed diagnosis of COPD or ILD on lung function (within last 2 years) or CT (last 5 years)
• Stable on treatment for at least 4 weeks (i.e. no new or changed cardiorespiratory medications or hospital admissions for COPD or ILD)
• Breathless: mMRC ≥ 2 
• NOT currently participating in pulmonary rehabilitation 
• Capable and willing to give informed consent 
• Carers aged over 18 years may also participate

Participants in the online singing group will attend a 90-minute online group singing session once a week, for 12 weeks. People randomised to the control group (delayed entry) will be offered to join the singing sessions after 3 months.

Patients or clinicians can refer by contacting our team’s research assistant Catherine Buchan:  c.buchan@alfred.org.au.

TBPod

The TBPod are podcasts designed for clinicians and policymakers with an interest tuberculosis. These podcasts consist of conversations with expert clinicians, researchers, policy makers and advocates about their work in the field of tuberculosis. The TBPod is prepared by ACTnet and can be found on ITunes, Spotify, and the ACTnet Website.