Fields of Research

Respiratory diseases
Cardiology (incl. cardiovascular diseases)
Pharmaceutical sciences
Cell metabolism
Signal transduction
Receptors and membrane biology
Analytical biochemistry
Genetic immunology
Medical bacteriology
Clinical sciences
Radiation therapy
Infectious diseases
Gastroenterology and hepatology
Veterinary diagnosis and diagnostics
Cellular interactions (incl. adhesion, matrix, cell wall)
Gene expression (incl. microarray and other genome-wide approaches)
Cancer genetics
Animal immunology
Health and community services
Neurosciences
Cancer cell biology
Community child health
Health promotion
Preventative health care
Pathology (excl. oral pathology)
Health surveillance
Other psychology
Traditional, complementary and integrative medicine
Allergy
Applied immunology (incl. antibody engineering, xenotransplantation and t-cell therapies)
Autoimmunity
Innate immunity
Solid tumours

Research Objectives

Clinical health
Diagnosis of human diseases and conditions
Public health (excl. specific population health)
Prevention of human diseases and conditions
Treatment of human diseases and conditions
Terrestrial biodiversity
Human pharmaceutical treatments
Expanding knowledge in the health sciences
Preventive medicine
Disease distribution and transmission (incl. surveillance and response)
Health inequalities
Health education and promotion
Behaviour and health
Social structure and health

Career Best Publications

Research Publications

β-catenin, Twist and Snail: Transcriptional regulation of EMT in smokers and COPD, and relation to airflow obstruction; Scientific Reports
'Champions' of research
2013 Young Scientist of the Year
3 Questions About the Pathogenesis of COPD
In-vitro suppression of IL-6 and IL-8 release from human pulmonary epithelial cells by non-anticoagulant fraction of enoxaparin; PLoS One
A lethal epithelial transition in COPD
A randomized controlled trial of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) on markers of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in large airway samples in COPD: an exploratory proof of concept study; International Journal of COPD
Abnormal M1/M2 macrophage phenotype profiles in the small airway wall and lumen in smokers and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); Scientific reports
ACE2 expression is elevated in airway epithelial cells from older and male healthy individuals but reduced in asthma; Respirology
Additional References Related to the Pathogenesis of COPD
Adverse roles of mast cell chymase-1 in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; The European Respiratory Journal
Airway Angiogenesis And basement Membrane Remodeling In Smokers And Chronic Obstructive pulmonary Disease: cross-sectional And Longitudinal Studies
Airway Basal Cell Reprogramming and Epithelial– Mesenchymal Transition: A Potential Key to Understanding Early Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease; American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine
Airway epithelial platelet-activating factor receptor expression is markedly upregulated in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; The International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Airway histone deacetylase-2 increases after smoking cessation, but is not affected by inhaled corticosteroids in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): A randomized controlled trial; American Thoracic Society (ATS)
Airway inflammation and inhaled corticosteroids in COPD; The European Respiratory Journal
Airway inflammation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): a true paradox
Airway Remodeling in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), a Review
Airways distinctly different in asthma COPD overlap: Tasmanian study
All nicotine devices as toxic for lungs as cigarettes are
Altered Calcium in Ciliary Dysfunction: Potential Role of Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Ciliophagy; American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology
An antagonist of the platelet-activating factor receptor inhibits adherence of both nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae and Streptococcus pneumoniae to cultured human bronchial epithelial cells exposed to cigarette smoke; International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), transmembrane peptidase serine 2 (TMPRSS2), and furin expression increases in the lungs of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM): implications for SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) infections; Journal of Clinical Medicine
Anti-inflammatory activity of fucoidan extracts in vitro; Marine Drugs
Apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 inhibition attenuates human airway smooth muscle growth and migration in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Clinical Science
Arterial remodelling in smokers and in patients with small airway disease and COPD: implications for lung physiology and early origins of pulmonary hypertension; ERJ Open Research
Asthma, COPD and SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19): potential mechanistic insights; The European Respiratory Journal
Autophagy is selectively activated and correlates with airway remodeling in asthma; American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology
Autopsy finds man most likely died as a result of vaping
Basement membrane and vascular remodelling in smokers and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a cross-sectional study ; Respiratory Research
