Child Health Research Centre

The CHEP Respiratory Physiology team

The Respiratory Physiology team conducts clinical and translational research to better understand lung health and respiratory disease across the lifespan.

Respiratory conditions often begin early in life, yet subtle changes in lung function may not be detected by conventional assessment methods until significant disease is established. Furthermore, we still are unable to predict which children will develop more serious respiratory outcomes and require more intensive therapies.

Using advanced lung function techniques and innovative analysis methods, our team investigates conditions such as asthma, cystic fibrosis, premature lung disease, and other respiratory disorders. By working closely with patients, clinicians, and multidisciplinary healthcare teams, we aim to:

  • Identify sensitive markers of early disease development
  • Improve monitoring and management strategies in both clinical and home settings
  • Optimise treatment approaches
  • Co-design digital health tools for both families and health care professionals
  • Improve sustainable and equitable models of care
  • Translate evidence into clinical practice and policy

Ultimately, our research will help to identify children at risk of future respiratory disease development, reduce exacerbations and improve long-term respiratory health outcomes.

Multidisciplinary approach to complex asthmaELO: Early Life Origins of Cystic Fibrosis (CF)

This observational study is conducted at The Queensland Children’s, Prince Charles and Mater Hospitals. The study aims are (i) to better understand the mechanisms of early disease onset and how CF lung disease progresses throughout a patients’ life and (ii) improve/develop appropriate clinical outcome measures (lung function testing, biomarkers, imaging techniques) to improve CF management and (iii) explore home-based options to predict exacerbations.

BREATHE: Better Remote Evaluation and Asthma Assessment Tools from Home Exacerbations

This study focuses on important clinical gaps in paediatric asthma within the age range at greatest risk of asthma exacerbation (ages 5-9 years). The overarching aim is to improve asthma management by providing urgently needed tools to improve asthma diagnosis in clinical settings, better monitor levels of asthma control and provide an early signal of asthma exacerbation onset.

MOSAIC: MBW and OSC surveillance after stem cell transplant international collaboration

The MOSAIC study (Multiple Breath Washout and Oscillometry Surveillance After stem cell Transplant International Collaboration) is a retrospective individual participant data meta-analysis designed to evaluate lung function in patients who have undergone allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). Read more. 

ELITE: Early Detection of Lung Disease to Improve Lifelong Trajectories

Early lung disease in children often begins in the small airways and may not be detected using standard lung function tests, which are difficult for young children to perform. This study aims to optimise lung function tests the can be done during normal, relaxed breathing and are better at detecting early lung changes. Multiple breath washout (MBW) and oscillometry (OSC) have shown promise in research studies but are not yet widely used in routine clinical care. More evidence and standardised approaches are needed before they can be confidently used by clinicians.

BALLOON: Bacterial mucosal immunotherapy for prevention of lower respiratory tract infections in preterm born

Infants born <30 weeks’ gestation often develop lung disease during the neonatal period, putting them at risk of significant lung disease throughout child- and adulthood, including asthma and the premature development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. This randomised control trial (RCT) will explore whether Bactek, an inactivated bacterial vaccine, decreases lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) and associated healthcare utilisation in infants born <30 weeks' gestation during the first year of life.

Remote, home-based monitoring to enhance early diagnosis and monitoring of paediatric respiratory conditions

Explore how remote lung function monitoring and digital health technologies can transform the detection and management of childhood respiratory diseases. You'll contribute to research that seeks to identify disease progression earlier and enable more proactive, personalised care.

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

Transform care for children with severe asthma by helping develop and evaluate innovative, multidisciplinary approaches that improve diagnosis, treatment, and long-term outcomes. This project spans clinical research, digital health, and national collaboration to ensure children with complex asthma receive the right care at the right time.

Defining the natural history and trajectories of preschool children with current wheeze

Investigate the long-term lung function trajectories of children with recurrent wheeze using novel respiratory physiology techniques and longitudinal cohort data. This research seeks to better understand the early origins of asthma and identify markers of future disease risk.

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

Investigate how prenatal and early-life exposures influence infant lung function and respiratory health trajectories within a unique First Nations-led birth cohort. Findings will inform strategies to reduce respiratory disease risk and health disparities from the earliest stages of life.

Understanding early life trajectories in cystic fibrosis (CF)

Apply advanced epidemiological and statistical methods to understand trajectories of lung disease in children with cystic fibrosis. This research will help identify early markers of disease progression and guide future clinical management.

Development of normative intra-breath oscillometry (IB-OSC) data 

Contribute to the development of reference equations for intrabreath oscillometry by collecting and analysing lung function data from children across a broad age range. The outcomes will support wider clinical adoption of this sensitive and innovative respiratory assessment tool.

Classification of intra-breath oscillometry (IB-OSC) patterns for phenotyping paediatric respiratory disease 

Investigate disease-specific breathing patterns using intrabreath oscillometry and machine learning techniques in children with respiratory disease. This research will advance our understanding of respiratory mechanics and support the development of more sensitive diagnostic tools.

The utility of respiratory surveillance in Childhood Neuromuscular disease 

Explore how lung function testing, imaging, and sleep studies can be used to better understand and monitor respiratory impairment in children with neuromuscular disease. This work will also evaluate the impact of emerging therapies and respiratory surveillance on patient outcomes and experiences.

Team Leader: Dr Tamara Blake 

 The CHEP Respiratory Physiology team is led by Dr Tamara Blake. Tamara is an early career researcher (7 years post-doc) and a trained respiratory scientist with over 10 years’ experience in measuring the lung function of children aged between 3-18 years across a range of disease modalities including asthma, bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis (CF). She has a particular interest in childhood respiratory illnesses such as cystic fibrosis and asthma, emerging clinical measurement techniques, as well as Australian First Nations respiratory health.

The CHEP Respiratory Physiology team is a team of dedicated and enthusiastic researchers, including:

  • Ms Claire Dogherty, Senior Research Assistant
  • Ms Crystal Au-Yeung, Senior Research Assistant
  • Ms Khushi Rathod, Senior Research Assistant
  • Mrs Cathy Pendergrast, Higher Degree by Research Scholar
  • Dr Matthew Wong, Medical Doctor and Higher Degree by Research Scholar

 

The CHEP Respiratory Physiology team collaborates with leading industry partners allowing our research to have a broad and deep impact in our community and accross the world, including:

We are a trusted research partner with the following government and industry associations and organisations:

If you are looking to work with a trusted research partner in respiratory physiology, please contact Dr Tamara Blake.