Skip to menu Skip to content Skip to footer
Professor Paul Robinson
Professor

Paul Robinson

Email: 

Overview

Background

Conjoint Professor Paul Robinson is the Deputy Director of the Children’s Health Environment Program within the Child Health Research Centre (CHRC), and Senior Staff Specialist in Respiratory and Sleep Medicine at the Queensland Children’s Hospital. His research program performs translational research outlining the role of peripheral airway function tests in early lung disease detection and ongoing monitoring of established disease.

He has led the development and standardisation of novel measures of lung function across the entire age range from infancy onwards, facilitating the development of commercial equipment available for widespread use. His research focuses on defining the clinical utility of two specific peripheral airway function tests (Multiple breath washout, MBW, and oscillometry) in important obstructive lung diseases (e.g., asthma, cystic fibrosis, and post bone marrow transplant pulmonary graft vs host disease) and in understanding the impacts of environmental exposures. Structure-function relationships have been explored using state-of-the-art imaging techniques, with the aim of also developing new strategies to reduce any radiation exposure associated with these to advance incorporation into clinical care (e.g., ultra-low dose CT).

These novel lung function tools not only in the hospital setting but also in the school and home setting, enabling the successful development of a parent-supervised remote monitoring strategy for asthma which has been shown to reflect clinically meaningful outcomes missed by conventional approaches. In collaboration with industry, this strategy is now being employed in a series of research projects.

Involvement in longitudinal birth cohorts has outlined the early lung function trajectories in health, and the identification of risk factors affecting normal lung development and contributing to the early development of asthma. Studies investigating environmental health have highlighted the adverse effects of ultrafine particle air pollution.

Professor Robinson’s standing as an international expert, both in terms of clinical and research experience, has led to broader leadership roles across national and international levels.

Availability

Professor Paul Robinson is:
Available for supervision

Research interests

  • Asthma

    Understanding mechanisms that underlie risks for developing asthma in susceptible children. Improving diagnosis of early asthma and monitoring of disease once established to prevent exacerbations and reduce risk of poor asthma outcomes.

  • Cystic Fibrosis

    Understanding the mechanisms underlying the development of lung disease early in life and why and how this progresses. Optimising the detection of early lung disease to facilitate earlier effective intervention to improve outcomes.

  • Pulmonary Graft vs. Host Disease

    Understanding the mechanisms underlying the development of respiratory complications following Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation and why and how this progresses. Optimising the detection of early Pulmonary Graft-vs-Host disease to facilitate earlier intervention and improved outcomes.

  • Impact of environmental exposures in early life

    Improving methods of assessing environmental exposures and their effects across the lifespan and understanding how these increase long-tern risk of chronic disease in the lungs and other organ systems

Research impacts

Professor Robinson’s research program has informed a paradigm shift in management of chronic respiratory disease to ignore the reassurance of “normal” conventional lung function (spirometry) and target early lung disease detection arising in the peripheral airways and intervention through proactive (not reactive symptom-driven) strategies for 3 important obstructive lung conditions: (1) cystic fibrosis (CF); (2) asthma; and (3) post haemopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) pulmonary graft-vs-host disease (pGVHD).

Impact is evidenced by >150 published manuscripts of which >80 manuscripts are specific to this research program focus. A lead role on seminal consensus standards have resulted in a >4-times increase in MBW publications since their publication and widespread availability of robust commercial equipment (based on consensus recommendations adopted by all 4 global manufacturers). MBW has been formally as a primary outcome measure for CF intervention studies by independent institutions and integration into >30 international multicentre clinical trials. MBW has played a central role in registration of effective CFTR modulator therapy for young children, with significant projected survival benefits. Advances in oscillometry, including novel remote monitoring approaches targeting enhanced detection of disease exacerbation and prevention, have provided a platform for the first consensus clinical applications document for oscillometry.