Basement membrane remodelling in COPD responds to inhaled corticosteroids; The Thoracic Society of Australia & New Zealand Annual Scientific Meeting
Breathing life into local research
Call for nationwide vape ban as concern grows for young people
Changes in airway histone deacetylase2 in smokers and COPD with inhaled corticosteroids: A randomized controlled trial; PLoS One
Changes to legislation around vaping sees varied opinions
Characterisation of colonic dysplasia-like epithelial atypia in murine colitis; World Journal of Gastroenterology
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and Lung Cancer: Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition (EMT), the Missing Link?; EBioMedicine
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): Activities and Highlights in 2017
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung cancer: underlying pathophysiology and new therapeutic modalities; Drugs
Cigarette smoke and platelet-activating factor receptor dependent adhesion of Streptococcus pneumoniae to lower airway cells; Thorax
Cigarettes, vaping and heated tobacco 'cause serious lung damage'
Clinical application of forced oscillation technique (FOT) in early detection of airway changes in smokers; Journal of Clinical Medicine
Clinical features and mechanistic insights into drug repurposing for combating COVID-19; International Journal of Biochemistry and Cell Biology
Clinical significance of epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): potential target for prevention of airway fibrosis and lung cancer; Clinical and Translational Medicine
Cochrane review update leaves big questions unanswered regarding vaping: implications for medical practitioners; The European Respiratory Journal
Comparing factor VIII with collagen IV for immuno-staining of vessels; The Thoracic Society of Australia & New Zealand Annual Scientific Meeting
Containment strategies for COVID-19 in India: lessons from the second wave; Expert Review of Anti-infective Therapy
Covid-19 and smoking: the elephant in the room?; BMJ - blog
COVID-19 and vaping: risk for increased susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection?; The European Respiratory Journal
COVID-19, propelled by smoking, could destroy entire nations; European Respiratory Society - blog
Current understanding of corticosteroid therapy in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): an overview; International Journal of Medical and Biological Frontiers
Cytokines expression levels from tissue, plasma or serum as promising clinical biomarkers in adenocarcinoma of the prostate: A systematic review of recent findings; Annals of Translational Medicine
Department of Industry, Innovation and Science Innovative Science and Technology Award 2016
Diagnostic approaches in COVID-19: clinical updates; Expert Review of Respiratory Medicine
Differential airway remodeling changes were observed in patients with asthma COPD overlap compared to patients with asthma and COPD alone; American Journal of Physiology
Differential gene expression and network analysis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma; Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry
Disease process examined
Distinctive characteristics of bronchial reticular basement membrane and vessel remodelling in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and in asthma: they are not the same disease; Histopathology
Doctors at odds over value of vaping, as study finds it's just as harmful as cigarettes
Dr Sukhwinder Sohal leads Tasmanian research changing the lung cancer trajectory
Dysfunctional immunity and microbial adhesion molecules in smoking-induced pneumonia; American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine
Dysregulation of endocytic machinery and ACE2 in small airways of smokers and COPD patients can augment their susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) infections; American Journal of Physiology
Editorial: Clifford Craig Foundation researchers
Electronic cigarette aerosol is cytotoxic and increases ACE2 expression on human airway epithelial cells: Implications for SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19); Journal of Clinical Medicine
Electronic cigarettes: Modern instruments for toxic lung delivery and posing risk for the development of chronic disease; Electronic cigarettes: Modern instruments for toxic lung delivery and posing risk for the development of chronic disease
Electronic smoking as dangerous as the real thing
Endogenous anti-cancer candidates in GPCR, ER stress, and EMT; Biomedicines
Endothelial to mesenchymal transition (EndMT) and vascular remodeling in pulmonary hypertension and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis; Expert Review of Respiratory Medicine
Endothelial to mesenchymal transition (EndMT): an active process in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)?; Respiratory Research (Print)
Endothelial to mesenchymal transition: a precursor to post-COVID-19 interstitial pulmonary fibrosis and vascular obliteration?; The European Respiratory Journal
Enhanced platelet activating factor receptor (PAFR) expression in smoker airways; European Respiratory Society, 2011 Annual Congress
Epithelial and endothelial cell plasticity in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); Respiratory Investigation
Epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC): a mutual association with airway disease; Medical Oncology
Epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) airways is attenuated by inhaled corticosteroids (ICS); British Thoracic Society
Epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) in large airways is attenuated by inhaled fluticasone propionate (FP) in COPD: a randomized controlled trial; The 8th International Young Investigators’ Meeting (YIM) on Airway Smooth Muscle and Fibroblast Biology
Epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) in patients with chronic obstructive disease (COPD); The Thoracic Society of Australia & New Zealand Annual Scientific Meeting
Epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) in small airways of COPD patients; Thorax
Epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) in small and large airways of smokers: potential role in both airway fibrosis and cancer; The 8th International Young Investigators’ Meeting (YIM) on Airway Smooth Muscle and Fibroblast Biology
Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) in the lungs and airways in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF)
Epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) in the small and large airways of lung cancer patients undergoing thoracotomy; European Respiratory Society Annual Congress
Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, a Precursor for Epithelial Cancers: Understanding and Translation to Early Therapy; Annals of the American Thoracic Society
Epithelial mesenchymal transition in smokers: large versus small airways and relation to airflow obstruction; International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Epithelial to mesenchymal transition in cultured cells: a potential in vitro model of COPD; Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition as a fundamental underlying pathogenic process in COPD airways: fibrosis, remodeling and cancer; Expert Reviews in Respiratory Medicine
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition, a spectrum of states: role in lung development, homeostasis, and disease; Developmental Dynamics
Epithelial–mesenchymal transition is driven by transcriptional and post transcriptional modulations in COPD: implications for disease progression and new therapeutics; International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Epithelial–Mesenchymal Transition: A Necessary New Therapeutic Target in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease?; American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine
ERBB3: A potential serum biomarker for early detection and therapeutic target for devil facial tumour 1 (DFT1); PLOS One
Essential need for rethink of COPD airway pathology: implications for new drug approaches for prevention of lung cancer as well as small airway fibrosis; The International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Essential need for rethink of COPD airway pathology: implications for new drug approaches for prevention of lung cancer as well as small airway fibrosis; International journal of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Evaluation of epithelial mesenchymal transition in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Respiratory Research
Evaluation of new therapeutic targets in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF): insights from Australian IPF registry tissue analysis
Evidence of epithelial-mesenchymal transition in COPD?; The Thoracic Society of Australia & New Zealand Annual Scientific Meeting
Expert Review: European Respiratory Society (ERS) Hot Topic; Breath
Fluticasone propionate and increased risk of pneumonia in COPD: is it PAFR-dependent?; The International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Fluticasone propionate attenuates epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) in COPD; Respirology, 17 (Supp 1)
Global honour for UTAS researcher
Ground-breaking Australian study is a ‘paradigm shift’ in understanding lung scarring this Rare Diseases Day
Guidelines and Safety Considerations in the Laboratory Diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Prerequisite Study for Health Professionals; Risk Management and Healthcare Policy
Harmful smoke heaters for the lungs
Health: Heated tobacco is as harmful as cigarettes
Heat-not-burn cigarettes are not a good alternative - they are still terrible for your lungs
Heated tobacco device poses same danger to lungs as cigarettes, vaping
Heated tobacco device poses same danger to lungs as cigarettes, vaping
Heated tobacco devices equally harmful as e-cigarettes, smoking: Study
Heated tobacco devices equally harmful as e-cigarettes, smoking: Study
Heated tobacco is no less harmful than regular cigarettes
Heated tobacco products cause similar cell inflammation to combustible cigarettes
Heparin-binding epidermal growth factor (HB-EGF) drives EMT in patients with COPD: implications for disease pathogenesis and novel therapies; Laboratory Investigation
Heparins in ulcerative colitis: proposed and potential reasons for inconsistent clinical outcomes; Expert Review of Clinical Pharmacology
Here comes novel device equally harmful as traditional smoking, e-cigarettes
Here comes novel device equally harmful as traditional smoking, e-cigarettes
Here comes novel device equally harmful as traditional smoking, e-cigarettes
Here comes novel device equally harmful as traditional smoking, e-cigarettes – Canindia News
How safe are heat-not-burn smoking devices?
