Respiratory Medicine Research

We have been conducting research into paediatric respiratory conditions since 1998, when our research unit was established as The Children's Chest Research Centre. Located at The Children's Hospital at Westmead, our clinical research team conducts research projects which have changed the way children with respiratory illnesses are treated.

A particular strength of our research team is undertaking clinical trials of new ways of diagnosing, investigating and treating diseases of the respiratory system. We have also established a number of important internal and external research collaborations.

Respiratory medicine is led by Associate Professor Hiran Selvadurai. For general enquiries please contact the department secretary, Debra Roberts-Jones: debra.robertsjones@health.nsw.gov.au

The research team

  

Associate Professor Hiran Selvadurai, Respiratory Medicine Research Group Leader

Hiran is a Clinical Associate Professor and Head of Department of Respiratory Medicine. His research interests include cystic fibrosis, and exercise physiology for improving health outcomes for children with respiratory disorders. More information can be found on Hiran's University of Sydney profile page

 

Associate Professor Paul Robinson, Staff Specialist, email: paul.robinson1@health.nsw.gov.au

Paul is a clinician researcher within the University of Sydney’s Discipline of Paediatrics and Child Health and is a respiratory paediatrician at the Children’s Hospital at Westmead. His research interests include investigating improved diagnostic tests and methodologies and translating these into useful clinical tools for both children and adults. More information can be found on Paul's University of Sydney profile page.

Dr Karen McKay, Clinical Research Coordinator,  email: karen.mckay@health.nsw.gov.au

Key publications

2018

Comparison of facemask and mouthpiece interfaces for multiple breath washout measurements. Robinson, P., Lum, S., Moore, C., Hardaker, K., Benseler, N., Cooper, P., Fitzgerald, D., Jensen, R., McDonald, R., Selvadurai, H., et al. Journal of Cystic Fibrosis, 17(4), 511-517.

Dietary influences on asthma: The generational impact of a sweet tooth? Selvadurai, H. Annals of the American Thoracic Society, 15(2), 167-168.

2017

A cross-sectional analysis of daytime versus nocturnal polysomnographic respiratory parameters in cystic fibrosis during early adolescence. Waters, K., Lowe, A., Cooper, P., Vella, S., Selvadurai, H.  Journal of Cystic Fibrosis, 16(2), 250-257.

An unusual case of haemolytic anaemia and failure to thrive in a Burmese refugee baby. Chuang, S., Sealy, L., Selvadurai, H., Dutt, S., Ooi, C. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 53(5), 500-502.

Attentional Bias in Children with Asthma with and without Anxiety Disorders. Dudeney, J., Sharpe, L., Sicouri (Easter), G., Lorimer, S., Dear, B., Jaffe, A., Selvadurai, H., Hunt, C. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 45(8), 1635-1646.

Childhood interstitial lung diseases in immunocompetent children in Australia and New Zealand: A decade's experience. Saddi, V., Beggs, S., Bennetts, B., Harrison, J., Hime, N., Kapur, N., Lipsett, J., Nogee, L., Phu, A., Suresh, S., Selvadurai, H., Zurynski, Y., et al. Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases, 12(1), 1-9.

Exercise capacity is not decreased in children who have undergone lung resection early in life for congenital thoracic malformations compared to healthy age-matched children. Dunn, A., Pearce, K., Callister, R., Collison, A., Morten, M., Mandaliya, P., Platt, L., Dascombe, B., Kumar, R., Selvadurai, H., Robinson, P., et al. Pediatric Pulmonology, 52(10), 1340-1348.

Inspiratory muscle training is associated with improved inspiratory muscle strength, resting cardiac output, and the ventilatory efficiency of exercise in patients with a fontan circulation. Laohachai, K., Winlaw, D., Selvadurai, H., Gnanappa, G., d'Udekem, Y., Celermajer, D., Ayer, J. Journal of the American Heart Association, 6(8), 1-11.

Is twice the duration of washout sufficient time between multiple breath nitrogen washout tests? Hardaker, K., Gustafsson, P., Cooper, P., Fitzgerald, D., Selvadurai, H., Robinson, P. European Respiratory Journal, 49(2), 1-4.

Parent-child interactions in children with asthma and anxiety. Sicouri (Easter), G., Sharpe, L., Hudson, J., Dudeney, J., Jaffe, A., Selvadurai, H., Hunt, C.  Behaviour Research and Therapy, 97, 242-251.

Threat interpretation and parental influences for children with asthma and anxiety. Sicouri (Easter), G., Sharpe, L., Hudson, J., Dudeney, J., Jaffe, A., Selvadurai, H., Lorimer, S., Hunt, C. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 89, 14-23.

Validation of a quantitative method to measure neural respiratory drive in children during sleep. Chuang, S., Teng, A., Butler, J., Gandevia, S., Selvadurai, H., Jaffe, A. Respiratory Physiology and Neurobiology, 239, 75-80.

2016

Congenital lobar emphysema: diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. Mulvany, J., Weatherall, A., Charlton, A., Selvadurai, H. (2016).  BMJ Case Reports, 2016, 1-4.

Improving the quality of care for children with wheeze: The use of electronic asthma action plans and electronic pre-school wheeze action plans. O'Leary, F., Pegiazoglou, I., Marshall, T., Thosar, D., Deck, M., Peat, J., Ging, J., Selvadurai, H. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 52(9), 872-876.

Persistent growth effects of inhaled corticosteroids. Ohn, M., Jaffe, A., Selvadurai, H. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 52(10), 964-966.

Question 6: Is there a role for Mannose-Binding Lectin measurement in Cystic Fibrosis management? Prentice, B., McKay, K., Selvadurai, H., Robinson, P., Abel, F., Fitzgerald, D.  Paediatric Respiratory Reviews, 19, 46-48.