Works

Search Professor Paul Robinson’s works on UQ eSpace

211 works between 2006 and 2025

1 - 20 of 211 works

2025

Journal Article

Astaxanthin protects against environmentally persistent free radical-induced oxidative stress in well-differentiated respiratory epithelium

Yamamoto, Ayaho, Sly, Peter D., Khachatryan, Lavrent, Begum, Nelufa, Yeo, Abrey J., Robinson, Paul D., Cormier, Stephania A. and Fantino, Emmanuelle (2025). Astaxanthin protects against environmentally persistent free radical-induced oxidative stress in well-differentiated respiratory epithelium. Redox Biology, 81 103542, 1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.redox.2025.103542

Astaxanthin protects against environmentally persistent free radical-induced oxidative stress in well-differentiated respiratory epithelium

2025

Journal Article

Perinatal outcomes of bushfire smoke exposure in women with asthma

Murphy, Vanessa, Gibson, Peter, Collison, Adam, Karmaus, Wilfried, Holliday, Elizabeth, Morgan, Geoffrey, Gopi, Karthik, Jegasothy, Edward, Zosky, Graeme, Jensen, Megan, McDonald, Vanessa, Robinson, Paul, Mattes, Joerg and Brew, Bronwyn (2025). Perinatal outcomes of bushfire smoke exposure in women with asthma. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 155 (2), AB177. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2024.12.559

Perinatal outcomes of bushfire smoke exposure in women with asthma

2025

Journal Article

Early-life protein-bound skin ceramides help predict the development of atopic dermatitis

Chang, Chia-Lun, Berdyshev, Evgeny, Milanzi, Elasma, Lodge, Caroline J., Lopez, Diego J., Bronova, Irina, Koplin, Jennifer J., Peters, Rachel L., Tang, Mimi L.K., Dharmage, Shyamali C., Abramson, Michael J., Hui, Jennie, Varigos, George, Perrett, Kirsten P., Sasi, Arun, Perret, Jennifer L., Su, John C., Robinson, Paul D., Leung, Donald Y.M. and Lowe, Adrian J. (2025). Early-life protein-bound skin ceramides help predict the development of atopic dermatitis. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 155 (2), AB177-864. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2024.10.041

Early-life protein-bound skin ceramides help predict the development of atopic dermatitis

2024

Journal Article

Implementing digital respiratory technologies for people with respiratory conditions: A protocol for a scoping review

Hui, Chi Yan, Condon, Kathleena, Kolekar, Shailesh, Roberts, Nicola, Sreter, Katherina Bernadette, Simons, Sami O., Figueiredo, Carlos, McKeough, Zoe, Salim, Hani, Gawlik-Lipinski, Aleksandra, Gonsard, Apolline, Aral, Ayşe Önal, Vanoverschelde, Anna, Armstrong, Matthew, Kohlbrenner, Dario, Paixão, Cátia, Stafler, Patrick, Papadopoulou, Efthymia, Rabe, Adrian Paul, Mohammad, Milan, Bouloukaki, Izolde, Quach, Shirley, Chaabouni, Malek, Kaltsakas, Georgios, Loveys, Kate, Reier-Nilsen, Tonje, Sunjaya, Anthony Paulo, Robinson, Paul, Pinnock, Hilary and Chan, Amy Hai Yan (2024). Implementing digital respiratory technologies for people with respiratory conditions: A protocol for a scoping review. PLoS One, 19 (12) e0314914, 1-10. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0314914

Implementing digital respiratory technologies for people with respiratory conditions: A protocol for a scoping review

2024

Journal Article

The stepwise management approach to paediatric asthma

Haggie, Stuart, Robinson, Paul D. and Fracp, Mrcpch (2024). The stepwise management approach to paediatric asthma. Medicine Today, 25 (11), 29-43.