ICAM-1 and other potential biomarkers for IPF flagged
Idebenone Protects against Acute Murine Colitis via Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Mechanisms; International Journal of Molecular Sciences
Identification of pro-and anti-proliferative oligosaccharides of heparins; Integrative Biology
Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Research Breakthrough
Immunohistochemical investigation of cytokine expression levels as biomarkers in transrectal ultrasound‑guided needle biopsy specimens of prostate adenocarcinoma; Molecular and Clinical Oncology
Impact of deleterious mutations on structure, function and stability of serum/glucocorticoid regulated kinase 1: A gene to diseases correlation; Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences
Impact of maternal air pollution exposure on children's lung health: An Indian perspective; Toxics
Implications of the second wave of COVID-19 in India; The Lancet Respiratory Medicine
Importance of epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) in COPD and asthma; Thorax
Increased myofibroblasts in the small airways, and relationship to remodelling and functional changes in smokers and COPD patients: potential role of epithelial-mesenchymal transition; ERJ Open Research
Inhaled corticosteroid normalizes some but not all airway vascular remodeling in COPD; International Journal of COPD
Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) attenuate epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) - implications for lung cancer prophylaxis; Australian Lung Cancer Conference (ALCC)
Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) attenuates epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) in COPD: a key to understanding long term benefits; European Respiratory Society Annual Congress
Inhaled corticosteroids and increased microbial load in COPD: potential role of epithelial adhesion molecules; The European respiratory journal
Inhaled corticosteroids attenuate epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT): implications for COPD and lung cancer prophylaxis; European Respiratory Journal
Inhaled corticosteroids in airway remodelling in COPD; Thorax
Inhaled corticosteroids is effective on only some aspects of bronchial vascular remodelling in COPD; Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand
Inhaled fluticasone propionate (FP) restores angiogenesis in the airway lamina propria of current smokers with COPD: a randomized controlled trial; European Respiratory Society Annual Congress
Intermediate filament vimentin and potential role in epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT); Vimentin Concepts and Molecular Mechanisms
International recognition for University researcher’s work on lung disease
Interview with our Researcher
Investigation of circulatory cytokines in patients undergoing intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) for adenocarcinoma of the prostate and association with acute RT-induced toxicity: A prospective clinical study; Cytokine
IQOS can be as harmful as cigarettes. But eCig can also be dangerous when used at medium and high concentrations. The study, for now only in vitro, in the journal of the European Respiratory Society
IQOS exposure impairs human airway cell homeostasis: Direct comparison with traditional cigarette and e-cigarette; ERJ Open Research
Is any smoking safe? Cigarettes, vaping and heated tobacco ALL ‘cause serious lung damage’
Is vaping really safer than smoking? Here's what experts say
Launceston doctor studying idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a fatal lung disease
Launceston researcher’s key finding on fatal lung disease
Launceston researcher’s key finding on fatal lung disease
Launceston researcher’s key finding on fatal lung disease
Launceston-based University of Tasmania study debunks heat-not-burn tobacco myth
Levels of plasma cytokine in patients undergoing neoadjuvant androgen deprivation therapy and external beam radiation therapy for adenocarcinoma of the prostate; Annals of Translational Medicine
Major Role of NLRP3 Inflammasome in Colitis Progression; International Congress of Immunology (ICI)
Mast cells in COPD airways: relationship to bronchodilator responsiveness and angiogenesis; European Respiratory Journal
MCC950, a specific small molecule inhibitor of NLRP3 inflammasome attenuates colonic inflammation in spontaneous colitis mice; Scientific Reports
Mechanisms targeting the unfolded protein response in asthma; American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology
Mechanistic insights into the role of serum-glucocorticoid kinase 1 in diabetic nephropathy: A systematic review; International Journal of Biological Macromolecules
Microbiota modulating nutritional approaches to countering the effects of viral respiratory infections including SARS-CoV-2 through promoting metabolic and immune fitness with probiotics and plant bioactives; Microorganisms
microRNAs are key regulators in chronic lung disease: exploring the vital link between disease progression and lung cancer
Mitochondrial dysfunction in macrophages: a key to defective bacterial phagocytosis in COPD
Molecular basis of pathogenesis of coronaviruses: A comparative genomics approach to planetary health to prevent zoonotic outbreaks in the 21st century; OMICS
Nanotechnology based advanced therapeutic strategies for targeting interleukins in chronic respiratory diseases; Chemico-Biological Interactions
Neutrophil numbers are decreased in bronchial biopsies from patients with COPD; European Respiratory Society Annual Congress
New heated tobacco device causes same damage to lung cells as e-cigs and smoking
New heated tobacco device causes same damage to lung cells as e-cigs and smoking
New heated tobacco device causes same damage to lung cells as e-cigs and smoking
New heated tobacco device causes same damage to lung cells as e-cigs and smoking, study finds
New heated tobacco device causes same damage to lung cells as e-cigs and smoking, study finds
New heated tobacco device causes the same damage to lung cells as traditional cigarettes and e-cigarettes
New heated tobacco device is as toxic as vaping and traditional cigarettes
New heated tobacco devices no lesser in causing harm to lungs
New registry to offer greater insight into causes and treatments for lung cancer
New study challenges description of airway inflammation in smokers and COPD patients
New study offers hope for people with terminal lung disease
New therapeutic targets for the prevention of infectious acute exacerbations of COPD: role of epithelial adhesion molecules and inflammatory pathways; Clinical Science
New type of E-Cig as bad as regular cigarette for your lungs
New ‘safer’ e-cigarettes are ‘JUST as dangerous for your lungs as vaping and smoking’
Nicotine Fact Sheet 3: Nicotine and the Lungs
No type of smoking is safe: cigarettes, heated tobacco, vaping all
Non-anticoagulant derivatives of heparin for the management of asthma: distant dream or close reality?; Expert Opinion on Investigational Drugs: Authoritative Analysis of Randd Trends
Non-anticoagulant fractions of enoxaparin suppress inflammatory cytokine release from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of allergic asthmatic individuals; PLoS One
Novel insights into chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): an overview; EMJ Respiratory
Opposing effects of low molecular weight heparins on the release of inflammatory cytokines from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of asthmatics; PLoS One
Orally Administered Enoxaparin Ameliorates Acute Colitis by Reducing Macrophage-Associated Inflammatory Responses; PLoS One
Pathogenesis, clinical features of asthma COPD overlap (ACO), and therapeutic modalities; American Journal of Physiology
Pathological changes in the COPD lung mesenchyme - Novel lessons learned from in vitro and in vivo studies; Pulmonary Pharmacology and Therapeutics
Platelet activating factor receptor (PAFR) expression increases in airways of current smokers; Respirology, 17 (Supp 1)
Platelet activating factor receptor (PAFr) expression is increased in airways of COPD patients but is not attenuated by inhaled corticosteroids; European Respiratory Society Annual Congress
Platelet activating factor receptor: gateway for bacterial chronic airway infection in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and potential therapeutic target; Expert Review of Respiratory Medicine
Platelet-activating factor receptor (PAFr) is upregulated in small airways and alveoli of smokers and COPD patients; Respirology
Potential diagnostics and therapeutic approaches in COVID-19; Clinica Chimica Acta
Potential epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) in the small airways of lung cancer patients; Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand
Potential Mechanisms of Microbial Pathogens in Idiopathic Interstitial Lung Disease; Chest
Prevalence of asthma-chronic obstructive pulmonary disease overlap syndrome (ACOS) in north-west Tasmanian population: understanding and translation to early therapy
Profiling cellular and inflammatory changes in the airway wall of mild to moderate COPD; Respirology
