Respiratory and Sleep Medicine
Contact
Dr Andrew Wilson | Consultant Respiratory Medicine, Head of Department
Andrew.Wilson@health.wa.gov.au
Departmental Overview
The Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine provides full diagnostic evaluation and management for inpatients and outpatients being investigated or requiring management of respiratory or sleep conditions. The service consists of Respiratory Medicine, the Sleep Service and the Respiratory Function Laboratory.
In collaboration with The Kids Research Institute Australia, the Department is actively involved in research conducting studies under 6 major streams.
Key Research Areas and Projects
Cystic Fibrosis: Led by Prof Steve Stick and Dr André Schultz in collaboration with The Kids Research Institute Australia
Clinical research is embedded without our multidisciplinary CF service, key projects include: AREST CF, a Longitudinal cohort study investigating the early determinants of lung disease in children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis, this large study also comprises of research platform to study disease mechanisms and develop novel treatments; BEAT CF, in collaboration with Prof. Tom Snelling, a Bayesian Evidence informed multicentre Adaptive Platform Trial for studying exacerbations of Cystic Fibrosis; and COMBAT CF, the first ever randomised clinical trial aiming to slow the progression of lung disease in CF.
Further areas of research focus include improving outcomes of children with cystic fibrosis by identifying and treating parents with unresolved grief associated with their child's diagnosis and the characterization of the early cystic fibrosis airway surface micro-environment in order to develop strategies for the delay of disease onset.
Asthma / Wheeze / Respiratory Tract Infection: Led by Prof. Peter Le Souëf, Dr Ingrid Laing and Dr André Schultz in collaboration with The Kids Research Institute Australia, and Prof Mark Everard in collaboration with the University of Western Australia.
Key Asthma studies include the Perth Infant Asthma Follow-up study, a 30 year follow-up of a birth cohort started in 1988 scheduled for 2020, Mechanisms of Acute Viral Respiratory Infection in Children (MAVRIC study), an investigative platform providing specimens for several studies investigating mechanisms of respiratory infection, inflammation and immunity in young children with acute respiratory problems and POWER a multi-centre, multi-disciplinary study using a systems biology approach to investigate immunomodulation in children with acute wheeze. In addition the MAP study is developing metabolomics profiles to differentiate between healthy, preschool wheeze and asthma, aiming to develop new diagnostic processes.
Prof Mark Everard has a research programme in aerosol therapy working with A/Prof Sunalene Devadason head of Aerosol Research Group. Current focus is on strategies that promote both regimen and device compliance and exploring novel approaches to improving pulmonary drug delivery in moderate to severe pulmonary disease. He is investigating persistent bacterial bronchitis addressing mechanisms of bacterial persistence, the impact of poly microbial infections, development of biofilm disruptors, prevalence, developing phenomics diagnostic tests and optimising treatment with a view to ensuring a cure and preventing the development of the radiological sign of bronchiectasis which in most cases represents a marker of inadequate care.
Aboriginal Lung Health: Led by Dr André Schultz in collaboration with The Kids Research Institute Australia
Preventing permanent lung damage through improving the recognition and management of chronic wet cough in young Aboriginal children parents and health care professionals.
Aboriginal Children deserve Excellent Lung Health (ACE Lung Health) study: Ensuring the delivery of culturally appropriate lung health information for families to ensure timely follow-up of children admitted to hospital with chest infections.
Neuromuscular Disorders: Led by Dr Andrew Wilson in collaboration with The Kids Research Institute Australia, Curtin University and Muscular Dystrophy WA.
These studies are aiming to develop better methods for predicting respiratory illness in individuals with neuromuscular disease, and to reduce the burden of these investigations.
Long term Respiratory Outcomes of Preterm Birth: Led by Dr Andrew Wilson in collaboration with The Kids Research Institute Australia (Prof. Graham Hall and Dr Shannon Simpson).
Studies include the WA Lung Health in Prematurity cohort (WALHIP), a longitudinal cohort now following up young adults with a history of preterm birth and PICSI a clinical trial investigating the role of inhaled corticosteroids in the management of respiratory symptoms in school aged children with a history of preterm birth.
Respiratory illness in cerebral palsy: Led by Dr Andrew Wilson in collaboration with Dr Katy Langdon (Dept. of Paediatric Rehabilitation), and The Ability Centre.
These studies have described the risk factors for respiratory illness in cerebral palsy. We are currently developing a risk prediction model for respiratory hospitalisation, and in 2020 will launch a pilot randomised controlled trial aiming to prevent respiratory illness in individuals with cerebral palsy.