The stepwise management approach to paediatric asthma

2024

Journal Article

Mental health, behaviour and sleep quality in children 6–11 years before and after elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor initiation

Douglas, Tonia, Deery, Maddison, Kimball, Hayley, Cobham, Vanessa E., Panochini, Sophia, Robinson, Paul D., Wainwright, Claire E., Sly, Peter D. and Blake, Tamara (2024). Mental health, behaviour and sleep quality in children 6–11 years before and after elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor initiation. Journal of Cystic Fibrosis. doi: 10.1016/j.jcf.2024.10.002

Mental health, behaviour and sleep quality in children 6–11 years before and after elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor initiation

2024

Journal Article

ERS technical standard: Global Lung Function Initiative reference values for multiple breath washout indices

Ramsey, Kathryn A., Stanojevic, Sanja, Chavez, Luis, Johnson, Noah, Bowerman, Cole, Hall, Graham L., Latzin, Philipp, O'Neill, Katherine, Robinson, Paul D., Stahl, Mirjam, Weiner, Daniel J., Zwitserloot, Annelies M. and Horsley, Alex (2024). ERS technical standard: Global Lung Function Initiative reference values for multiple breath washout indices. European Respiratory Journal, 64 (6) 2400524, 2400524. doi: 10.1183/13993003.00524-2024

ERS technical standard: Global Lung Function Initiative reference values for multiple breath washout indices

2024

Conference Publication

Late Breaking Abstract - Differences in remodelling and autophagy-related biomarkers at birth from offspring of asthmatic and healthy mothers are associated with subsequent infant lung function and bronchiolitis hospitalisation in infancy

da Silva Sena, Carla Rebeca, Martins Costa Gomes, Gabriela, Gorlanova, Olga, Künstle, Noëmi, Rüttimann, Céline, Schulzke, Sven, Steinberg, Ruth, De Queiroz Andrade, Ediane, De Gouveia Belinelo, Patricia, Wyler, Florian, Müller, Loretta, Yammine, Sophie, Robinson, Paul D, Sly, Peter D, Murphy, Vanessa, Gibson, Peter, Latzin, Philipp, Mattes, Joerg, Collison, Adam and Frey, Urs (2024). Late Breaking Abstract - Differences in remodelling and autophagy-related biomarkers at birth from offspring of asthmatic and healthy mothers are associated with subsequent infant lung function and bronchiolitis hospitalisation in infancy. European-Respiratory-Society Congress (ERS), Vienna Austria, Sep 07-11, 2024. SHEFFIELD: European Respiratory Society. doi: 10.1183/13993003.congress-2024.pa1402

Late Breaking Abstract - Differences in remodelling and autophagy-related biomarkers at birth from offspring of asthmatic and healthy mothers are associated with subsequent infant lung function and bronchiolitis hospitalisation in infancy

2024

Conference Publication

Machine learning algorithms to predict bronchiolitis hospitalisations in the first year of life

Mattes, Joerg, Martins Costa Gomes, Gabriela, Da Silva Sena, Carla Rebecca, Riveros, Carlos, Szwec, Stuart, Robinson, Paul D., Sly, Peter D., Murphy, Vanessa E., Gibson, Peter G. and Collison, Adam (2024). Machine learning algorithms to predict bronchiolitis hospitalisations in the first year of life. ERS International Congress 2024, Vienna, Austria, 7–11 September 2024. Sheffield, United Kingdom: European Respiratory Society. doi: 10.1183/13993003.congress-2024.pa1403

Machine learning algorithms to predict bronchiolitis hospitalisations in the first year of life

2024

Conference Publication

Asthma management in pregnancy and infant respiratory outcomes

Brew Haasdyk, Bronwyn, Gibson, Peter, Collison, Adam, Robinson, Paul, Sly, Peter, Jensen, Megan, Robijn, Annelies, Mattes, Joerg and Murphy, Vanessa (2024). Asthma management in pregnancy and infant respiratory outcomes. European-Respiratory-Society Congress (ERS), Vienna Austria, Sep 07-11, 2024. SHEFFIELD: European Respiratory Society. doi: 10.1183/13993003.congress-2024.oa2896

Asthma management in pregnancy and infant respiratory outcomes

2024

Journal Article

Comparative sensitivity of early cystic fibrosis lung disease detection tools in school aged children