Recent advance in understanding inflammation and remodelling in the airways in COPD
Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System Inhibitors in Covid-19; New England Journal of Medicine
Research on smoke heating appliances - Papastratos' answer
Respiratory research Holy Grail: EndMT as a therapeutic target in lung fibrosis
Reticular basement membrane fragmentation and potential epithelial mesenchymal transition is exaggerated in the airways of smokers with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ; Respirology
Reticular basement membrane vessels are increased in COPD bronchial mucosa by both factor VIII and collagen IV immunostaining and are hyperpermeable; Journal of Allergy
Role of corticosteroids in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); Corticosteroids and Steroid Therapy: New Research
Role of epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); Respiratory Research
SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) adhesion site protein upregulation in small airways, type 2 pneumocytes, and alveolar macrophages of smokers and COPD - possible implications for interstitial fibrosis; International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Scholarship Award: National Emphysema Foundation Honouring Claude Lenfant by the American Thoracic Society (ATS)
School of Health Sciences recognised as national centre for lung disease research
School of Health Sciences researcher recognised with award
sE-cadherin and sVE-cadherin indicate active epithelial/endothelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT and EndoMT) in smokers and COPD: implications for new biomarkers and therapeutics; Biomarkers
Smoking cessation but not inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) can increase histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2)] in COPD ; The European Respiratory Journal
Smoking has potential to initiate basement membrane disruption and epithelial mesenchymal transition in COPD ; European Respiratory Society Annual Congress
Smoking has potential to initiate epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) in the airway mucosa
Smoking is not directly tied to airway inflammation in COPD
Smoking upregulates angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 receptor: A potential adhesion site for Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2; Journal of Clinical Medicine
Successful implementation of evidence-based guidelines in a regional emergency department for children presenting with acute asthma; Australian Journal of Rural Health
Tabacco heater is no healthier than a cigarette
Talking point: Let’s not get burnt all over again
Targeting eosinophils in chronic respiratory diseases using nanotechnology-based drug delivery; Chemico-Biological Interactions
Targeting the P2Y₁₃ receptor suppresses IL-33 and HMGB1 release and ameliorates experimental asthma; American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine
Targeting the zinc transporter ZIP7 in the treatment of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes; Nutrients
Tasmania-led study suggests e-cigarettes and heat-not-burn products are as equally toxic to lungs
Tasmania-led study suggests e-cigarettes and heat-not-burn products are as equally toxic to lungs
Tasmanian Dr Sukhwinder Sohal to research asthma-COPD overlap syndrome in state's North West
Tasmanian research examining safety of e-cigarettes and its consequences amid COVID-19
Tasmanian tobacco researchers issue dire warnings on danger of vaping
Tasmanian-led study suggests e-cigarettes and heat-not-burn products are as equally toxic to lungs
The effectiveness of immunosuppressive cyclosporin in attenuating the progression of interstitial lung diseases; Journal of Thoracic Disease
The ER Stress/UPR axis in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis; Life
The ill effects of IQOS on airway cells: Let’s not get burned all over again; American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology
The main rhinovirus respiratory tract adhesion site (ICAM-1) is upregulated in smokers and patients with chronic airflow limitation (CAL); Respiratory research
The origins and vulnerabilities of two transmissible cancers in Tasmanian devils; Cancer Cell
The rise of electronic nicotine delivery systems and the emergence of electronic-cigarette-driven disease; American Journal of Physiology: Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology
The zinc transporter SLC39A7 (ZIP7) harbours a highly-conserved histidinerich N-terminal region that potentially contributes to zinc homeostasis in the endoplasmic reticulum; Computers in Biology and Medicine
