Lung conditions are the most common reason why Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people see a doctor and the second most common reason for hospitalisation. Many cases of lung disease seen in adults started in childhood, and many of these lung conditions can be prevented and/or treated if they are recognised and managed before irreversible lung damage occurs.

Our knowledge is limited, both of the clinical course of lung disease in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations, and the factors that hasten its development.

Our research focus:
  • To find better ways to treat common lung illnesses and to understand what factors lead to the development of severe lung disease.
  • To prevent future chronic disease through awareness-raising and education, and by providing tools to better detect and manage lung problems.
Our research impact:
  • Described better ways to diagnose and manage chronic coughs in children through a child-specific ‘cough-pathway’. We documented dramatic reductions in the duration of coughs, from a previous average of 16 weeks to just four weeks. The ‘cough pathway’ will be incorporated into Australian and international guidelines
  • Improved the detection and management of chronic suppurative lung disease in children, including the development of evidence-based guidelines
  • Launched a respiratory disease web resource called the LungInfoNet. This one-stop shop helps health professionals and others to provide improved health education to Indigenous patients. It includes flipchart resources for respiratory diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic suppurative lung disease and bronchiolitis.
Key staff:
Collaborators:
  • Dr Kerry-Ann O’Grady, Associate Professor Ian Masters, Dr Helen Buntain, Dr Ian Mackay, Dr Danielle Wurzel, Dr Helen Petsky and colleagues, Children's Health Queensland and Queensland University of Technology
  • Professor Keith Grimwood, Griffith University
  • Professor John Upham, University of Queensland and Princess Alexandra Hospital
  • Professor Paul Torzillo, University of Sydney
  • Associate Professor Theo Sloots, Queensland Paediatric Infectious Disease Laboratory
  • Dr Stephanie Yerkovich, University of Queensland and Queensland Lung Transplant Service, Prince Charles Hospital
  • Dr Catherine Byrnes, Starship Children's Hospital, Auckland
  • Dr Rosalyn Singleton, Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, Anchorage
  • Prof Greg Redding, University of Washington, Seattle
  • Associate Professor Allen Cheng, Monash University and The Alfred Hospital
  • Professor Peter Gibson and Dr Katherine Baines, University of Newcastle
  • Professor Sandra Hodge, Royal Adelaide Hospital
  • Dr Andrew Wilson, Princess Margaret Hospital
  • Professor Allan Cripps, Griffith University
  • Dr Nicolas Wood, University of Sydney, Children’s Hospital Westmead
  • Professor Albert Li, Chinese University of Hong Kong
  • Associate Professor Anna Nathan, University of Malaya
  • Associate Professor Jessie de Bruyne, University of Malaya
  • Dr Fong, Likas Children's Hospital, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
  • Dr Ooi and Associate Professor David Perera, University of Malaysia Sarawak
  • Associate Professor Tsin Yeo, Nanyang Technological University / Imperial College, Singapore
Current projects:
Recently completed projects:

Below is a list of selected publications relating to lung health:

  1. Marsh, R.L., Kaestli, M., Chang, A.B., Binks, M.J., Pope, C.E., Hoffman, L.R., & Smith-Vaughan, H.C. (2016). The microbiota in bronchoalveolar lavage from young children with chronic lung disease includes taxa present in both the oropharynx and nasopharynx. Microbiome. In press.
  2. Chang, A.B., Bell, S.C., Torzillo, P.J., King, P.T., Maguire, G., Byrnes, C.A., et al. (2015). Chronic suppurative lung disease and bronchiectasis in children and adults in Australia and New Zealand. Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand guidelines Medical Journal of Australia, 202,21-23.
  3. Pizzutto, S.J., Upham, J.W., Yerkovich, S.T., & Chang, A.B. (2015). High pulmonary expression of IL-6 and IL-1β in children with chronic suppurative lung disease is associated with impaired recall responses to non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae. Plos One,10(6), e0129517.
  4. Hare, K.M., Grimwood, K., Chang, A.B., Morris, P.S., Leach, A.L., Valery, P.C., et al. (2015). Nasopharyngeal carriage and macrolide resistance in Indigenous children with bronchiectasis randomized to long-term azithromycin or placebo. European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases, 34(11), 2275-85.
  5. McCallum, G.B., Morris, P.S., Grimwood, K., Maclennan, C., White, A.V., Chatfield, M.D., et al. (2015). Three-weekly doses of azithromycin for Indigenous infants hospitalised with bronchiolitis: A multicentre, randomised, placebo-controlled trial. Frontiers in Paediatrics, 3, 32.
  6. McCallum, G.B., Versteegh, L.A., Morris, P.S., McKay, C.C., Jacobsen, N., White, A.V., D’Antoine, H., & Chang, A.B. (2014). Mobile phones support adherence and retention of Indigenous participants in a randomised controlled trial: strategies and lessons learnt. BMC Public Health, 14, 622.
  7. Blake, T.L., Chang, A.B., Petsky, H.L., Rodwell, L., Brown, M., Hill, D.C., McElrea, M.S (2016). Spirometry reference values in Indigenous Australians. A systematic review. Medical Journal of Australia, 205(1), 35-40.
  8. Goyal, V., Grimwood, K., Marchant, J.M., Masters, I.B., & Chang, A.B. (2016). State of the Art: Bronchiectasis in children: no longer an orphan disease. Pediatric Pulmonol ogy.
  9. Hodge, S., Hodge, G., Upham, J.W., Pizzutto, S.J., Petsky, H.L., Yerkovich, S.T., et al. (2016).  Is alveolar macrophage phagocytic dysfunction in children with protracted bacterial bronchitis a forerunner to bronchiectasis? Chest, 149(2), 508-515.
  10. Chang, A.B., Marsh, R.L., Upham, J.W., Hoffman, L.R., Smith-Vaughan, H., Holt, D., et al on behalf of the CRE extended group. (2015). Towards making inroads in reducing the disparity of lung health in Australian Indigenous and New Zealand Māori children. Frontiers in Pediatrics, 3, 9.
Click here to view more lung publications in PubMed.
  1. Study finds biofilm link to persistent wet cough in children

    Study finds biofilm link to persistent wet cough in children

    Date

    According to those involved in the collaboration between Menzies School of Health Research, the Telethon Kids Institute and the University of Western Australia (UWA), there had previously been ‘scant data’ to support the theory.

  2. Media release | Bacterial slime causing persistent wet coughs for children

    Media release | Bacterial slime causing persistent wet coughs for children

    Date

    New research has led to a breakthrough in understanding an important driver of recurrent chest infections in children.

  3. The West Australian | New research sheds light on kids' coughs

    The West Australian | New research sheds light on kids' coughs

    Date

    Children who experience a nasty and persistent wet cough may be affected by an antibiotic-resistant slime, new research suggests.

  4. Retail Pharmacy | What's app-ening with my lungs?

    Retail Pharmacy | What's app-ening with my lungs?

    Date

    Learning about healthy lungs has just become a lot easier for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and health practitioners thanks to an expanded interactive app.

  5. NT News | Lung health app

    NT News | Lung health app

    Date

    Developed by the Menzies School of Health Research, the Lung Health for Kids app originally contained information on asthma but now includes the conditions bronchiolitis, pneumonia and bronchiectasis

  6. What’s app-ening with my lungs?

    What’s app-ening with my lungs?

    Date

    Learning about healthy lungs has just become a lot easier for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and health practitioners thanks to an expanded interactive app.

  7. Media alert | Outcomes of protracted bacterial bronchitis in children: A 5‐year prospective cohort study

    Media alert | Outcomes of protracted bacterial bronchitis in children: A 5‐year prospective cohort study

    Date

    Findings from the first prospective longer-term outcome NHMRC-funded study for children with protracted bacterial bronchitis (PBB) in children have identified a link between children with PBB and asthma, highlighting the importance of identifying potentially treatable symptoms in children with chronic respiratory diseases.

  8. Menzies app improving asthma management in communities

    Menzies app improving asthma management in communities

    Date

    Education around asthma has gone mobile with Menzies School of Health Research’s Child Health Division developing an interactive app targeted to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families.

  9. NT News | Asthma app clears air on cure

    NT News | Asthma app clears air on cure

    Date

    Report on asthma app launch with Dr Gabrielle McCallum.