Bayfield, Katie J., Weinheimer, Oliver, Middleton, Anna, Boyton, Christie, Fitzpatrick, Rachel, Kennedy, Brendan, Blaxland, Anneliese, Jayasuriya, Geshani, Caplain, Neil, Wielpütz, Mark O., Yu, Lifeng, Galban, Craig J., Robinson, Terry E., Bartholmai, Brian, Gustafsson, Per, Fitzgerald, Dominic, Selvadurai, Hiran and Robinson, Paul D. (2024). Comparative sensitivity of early cystic fibrosis lung disease detection tools in school aged children. Journal of Cystic Fibrosis, 23 (5), 918-925. doi: 10.1016/j.jcf.2024.05.012

Comparative sensitivity of early cystic fibrosis lung disease detection tools in school aged children

2024

Journal Article

Ageing and ivacaftor: unravelling the long-term effects

Robinson, Paul D (2024). Ageing and ivacaftor: unravelling the long-term effects. Thorax, 79 (10), thorax-2024. doi: 10.1136/thorax-2024-221923

Ageing and ivacaftor: unravelling the long-term effects

2024

Journal Article

Diagnosis of post-hematopoietic stem cell transplantation bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome in children: time for a rethink?

Shanthikumar, Shivanthan, Gower, William A., Cooke, Kenneth R., Bergeron, Anne, Schultz, Kirk R., Barochia, Amisha, Tamae-Kakazu, Maximiliano, Charbek, Edward, Reardon, Erin E., Calvo, Charlotte, Casey, Alicia, Cheng, Pi Chun, Cole, Theresa S., Davies, Stella M., Das, Shailendra, De, Alive, Deterding, Robin R., Liptzin, Deborah R., Mechinaud, Francoise, Rayment, Jonathan H., Robinson, Paul D., Siddaiah, Roopa, Stone, Anne, Srinivasin, Saumini, Towe, Christopher T., Yanik, Gregory A., Iyer, Narayan P. and Goldfarb, Samuel B. (2024). Diagnosis of post-hematopoietic stem cell transplantation bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome in children: time for a rethink?. Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, 30 (8), 760-769. doi: 10.1016/j.jtct.2024.05.012

Diagnosis of post-hematopoietic stem cell transplantation bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome in children: time for a rethink?

2024

Journal Article

Detection of bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome after pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplantation an official american thoracic society clinical practice guideline

Shanthikumar, Shivanthan, Gower, William A., Srinivasan, Saumini, Rayment, Jonathan H., Robinson, Paul D., Bracken, Jennifer, Stone, Anne, Das, Shailendra, Barochia, Amisha, Charbek, Edward, Tamae-Kakazu, Maximiliano, Reardon, Erin E., Abts, Matthew, Blinman, Thane, Calvo, Charlotte, Cheng, Pi Chun, Cole, Theresa S., Cooke, Kenneth R., Davies, Stella M., De, Aliva, Gross, Jessica, Mechinaud, Francoise, Sheshadri, Ajay, Siddaiah, Roopa, Teusink-Cross, Ashley, Towe, Christopher T., Walkup, Laura L., Yanik, Gregory A., Bergeron, Anne ... Robinson, Paul (American Thoracic Society Assembly on Pediatrics member) (2024). Detection of bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome after pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplantation an official american thoracic society clinical practice guideline. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 210 (3), 262-280.

Detection of bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome after pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplantation an official american thoracic society clinical practice guideline

2024

Journal Article

Clearing the air: Understanding the long‐term lung effects of the Hazelwood coal mine fire

Robinson, Paul D. and Vilcins, Dwan (2024). Clearing the air: Understanding the long‐term lung effects of the Hazelwood coal mine fire. Respirology, 29 (9), 743-744. doi: 10.1111/resp.14797

Clearing the air: Understanding the long‐term lung effects of the Hazelwood coal mine fire

2024

Journal Article

Assessment of bronchodilator response in preschoolers: A systematic review

Wong, Matthew D., Condon, Kathleena, Robinson, Paul D., Suresh, Sadasivam, Zahir, Syeda Farah, Sly, Peter D. and Blake, Tamara L. (2024). Assessment of bronchodilator response in preschoolers: A systematic review. Pediatric Pulmonology, 59 (11), 1-16. doi: 10.1002/ppul.27112