The zinc transporter Zip7 is downregulated in skeletal muscle of insulin-resistant cells and in mice fed a high-fat diet; Cells
Therapeutic Modalities for Asthma, COPD, and Pathogenesis of COVID-19: Insights from the Special Issue; Journal of Clinical Medicine
Therapeutic targets in lung tissue remodelling and fibrosis; Pharmacology and Therapeutics
There can be smoke without fire: warranted caution in promoting electronic cigarettes and heat not burn devices as a safer alternative to cigarette smoking; ERJ open research
To the editor: Advanced Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer; New England Journal of Medicine
Toxic and dangerous: The mission to stop Aussie students turning to vapes
Transcriptomic-based quantification of the epithelial-hybrid-mesenchymal spectrum across biological contexts; Biomolecules
Transforming growth factor (TGF) β1 and Smad signalling pathways: A likely key to EMT-associated COPD pathogenesis; Respirology
Transforming growth factor - beta 1 (TGF-β 1) expression is related to reticular basement membrane (Rbm) hypervascularity in smokers and COPD; European Respiratory Society Annual Congress
Transforming the agenda for COPD: A path towards prevention and lifelong lung health - Lung Foundation Australia’s Blueprint for Action on Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) 2022-2025
Understanding novel mechanisms of microbial pathogenesis in chronic lung disease: implications for new therapeutic targets; Clinical science
University of Tasmania researcher Dr Sukhwinder Singh Sohal says smokers at higher risk from COVID-19
University of Tasmania researcher Dr Sukhwinder Singh Sohal says smokers at higher risk from COVID-19
University of Tasmania researcher Dr Sukhwinder Singh Sohal says smokers at higher risk from COVID-19
University of Tasmania researcher recognised
University of Tasmania researcher Sukhwinder Sohal on asthma and COPD
Update on the Pathogenesis of COPD; New England Journal of Medicine
UTAS lung cancer research breakthrough
UTAS recognised as centre for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis research
UTAS recognised as centre for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis research
UTAS study finds vaping just as harmful as cigarettes
Vaping and traditional cigarettes: both damaging to the lungs, research says
Vaping could be more dangerous than you think
Vaping: Any kind of smoking is 'toxic'
Vascular and basement membrane remodelling in smokers and COPD; European Respiratory Journal
Vascular remodelling in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients and its detrimental effect on lung physiology: potential role of endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition; ERJ Open Research
Ventilatory efficiency slope as a predictor of suitability for surgery in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients with lung cancer; The Annals of Translational Medicine
Vessel-associated transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-β 1) is increased in the bronchial reticular basement membrane in COPD and normal smokers; PLoS One
Vessel-associated transforming growth factor-Beta1 (TGF-β1) expression is increased in COPD airway; Respirology, 17 (Supp 1)
WNT/β-catenin pathway: A novel therapeutic target for attenuating airway remodelling and EMT in COPD; EBioMedicine
World first research underway in Launceston for 'aggressive' lung disease
Zinc and gastrointestinal disorders: a role for the zinc transporters Zips and ZnTs
Zinc modulates several transcription-factor regulated pathways in mouse skeletal muscle cells; Molecules
Zinc stimulates glucose oxidation and glycemic control by modulating the insulin signaling pathway in human and mouse skeletal muscle cell lines; PLoS One
Zinc transporters and insulin resistance: therapeutic implications for type 2 diabetes and metabolic disease; Journal of Biomedical Science

Research Projects

Airway macrophage phenotypic switch drives epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in smokers and COPD: implications for early therapy.; Rebecca L Cooper Medical Research Foundation (RLCMRF)
Are newly introduced electronic smoking devices safe for smoking cessation and implications for SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19); Clifford Craig Foundation (CCFoundation)
Circulatory biomarkers for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: improving patient outcomes; National Health & Medical Research Council (NHMRC)
Detection of early small airway abnormalities in apparently normal smokers; Clifford Craig Foundation (CCFoundation)
