Dr Gloria Lau and Dr Anne Sage win Telethon CAHS Research Scholarships

Two talented clinicians will pursue several research projects following the announcement they have each won a Telethon Child and Adolescent Health Service Research Scholarship. 

Paediatric Respiratory and General Paediatric Advanced Trainee Dr Gloria Lau will investigate the early detection and effective management of protracted bacterial bronchitis (PBB) in Aboriginal children across multiple locations in WA.

Investigating a possible link between otitis media, the most common cause of hearing loss in Aboriginal children, and chronic lung disease in Aboriginal children from Broome will also form part of Dr Lau’s Scholarship.  

Dr Lau said PBB can be easily missed because the children affected appear to be healthy apart from a wet cough. Untreated PBB can lead to bronchiectasis, an irreversible and life-limiting condition.

“PBB is common in Aboriginal children, and early detection and effective management is key to preventing progression to long term lung damage,” Dr Lau said. 

Dr Lau will work in partnership with Aboriginal families, primary care practitioners, child health nurses, and Aboriginal health care workers on her project to improve the effective screening and provision of primary health care for PBB and otitis media. 

The project will also aim to develop a set of strategies and resources that could be used as a ‘toolkit’ in a range of health settings and adapted for use in other parts of Australia and beyond. 

Advanced Trainee in Paediatric Rheumatology and General Paediatrics  Dr Anne Sage will devote a large part of the next year to research thanks to being awarded a Telethon Child and Adolescent Health Service Research Scholarship. 

Dr Sage will investigate an inflammatory eye disease, uveitis, which commonly affects children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis but often the cause is unknown.

Dr Sage, who formerly worked as a physiotherapist prior to her medical studies, will work collaboratively with her ophthalmology colleagues at Perth Children’s Hospital to compile data about this disease.

“We’re hoping to collate the treatment and outcomes for children diagnosed with uveitis, with particular interest in the use of biologic drugs such as adalimumab, which is only available through a special pathway at present. 

“In order to reduce their risk of vision loss caused by uveitis, it’s important these children can be part of an excellent eye screening program with ongoing reviews and access to the most effective drugs,” Dr Sage said.   

In a second project Dr Sage will work on a cystic fibrosis (CF) study in partnership with the respiratory team to define how problematic muscle and joint pain is for these patients.

Dr Sage said medical concerns such as lung health are obviously prioritised in the care of children and young people with CF so musculoskeletal issues can be secondary. 

“This project will also aim to identify any immediate interventions we can make to the treatment and care of our patients to help improve their quality of life as they grow older. 

“Asking these questions will not only help us to learn more about CF, but also about how we can better provide overall care for these children, which can be a challenge when treatment is delivered by different clinical teams,” Dr Sage said. 

Dr Sage said she was excited to embark on her Scholarship. 

“Having a year to predominately pursue research, while continuing some clinical work, is such an amazing opportunity, particularly knowing it can improve outcomes for our patients,” Dr Sage said.  

Dr Lau is also excited to have been awarded a Telethon Scholarship and is passionate about findings ways to improve the health of children.

“I am grateful for the support of Telethon as it gives me amazing opportunities both for the beginning of my research career and to make a difference in the health of Aboriginal children from an early age,” Dr Lau said.

Image | Dr Anne Sage (left) and Dr Gloria Lau (right)