Assessment of bronchodilator response in preschoolers: A systematic review

2024

Journal Article

Detection of bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome following pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. an official American Thoracic Society clinical practice guideline

Shanthikumar, Shivanthan, Document, Society, Gower, William A., Srinivasan, Saumini, Rayment, Jonathan H, Robinson, Paul D, Bracken, Jennifer, Stone, Anne, Das, Shailendra, Barochia, Amisha, Charbek, Edward, Tamae-Kakazu, Maximiliano, Reardon, Erin E, Abts, Matthew, Blinman, Thane, Calvo, Charlotte, Cheng, Pi Chun, Cole, Theresa S., Cooke, Kenneth R, Davies, Stella M, De, Aliva, Gross, Jessica, Mechinaud, Francoise, Sheshadri, Ajay, Siddaiah, Roopa, Teusink-Cross, Ashley, Towe, Christopher T, Walkup, Laura L, Yanik, Gregory A ... Goldfarb, Samuel (2024). Detection of bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome following pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. an official American Thoracic Society clinical practice guideline. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 210 (3), 262-280. doi: 10.1164/rccm.202406-1117st

Detection of bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome following pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. an official American Thoracic Society clinical practice guideline

2024

Conference Publication

Variability of intra-breath oscillometry in children with cystic fibrosis

Blake, T., Deery, M., Robinson, P., Wainwright, C. and Sly, P. (2024). Variability of intra-breath oscillometry in children with cystic fibrosis. 47th European Cystic Fibrosis Conference, Glasgow, United Kingdom, 5-8 June 2024. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/s1569-1993(24)00432-6

Variability of intra-breath oscillometry in children with cystic fibrosis

2024

Journal Article

In utero smoking exposure induces changes to lung clearance index and modifies risk of wheeze in infants

De Queiroz Andrade, Ediane, Sena, Carla Rebeca Da Silva, de Gouveia Belinelo, Patricia, Robinson, Paul D., Blaxland, Anneliese, Sly, Peter D., Murphy, Vanessa E., Gibson, Peter G., Collison, Adam M. and Mattes, Joerg (2024). In utero smoking exposure induces changes to lung clearance index and modifies risk of wheeze in infants. Pediatric Pulmonology, 59 (6), 1686-1694. doi: 10.1002/ppul.26975

In utero smoking exposure induces changes to lung clearance index and modifies risk of wheeze in infants

2024

Conference Publication

Feasibility of home-based oscillometry monitoring in paediatric cystic fibrosis

Blake, T., Condon, K., Panochini, S., Wainwright, C., Sly, P. and Robinson, P. (2024). Feasibility of home-based oscillometry monitoring in paediatric cystic fibrosis. 47th European Cystic Fibrosis Conference, Glasgow, United Kingdom, 5-8 June 2024. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/s1569-1993(24)00433-8

Feasibility of home-based oscillometry monitoring in paediatric cystic fibrosis

Funding

Current funding

  • 2025 - 2026
    Think ZINC: Zinc immune-related Needs in Cystic fibrosis
    Cure4CF Foundation Research Grants
    Open grant
  • 2025
    Home-based monitoring with Oscillometry in paediatric Asthma: Improving our understanding of asthma control and behaviour during exacerbations
    Asthma Australia Incorporated
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2025
    MBW LCI Overread Services in support of VX22-445-122
    Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2028
    VX22-121-106
    Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2026
    MBW Training and LCI Overread Services in Support of VX20-455-112
    Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2026
    MBW Training and LCI Overread Services in Support of VX21-121-105
    Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2027
    Translatable Evidence To Improve Lung Health Outcomes In First Nations People: A Cohort Study From Birth to 6 Years (NHRMC CTCS Grant administered by University of Melbourne)
    University of Melbourne
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2025
    The GOAL Trial: Vascular Surgery (QACRF grant administered by Metro South Hospital)
    Metro South Hospital and Health Service
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2023 - 2024
    ARCT-032-01: Phase 1/1b study of ARCT-032 in Healthy Adult Subjects and Adults with Cystic Fibrosis
    Arcturus Therapeutics Inc
    Open grant

Supervision

Availability

Professor Paul Robinson is:
Available for supervision

Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.