Enhancement and further in-vitro validation of a potential probiotic to reduce ear and lung infections caused by Haemophilus influenzae.; Clifford Craig Foundation (CCFoundation)
Epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): role in both airway fibrosis and lung cancer; Clifford Craig Foundation (CCFoundation)
Epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) in the lungs and airways in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF); Clifford Craig Foundation (CCFoundation)
Epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) in the lungs of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer undergoing thoracotomy: role in both airway fibrosis and lung cancer; Royal Hobart Hospital Research Foundation (RHHRF)
Epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT): a novel therapeutic target in COPD; Thoracic Society of Australia & New Zealand (TSANZ)
Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) and associated Angiogenesis in smoking and COPD airways: investigating the patho-biology of a cancerogenic stroma.; Cancer Council of Tasmania (CCT)
Establishment of a Tasmanian lung cancer registry: a north and north-west collaborative initiative.; Clifford Craig Foundation (CCFoundation)
Evaluation of new therapeutic targets in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF): insights from Australian IPF registry tissue analysis; Clifford Craig Foundation (CCFoundation)
Exploring high occurrence of childhood asthma in North West Tasmania - an in-depth study; Clifford Craig Foundation (CCFoundation)
Exploring zinc to improve insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism in human insulin-resistant skeletal muscle; Clifford Craig Foundation (CCFoundation)
Identification of Progressive Disease in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis ; National Health & Medical Research Council (NHMRC)
Immunohistochemical expression patterns of a Devil Facial Tumour Tissue Microarray; University of Tasmania Foundation Inc (UTF)
Impact of maternal vaping on lung infection and asthma development in the offspring; Rebecca L Cooper Medical Research Foundation (RLCMRF)
Improving outcomes for babies born in North West Tasmania: a quality improvement study; Clifford Craig Foundation (CCFoundation)
Novel molecules of heparin for the management of asthma; Royal Hobart Hospital Research Foundation (RHHRF)
Partnership with the Australian Lung Foundation for Lung Cancer PhD Scholarship; Lung Foundation Australia (LFAus)
Prevalence of asthma-chronic obstructive pulmonary disease overlap syndrome (ACOS) in north-west Tasmanian population: understanding and translation to early therapy; Clifford Craig Foundation (CCFoundation)
Role of endothelial to mesenchymal transition (EndoMT) in pulmonary hypertension and interstitial fibrosis in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF); Lung Foundation Australia (LFAus)
The effect of current and investigational COPD pharmacological agents on the airway Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) process in smokers and COPD; Clifford Craig Foundation (CCFoundation)
To evaluate the role of endothelial to mesenchymal transition in the pathogenesis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and pulmonary hypertension. ; Clifford Craig Foundation (CCFoundation)
What drives the regulation of the zinc transporter ZIP7 in insulin-resistant skeletal muscle? Implications for the treatment of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.; Clifford Craig Foundation (CCFoundation)
Zinc activation of enzymes responsible for insulin signalling and glucose homeostasis in type 2 diabetes; Clifford Craig Foundation (CCFoundation)
Zinc contributes to glucose control in the absence of insulin in skeletal muscle; Clifford Craig Foundation (CCFoundation)
Antenatal Carbon Monoxide (CO) Monitoring Opt-out Referral Trial
Epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) in Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM): implications for better understanding and new therapeutic targets
Supporting respiratory research
The effect of currently used COPD pharmacological agents on Platelet Activating Factor re-ceptor (PAFr) expression in human epithelial cell culture systems from smokers and COPD

Research Candidate Supervision

Airway Inflammation in Smokers- Response to Quitting
Anti-Asthmatic Activity of Heparin
Drivers of Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Immuno-pathology/Immunology of Airway Diseases
Physiological consequences of epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Therapeutic Potential of Heparin in the Management of Ulcerative Colitis