The Respiratory, Sleep and Environmental Health Research Academic Unit was formed from researchers within the Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine and the Environmental Health Research Group at Liverpool Hospital and comprises physicians, respiratory nurses, allied health care workers, and clinical research scientists.
Our research primarily focus on clinical problems that cause a high burden of disease in the SWS community, require substantial health care resources including in-patient stays and ED visits, and/or are locally-relevant problems in the South West. A diverse range of research methods are being employed in the studies conducted by our unit and include randomised controlled trials, cohort and cross-sectional studies in the community-based and hospital based populations, and qualitative research methods.
Specifically research on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma encompasses epidemiology, clinical trials of therapies and investigations of new models of care, including organisational frameworks and interdisciplinary care.
In the field of interventional pulmonology our team is elucidating the clinical role of a range of procedures for the management of cancer, interstitial lung disease, and pleural disease. The procedures are important, either because they represent a minimally invasive alternative to surgery or because they allow diagnostic and therapeutic options that were not previously available for these serious, life-threatening conditions.
In the field of sleep disorders a major focus of sleep research is on improved pathways to diagnosis and care for people with sleep disordered breathing. In particular, research focuses on evaluating simple screening tools that can be used to identify those with significant sleep disordered breathing, and particularly those with respiratory failure, so that they can be fast tracked to diagnosis and treatment implementation.
Our research on tuberculosis (TB) has significantly contributed to the understanding of the TB epidemiology in Australia and has addressed questions to improve the clinical care of patients with latent (dormant) TB infection as well as active TB. A decision support tool has been developed to assist doctors in advising patients about the whether or not take treatment for latent TB infection. Researchers from our RSEH academic unit are also actively engaged in research on the global control of tuberculosis.
Over many years interdisciplinary members of RSEH have, and continue to, undertake research on the environmental factors that affect respiratory health. Among the studies of environmental factors, allergens, thunderstorm-related asthma, dietary factors, including fatty acids in the diet, unflued gas heaters in homes and schools, traffic-related air pollution and other ambient air pollution have been investigated for their effect on human health . Asbestos-related lung diseases (including mesothelioma) are a major problem in South West Sydney. We are collaborating in epidemiological studies on asbestos exposure and lung disease. In addition our research utilises applied biostatistics, in particular, applying novel statistical models to longitudinal data.
To engage in collaborative research which will translate to improved respiratory and sleep health outcomes in a complex multi-cultural population in South Western Sydney.
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Other Academics |
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Members of Research Group without current academic appointments |
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Dr Hamish Crawford
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Ms Serena Hong
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Dr Stephen Parsons
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Ms Ana Schippers
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Mr Craig Wainwright
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Higher Degree Candidates |
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Ms Yewon Chung PhD Topic: Epidemilogy of Hypercapnic Respiratory Failure |
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Clinical Trials |
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Ms Elizabeth Newland Registered Nurse Respiratory Group |
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The unit is involved in teaching undergraduate medical students from both UNSW and UWS. The Respiratory Department is regularly involved in the one week Respiratory Teaching unit at the UNSW. Several Independent Learning Projects (ILP) students have undertaken research within the Department. If you are interested in undertaking any reseach with us please either contact the researcher directly or contact our Research Manager, Dr Jodie Narayan who can assist you further.
The unit also plays an active role in postgraduate teaching, having two advanced trainees each year in the unit. They also teach respiratory and sleep medicine and also epidemiology and biostatistics in the Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (FRACP) Part 1 training program. Members of the unit supervise advanced trainees in their research projects and these are often presented as posters at international conferences. The nursing and physiotherapy members of the group are also active in teaching nursing and physiotherapy student, both at the hospital and at UWS.
Below are some useful links
National Asthma Foundation Australia
Sydney Children's Hospital Network
more information to follow
If you are interested in undertaking research with our group please contact the Research Manager for more information.
Health authorities in the Torres Strait are becoming increasingly worried as babies born this year remain unprotected against tuberculosis (TB) because of a global shortage of the vaccine.
...There's everything to like about the weather in Sydney this week except for one irritating aspect for many of us: pollen.
For those affected by seasonal allergic rhinitis...
RSEH was established at the end of 2015 and has been making tremendous progress in the field. RSEH announced Seed Funding to three projects aimed at investigating respiratory and sleep medicine....
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Dr Jodie Narayan (Please note I work Mon,Tues-Thurs) |
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Postal address:
PO Box 3151 (Westfields Liverpool)
Liverpool NSW 2170
Courier address:
1 Campbell Street
Liverpool NSW 2170