Available projects

  • Remote monitoring of Paediatric Asthma to Improve Asthma Diagnosis and Control

    Childhood asthma mortality remains substantial, and rates of hospitalisation are increasing globally in young children. This is driven by poor asthma control (which affects 50% of asthmatics) and ongoing exacerbations (which affects 25%). Of the 40,000 admissions each year, 80% are preventable! Current symptom-based management approaches fail – limited by poor perception/reporting by children and parents - and conventional spirometry/peak flow is insensitive or too challenging for this setting. In addition, the preschool age range is a critical period in asthma pathogenesis: symptoms emerge, airway structure changes, and a window for intervention exists before permanent lung function deficit is established by early school age. Preschool symptom-based diagnostic and/or predictive tools (for later asthma) perform poorly and ignore lung function due to spirometry’s limitations. Improved ability to differentiate early asthma phenotypes is a priority of international societies.

    This research program consists of a series of projects to analyse existing, and collect new, data to define the clinical utility of a unique remote home-based monitoring strategy focused on the day-to-day variability of a novel and sensitive lung function test. Studies will investigate its ability to correctly identify evolving asthma, detect loss of asthma control and provide an early signal of an impending asthma exacerbation to improve long term asthma outcomes.

  • Improving detection of Pulmonary Graft-vs-Host Disease to facilitate earlier intervention

    Chronic Graft-vs-Host Disease affects 60% of Haematopoeitic Stem Cell Transplant (HSCT) survivors by 6 years after their transplant, affecting multiple organs including skin, liver, gastrointestinal tract and lungs. Gold standard for pulmonary GVHD diagnosis is abnormal spirometry and subsequent CT-based imaging. Pulmonary GVHD is estimated to affect 20% of all subjects post HSCT yet this incidence is a gross underestimate due to the insensitivity of spirometry to detect peripheral lung changes. This leads to late diagnosis, poor response to treatment, and poor prognosis (5-year mortality is 85%). Better tools to detect and monitor pulmonary GVHD are urgently required.

    This research program builds on previous work highlighting the potential utility of novel peripheral airway function test in this setting. It will analyse both local data and pooled international data across 12 international centres (including both paediatric and adult data) to define the utility of these tools to provide an earlier diagnosis of pulmonary GVHD to facilitate earlier invention and improve outcomes. It will also explore novel applications of these tests to enhance detection further in the initial period post HSCT to predict and detect those at risk.

  • Remote monitoring of Paediatric Asthma to Improve Asthma Diagnosis and Control

    Childhood asthma mortality remains substantial, and rates of hospitalisation are increasing globally in young children. This is driven by poor asthma control (which affects 50% of asthmatics) and ongoing exacerbations (which affects 25%). Of the 40,000 admissions each year, 80% are preventable! Current symptom-based management approaches fail – limited by poor perception/reporting by children and parents - and conventional spirometry/peak flow is insensitive or too challenging for this setting. In addition, the preschool age range is a critical period in asthma pathogenesis: symptoms emerge, airway structure changes, and a window for intervention exists before permanent lung function deficit is established by early school age. Preschool symptom-based diagnostic and/or predictive tools (for later asthma) perform poorly and ignore lung function due to spirometry’s limitations. Improved ability to differentiate early asthma phenotypes is a priority of international societies. This research program consists of a series of projects to analyse existing, and collect new, data to define the clinical utility of a unique remote home-based monitoring strategy focused on the day-to-day variability of a novel and sensitive lung function test. Studies will investigate its ability to correctly identify evolving asthma, detect loss of asthma control and provide an early signal of an impending asthma exacerbation to improve long term asthma outcomes.

    This program of research includes projects suitable for PhD, honours or masters students.

    For more information, contact Professor Paul Robinson at paul.robinson@uq.edu.au.