  10. Media Release | Improving knowledge and understanding of asthma for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families online

    Media Release | Improving knowledge and understanding of asthma for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families online

    Date

    Learning about asthma has just become a lot easier for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and health practitioners thanks to a new interactive app

  11. Large donation for vital research

    Large donation for vital research

    Date

    The generous staff at Darwin Airport have donated $13,000 to Menzies School of Health Research to go towards the purchase of Anaerobic Chamber.

  12. Anaerobic Chamber to help improve lives of Indigenous Children.

    Anaerobic Chamber to help improve lives of Indigenous Children.

    Date

    The Chamber is a crucial piece of equipment for growing anaerobic bacteria that can be found in children under the age of 5 with middle ear infections and chronic lung disease.

  13. Menzies clinician-researchers receive NHMRC funding

    Menzies clinician-researchers receive NHMRC funding

    Date

    Two Menzies School of Health Research clinician-researchers have secured competitive NHMRC funding to continue their valuable work over the coming years.

  14. Better child lung health

    Better child lung health

    Date

    Indigenous children living in remote communities with chest and lung conditions are a key priority for our child health respiratory team. To identify what can be done to improve their lung health and how their respiratory conditions can be better managed,...

  15. ABC online | Research targeting asthma and smoking

    ABC online | Research targeting asthma and smoking

    Date

    Indigenous smoking rates: Older kids a new tool to break cycle in Northern Territory. By Nancy Notzon. Senior research fellow Dr Gabrielle McCallum | A trial targeting improved asthma outcomes and creating an environment where it's cool not to take up smoking.

  16. Evidence informs chronic cough guidelines

    Evidence informs chronic cough guidelines

    Date

    High-quality evidence informs chronic cough guidelines Results from the first multicentre randomised controlled trial on chronic cough in children led by our child health respiratory team were incorporated into the updated American College of Chest...

  17. ABC TV coverage of lung capacity study collaboration

    Date

    Menzies have been out and about at the Northern Territory Rugby League Junior fixtures, measuring lung function in healthy young people. The study measures two types of lung function tests in healthy Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young adults, to find the best range of healthy results. Which in turn will be used to help diagnose lung problems such as asthma. Dr Gabrielle McCallum manager of our Child Health Respiratory Program teamed up with with Queensland University of Technology PhD student Tamara Blake.

  18. Menzies leaders inducted into important new health and medical academy

    Menzies leaders inducted into important new health and medical academy

    Date

    Three Menzies researchers inducted as Fellows of the newly formed Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences.

  19. Pioneering research hopes to improve Indigenous lung health

    Pioneering research hopes to improve Indigenous lung health

    Date

    The first ever detailed study of the bacteriology of bronchiectasis in Indigenous children has been undertaken to better understand and prevent the disease progression.

  20. Pioneering asthma education program and research in Darwin schools

    Pioneering asthma education program and research in Darwin schools

    Date

    An innovative asthma awareness and self-management program with tobacco uptake prevention funded by Asthma Australia’s National Research Program is being introduced to school students in Darwin.

  21. NHMRC features Menzies' researcher Robyn Marsh

    NHMRC features Menzies' researcher Robyn Marsh

    Date

    NHMRC Frank Fenner early career fellowship winner Robyn Marsh talks about her research experience.

  22. Research turns to cold case specimens to unveil secrets in ear and lung health

    Research turns to cold case specimens to unveil secrets in ear and lung health

    Date

    A retrospective study of 20 years of ear and lung data is being undertaken to inform improved diagnosis, prevention and treatment options for Indigenous children with middle ear and lung infections.

  23. New talking posters to tackle chronic cough in Indigenous communities

    New talking posters to tackle chronic cough in Indigenous communities

    Date

    The launch of a series of flipcharts and talking posters will help to address factors that lead to chronic respiratory illness in remote Indigenous children and adults.

  24. My story: Gabrielle McCallum, nurse and PhD candidate

    My story: Gabrielle McCallum, nurse and PhD candidate

    Date

    Meet our winner of the 2012 NT Nursing and Midwifery Excellence Award for ‘Education, Research and Innovation’.

  25. Cough, step and jump: a profile of Professor Anne Chang

    Cough, step and jump: a profile of Professor Anne Chang

    Date

    One doctor’s mission to beat childhood lung disease.