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Foundations of Lung Disease

The Foundations of Lung Disease Team investigates lung growth and development through infancy, childhood, adolescence and early adulthood, in health and in chronic lung disease, and the impact of preterm birth on lung health outcomes.

The Foundations of Lung Disease team aims to help all kids breathe better, from infancy through to early adult life.

Our research focuses on three broad areas:

Examining childhood lung disease

The team seeks to gain a greater understanding of a variety of lung diseases including asthma, cystic fibrosis, chronic lung disease of prematurity and neuromuscular diseases. We are also interested in the impact of inflammation and infection on lung function. Research in this area involves determining the most appropriate methods to assess lung function depending on disease type and age of the child. We are also interested in the detection of sensitive biological markers to identify and prevent the progression of lung disease.

Tracking lung growth and development from infancy to early adulthood

By tracking lung health from birth through childhood, adolescence and early adulthood, the team aims to maximise opportunities to prevent the development and/or improve the management of chronic lung diseases later in life. This involves examining the impact of neonatal factors, low lung function and respiratory symptoms on long-term respiratory outcomes.

Research Translation

Central to the team’s research is expanding the evidence base for international guidelines to improve the clinical management of childhood respiratory diseases. The team fosters local, national, and international collaborations to ensure the most relevant research questions are being asked and the community are actively engaged in research activities. This helps facilitate rapid and effective implementation of research outcomes.

If you would like to stay up to date with our team projects, follow us on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/WalyanCentre/

Prematurity Associated Lung Disease: What does primary care need to know

Watch this webinar exploring prematurity-associated lung disease across the lifespan, with a focus on holistic care, long-term impacts, and practical strategies to support patients and families—from infancy to adulthood. Learn about risk factors, management, and the latest resources to inform your practice. Hear from experts in the field and parents with lived experience. 

Learning outcomes

Understand the lifelong impact of prematurity on the lungs.
Identify appropriate pathways and resources for management of patients with prematurity associated lung disease.
Apply new knowledge in clinical practice.
This virtual event is accredited with Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP- Activity ID 125148) for one hour of Educational Activity. This education has been approved as a Lung Learning Quality-Assured Activity. 

For a certificate of attendance please complete the feedback survey.

Featured Projects

Many Healthy Lungs

In partnership with Derbarl Yerrigan Health Service and the Broome Regional Aboriginal Medical Service, we aim to improve Aboriginal lung health by determining for the first time the baseline lung function of Aboriginal Australians.

Developing sensitive endpoints for respiratory disease progression in children with neuromuscular disease

We hope that through earlier diagnosis and treatment of muscle weakness during sleep, we can prevent future lung failure in children with neuromuscular disorders.

Preterm Paediatric Inhaled Corticosteroids Intervention (PICSI)

Understanding if ongoing inflammation in the lungs contributes to the poor lung health experienced by some children who were born preterm.

The next generation of impact in cystic fibrosis

Lung damage in children with CF occurs much earlier than previously thought, and proving this is related to the decline that occurs later will create new paradigms for prevention and treatment.

Team leader

Shannon Simpson
Shannon Simpson

BMedSci (hons), PhD

Head, Strong Beginnings Research, Co-head Foundations of Lung Disease

Co-Head, Foundations of Lung Disease

Team members (26)

Claire Shackleton
Claire Shackleton

BSc (Hons) PhD

Clinical Research Coordinator

Henry Brown
Henry Brown

BSc (Hons), PhD Candidate

Research Assistant, Aboriginal Lung Health

Amber Bates

Amber Bates

Consumer Representative

Andrew Wilson

Andrew Wilson

Honorary Research Associate

April Htun

April Htun

Research Assistant

Callan Lavery

Callan Lavery

Biostatistician

Cavern Jacobs

Cavern Jacobs

PhD candidate

Craig Schofield

Craig Schofield

PhD candidate

Denby Evans

Denby Evans

Research Assistant and PhD Student

Faith Mhembere

Faith Mhembere

PhD candidate

Graham Hall

Graham Hall

Honorary Research Associate

Hannah L Moore

Hannah L Moore

PhD candidate

Dr James Gibbons

Dr James Gibbons

Respiratory Fellow (PCH) and PhD Student

Kitty Obando

Kitty Obando

Research Assistant

Michael Beaven

Michael Beaven

PhD Student

Naomi Chapman

Naomi Chapman

Research Officer

Neave Garland

Neave Garland

Research Assistant

Patricia Belinelo

Patricia Belinelo

Research Officer

Rachel Foong

Rachel Foong

Honorary Research Associate

Rebecca Watkinson

Rebecca Watkinson

Research Officer

Tabitha Cleary

Tabitha Cleary

Research Assistant

Tiffany Bradshaw

Tiffany Bradshaw

Research Assistant

Foundations of Lung Disease projects

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Featured projects

PELICAN: Prematurity’s Effects on the Lungs in Children and Adults Network

The PELICAN (Prematurity’s Effects on the Lungs in Children and Adults Network) Clinical Research Collaboration was launched by the European Respiratory Society (ERS) in 2020

The next generation of impact in cystic fibrosis

Lung damage in children with CF occurs much earlier than previously thought, and proving this is related to the decline that occurs later will create new paradigms for prevention and treatment.

Children's lung health videos

Reports and Findings

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Physiological responses to exercise in survivors of preterm birth: a meta-analysis

Survivors of preterm birth (<37 weeks' gestation) have low peak oxygen uptake, a global measure of aerobic fitness and an established predictor of increased morbidity and mortality. However, little is known about other cardiopulmonary outcome measures in this population. We addressed the hypothesis that preterm birth is associated with abnormal respiratory, cardiovascular and metabolic responses to exercise, as assessed by cardiopulmonary exercise testing, via a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Factors influencing participation in home, school, and community settings by 6- to 9-year-old children born preterm: a qualitative descriptive study

There is no published information on preterm children's activities and participation during middle childhood, a time when growth and development are characterised by increasing motor, reasoning, self-regulation, social and executive functioning skills. This study explored the health, activities and participation of children born very preterm during middle childhood (6-9 years) from the perspectives of their parents.

Oscillometry: clinical significance and applications

Respiratory oscillometry (or the forced oscillation technique) is a highly practical lung function test that can be applied in a wide range of clinical scenarios in children and adults, including the clinic, intensive care unit, patient home monitoring and emergency departments. Oscillometry measurements complement spirometry in detecting abnormal lung function, measuring effects of treatment such as inhaled corticosteroids or bronchodilators, and changes due to disease activity.

Comparing home polysomnography with transcutaneous CO2 monitoring to laboratory polysomnography in children with neuromuscular disorders

Clinical utility of home polysomnography in children with neuromuscular disorders is limited by lack of evidence that sleep-disordered breathing can be reliably identified and inability to diagnose hypoventilation because carbon dioxide is not measured.

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