  • Assessing the impact of a Complex Asthma model of care to service all eligible Queensland children

    A significant driver of the huge healthcare burden of asthma is children with difficult-to-treat or severe asthma (5-10% of childhood asthma, termed collectively as “Complex Asthma”). A recent survey of Australian and New Zealand paediatric tertiary services has highlighted the lack of a standardised approach to services and issues adequately identifying these children affected to ensure access to recommended models of care. At Queensland Children’s hospital (QCH) we have established a unique multidisciplinary team (MDT) service, involving nine different medical teams: Respiratory, Allergy & Immunology, Psychology, Psychiatry, Adolescent Medicine, Speech Pathology, Physiotherapy, ENT and Social work. The research program will focus on evaluating the effectiveness of this approach through i) the creation of a complex asthma database to assess health outcomes, describe key factors predicting those outcomes and enable a cost-effectiveness analysis, ii) the evaluation of currently employed screening questionnaires to correctly identify important co-morbidities, and iii) using the established Project ECHO platform at QCH, the creation of a community of practice and an education module to educate and empower non-tertiary community-based services to better identify and contribute to ongoing management the impact of which will be formally assessed. This work coincides with the establishment of a national Australian and New Zealand Paediatric Severe Asthma Registry (led by QCH staff) which will enable benchmarking of outcomes to data collected at other tertiary centres.

    This program of research includes projects suitable for PhD, honours or masters students

    For more information, contact Professor Paul Robinson at paul.robinson@uq.edu.au

  • Improving detection of Pulmonary Graft-vs-Host Disease to facilitate earlier intervention

    Chronic Graft-vs-Host Disease affects 60% of Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant (HSCT) survivors by 6 years after their transplant, affecting multiple organs including skin, liver, gastrointestinal tract and lungs. Gold standard for pulmonary GVHD diagnosis is abnormal spirometry and subsequent CT-based imaging. Pulmonary GVHD is estimated to affect 20% of all subjects post HSCT yet this incidence is a gross underestimate due to the insensitivity of spirometry to detect peripheral lung changes. This leads to late diagnosis, poor response to treatment, and poor prognosis (5-year mortality is 85%). Better tools to detect and monitor pulmonary GVHD are urgently required.

    This research program builds on previous work highlighting the potential utility of novel peripheral airway function test in this setting. It will analyse both local data and pooled international data across 12 international centres (including both paediatric and adult data) to define the utility of these tools to provide an earlier diagnosis of pulmonary GVHD to facilitate earlier invention and improve outcomes. It will also explore novel applications of these tests in a new prospective cohort to enhance detection further in the initial period post HSCT to predict and detect those at risk.

    This program of research includes projects suitable for PhD, honours or masters students.

    For more information, contact Professor Paul Robinson at paul.robinson@uq.edu.au.

  • Defining early lung function and respiratory health trajectories in First Nations infants

    Disparities in health for indigenous communities are a global issue. The Strong Families Study is a First Nations peoples co-designed cohort to support improved perinatal and early childhood outcomes. It is the largest birth cohort study of its kind to date and the first inclusive of mothers, partners, and their children. This research program will focus on identifying important events happening within the first year of life that determine respiratory health and lung function trajectories in recruited infants. The projects will focus on pre-natal and post-natal factors determining i) baseline offspring lung function at 6 weeks, ii) lung function trajectories determined by respiratory function tested at 6 weeks and 12 months and iii) respiratory health defined by episodes of wheeze and bronchiolitis within the first 12 months of life. Relationships observed within this cohort will be compared to those within other important birth cohorts both nationally (Barwon Infant Study) and internationally (Drakenstein study, South Africa).

    This program of research includes projects suitable for PhD, honours or masters students. Experience working with first nations communities, with children and in lung function techniques is desirable.

    For more information, contact Professor Paul Robinson at paul.robinson@uq.edu.au.

Media

Enquiries

For media enquiries about Professor Paul Robinson's areas of expertise, story ideas and help finding experts, contact our Media team:

communications@uq.edu.au