About the CCRE for Respiratory and Sleep Medicine
Respiratory and sleep disorders, represent a major health burden in Australia. The CCRE in Respiratory and Sleep Medicine funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) – Centre of Clinical Excellence scheme for a period of 5 years from 2004 - 2009 was based at the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research and extended as a virtual network consolidating pre-existing links between clinical and multi-disciplinary research teams in respiratory and sleep medicine at Royal Prince Alfred (RPA), Royal North Shore, John Hunter, Concord and Liverpool Hospitals. Our research achievements have made an important impact on the respiratory and sleep health of Australians. Translation of our work has contributed to improved diagnostics, development of novel treatment strategies, a clearer understanding of disease pathways, and advanced recommendations for ongoing management of disease. As a result of our research, CCRE investigators have participated and contributed to the development of health policy directives and consensus recommendations, and evidence-based guidelines for the treatment and management of respiratory and sleep disorders. Further, our commitment to training and mentorship of clinical researchers has established a new generation of skilled respiratory and sleep researchers for the field.
Our successes have been rewarded with further NHMRC support to establish the Centre for Integrated Research and Understanding of Sleep (CIRUS) in 2009. CIRUS is a Centre of Clinical Research Excellence in Interdisciplinary Sleep Health whose aim is to investigate the biology of sleep, and to prevent and to treat disorders of sleep through a uniquely interdisciplinary approach. CIRUS supports world-class interventional sleep health research aimed to inform clinical practice and alter health policy. Our goal is to foster the next generation of sleep researchers and create research leaders. Please visit our website at www.cirus.org.au
The primary goals of the CCRE in Respiratory and Sleep Medicine were:
- To support clinical research with potential to improve the health outcomes for patients with airway diseases and sleep disorders by developing, evaluating and promoting effective disease management strategies
- To foster training of clinical research
- To ensure effective translation of research findings into improved clinical practice
- To encourage links between hospital-based researchers
The Centre was also involved in a wide range of clinical trials, especially in the areas of airways disease and sleep disorders. Through its association with the Woolcock Institute, the RPA Sleep Disorders Unit, the centre had access to a wide range of facilities including a fully equipped eight - twelve bed sleep laboratory, long term isolation chronobiology unit and a dedicated and experienced clinical trials team.
The Centre’s key goals and capabilities in the areas of research, training and translation included:
All the research programs conducted by the CCRE targeted important health outcomes:
improved health status, reduced disease exacerbations, improved self-management capacity, reduced adverse effects of treatment, and improved cost-effectiveness.
The overall objective for the Centre was for its research to have a key impact on clinical practice. Its research projects addressed the following specific diseases:
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease / Pulmonary Rehabilitation
Evidence-Based Medicine Projects
The research program was designed to integrate with a strategy for research translation built around the development of improved clinical practice guidelines, the establishment of demonstration assessment clinics, the conduct of clinical practice workshops and the development of web-based training modules across the range of diseases which formed the focus of the CCRE.
The CCRE implemented the findings of its research into practice and used this as a vehicle to encourage more widespread uptake of evidence-based medicine.
The CCRE investigators comprised a group with a diverse yet strong background in clinical research mentorship and an awareness of the difficulties in promoting career development in clinical research. All training programmes were evidence-based and provided opportunities for supervised completion of systematic reviews and translation of evidence into practice. The Clinical Research Training Program included one-year programmes, PhD scholarships and post-doctoral career development fellowships.
Executive Group
Professor Ronald Grunstein (RPA Hospital)
Professor Grunstein is currently Head of the Sleep and Circadian Research Group at the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research; Chief Investigator, NHMRC Australian Sleep Trials Network and Clinical Professor of Sleep Medicine, University of Sydney. He is a NHMRC Practitioner Fellow.
He heads a multi-disciplinary group of physicians, clinical scientists and nurses focused on epidemiology and health effects of sleep disorders and involved in national and international collaborations. He has Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery degrees and a MD from the University of Sydney and a PhD from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. He is the current President of the World Sleep Federation.
Professor Guy Marks
(Liverpool Hospital)
Professor Marks is an epidemiologist and respiratory physician with interests in respiratory disease epidemiology, prevention and monitoring. He is a Senior Staff Specialist in the Department of Respiratory Medicine at Liverpool Hospital. He is an NHMRC Practitioner Fellow and a Chief Investigator for NHMRC Australian Sleep Trials Network with a key role in biostatistical support.
His major scientific achievements include pioneering work on measuring quality of life in people with asthma; extensive contributions to understanding the effects and dynamics of house dust mite allergen exposure; descriptive epidemiology of asthma in children including natural history, risk factors, and changes in prevalence and leader of the Childhood Asthma Prevention Study. He has also made a significant contribution to research training. Professor Marks heads the Australian Centre for Asthma Monitoring (ACAM)
Professor Peter Gibson (John Hunter Hospital)
Professor Gibson is a Senior Staff Specialist at John Hunter Hospital and NHMRC Practitioner Fellow. He is also Conjoint Professor, Discipline of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine at the University of Newcastle. His expertise includes respiratory medicine, asthma in children and adults, allergies, paediatrics and child health. He has long record of achievement in airways disease clinical trials and promoting evidence based medicine in respiratory practice. Professor Gibson is a Senior Staff Specialist at John Hunter Hospital and NH&MRC Practitioner Fellow. He is also Conjoint Professor, Discipline of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine at the University of Newcastle.
His expertise includes respiratory medicine, asthma in children and adults, allergies, paediatrics and child health. He has long record of achievement in airways disease clinical trials and promoting evidence based medicine in respiratory practice.
Additional Investigators
Chief Investigators
Associate Professor Peter Bye (RPA Hospital)
Dr Sandra Anderson (RPA Hospital)
Associate Professor Greg King (RNS Hospital)
Professor Norbert Berend (Director, Woolcock Institute)
Professor Christine Jenkins
(Concord Hospital)
Professor Michael Hensley (John Hunter Hospital)
Associates
Dr Jodie Simpson
Dr Keith Wong
Dr Vanessa McDonald
Dr Nicole Ryan
Dr Peter Buchanan
Dr Lydia Rofail
Dr Claudia Dobler
Dr Anne Vertigan
Dr Catarina Almqvist
Associate Professor Peter Liu
Dr Amanda Piper
Dr Brendon Yee
Dr Roo Killick
Dr Nathaniel Marshall
Ms.Ruth Dentice
Ms.Hayley Scott
Dr Bandana Saini
© 2011