About Me
A clinical respiratory physiologist with a strong interest in obstructive lung disease and chronic cough. A focus on asthma and the diagnosis of asthma and objectively monitoring benefits to therapeutic interventions documenting optimal benefits to therapy in a wide variety of asthma severities. Passionate about respiratory measurement and using the best objective measures for effective diagnosis and monitoring. There is a great need to take good technological advances into the clinic.
Education
at the University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW, Australia Double Major: Physiology & Pharmacology, Molecular Biology & Biochemistry.
1997
at University of Sydney; 1st Class Honors equivalent (Mark; 85)
at University of Sydney, under the supervision of Professor J.P Seale & Dr S.D Anderson. PhD Thesis Title: “Osmotic challenge in asthma using dry power of mannitol”. Accepted June 19th, 2001.
What I do
Fortunate to start training at a Center of Excellence, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney under the supervision of Dr Sandra D. Anderson, I was pivotal in the development of the mannitol bronchial provocation test (Aridol/Osmohale) that has registration with leading regulatory authorities (e.g., FDA, TGA, EMA).
Following receiving my PhD in 2001 from the University of Sydney with my thesis titled “Osmotic challenge in asthma using a dry powder of mannitol” I played a key role in the technology transfer of this technology to Pharmaxis leading to the first regulatory authority guided Phase 3 study of a bronchial provocation test.
Diagnosis & monitoring of asthma
Focus on understanding the presensence and severity of steroid sensitive pathology contributing to the key feature of asthma, airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR). Assessment of the abolition of AHR to document resmission of pathophysiology.
Clinical Research
Active in further investigation into the mechanisms and treatment responses in both asthma and exercise-induced bronchoconstriction, with an emerging interest in assessment and treatment of chronic cough.
Suitable Subheading
Teaching both theory and practical application of lung function testing used to assess lung disease, with an expertise in tests for airway hyperresponsiveness and biomarkers. Education of pharmacology used in airway disease. Clinical respiratory laboratory creation and clinical trial design.
Professional Experience
John D. Brannan
Clinical Scientist
From April 1995 to July 2005
➥ Research Fellow employed by Dr Sandra D. Anderson in the Department of Respiratory Medicine, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, Australia; on grants from the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia & funds awarded from the Royal Prince Alfred Research Prize.
From August 2005 to 2007
➥ Post Graduate Research Fellow employed by Professor Paul M. O’Byrne in the Asthma Research Unit, Firestone Institute of Respiratory Health, St Joseph’s Healthcare, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; on the Asthma Foundation of New South Wales, Martin Hardie TravelingFellowship.
From August 2007 to February 2009
➥ Senior Research Fellow employed by Professor Paul M. O’Byrne and Assoc Professor Parameswaran Nair in the Asthma Research Unit, Firestone Institute of Respiratory Health, St Joseph’s Healthcare, Hamilton, Ontario,Canada; funded by Department of Medicine, McMaster University
April 1995 to present
➥ Pivotal in the development of dry powder mannitol for bronchial provocation to identify airway hyperresponsiveness and worldexpert on this methodology. Licensed to Pharmaxis Ltd., Australia, Aridol™ or Osmohale™ is now registered in 26 countries worldwide, including Australia and the European Union and the United States.
March 2009 to March 2012
➥ Honorary Visiting Fellow, Department of Respiratory & Sleep Medicine, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, NSW, Australia.
April 2010 to April 2011
➥ Postdoctoral Research Associate, Advanced Drug Delivery Group, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia.
April 2011 to March 2012
➥ Senior Hospital Scientist, Intensive Care Services, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, NSW, Australia.
March 2012 to present
➥ Hospital Scientist, Respiratory Function Laboratory, Department of Respiratory & Sleep Medicine, Westmead Hospital, NSW, Australia.
September 2014 to December 2014
➥ Senior Hospital Scientist, Respiratory Function Laboratory, Department of Respiratory & Sleep Medicine, Westmead Hospital, NSW, Australia.
September 2014 to 2016
➥ Associate Investigator, Ludwig Engel Centre for Respiratory Research, Westmead Millennium Institute, Westmead NSW, Australia.
January 2015 to October 2023
➥ Scientific Director, Department of Respiratory & Sleep Medicine, John Hunter Hospital, New Lambton, NSW, Australia.
October 2018 to present
➥ Scientific Director, Maitland Pulmonary Function Laboratory, Hunter Respiratory & Sleep Clinic, East Maitland, NSW, Australia.
June 2020 to present
➥ Conjoint Associate Professor, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia.
Fellowships & Research Grants
2004
2004 Asthma Foundation of New South Wales, Martin Hardie Traveling Postdoctoral Fellowship (Funding for post-doctoral period at McMaster University from August 2005 to August 2007)
2008
2008 General Practice Education & Training Australia (GPET) grant for pilot clinical study; “A pilot study into the feasibility and acceptability of Outcome and Goal orientated monitoring of Inhaled corticosteroids in asthma within the general practice context using indirect airway hyper-responsiveness challenge testing to achieve rapid disease control” (OGOMIA) (Collaborators: Dr James Turton, Dr Nicholas Glasgow, Australian National University, Canberra)
2012
2012 Australian & New Zealand Society of Respiratory Scientists; “Monitoring inhaled corticosteroid efficacy in persons with asthma in pulmonary function laboratories” (Collaborators: Mr Peter Briffa, Dr Evangelia Daviskas, RPAH)
2016
2016 John Hunter Hospital Charitable Trust; “Nocturnal asthma, sleep and mast cell activation” (Collaborators: Dr Shyamala Pradeepan)
2017
2017 University of Newcastle equipment grant (Collaborators: Ms Ginger Chu, Dr Michael Hensley, Dr Peter Gibson)
2018
2018 Australian & New Zealand Society of Respiratory Scientists; “Cough sensitivity to inhaled mannitol to identify cough hypersensitivity syndrome” (Collaborators: Ms Clair Lake, Dr K Wong, Dr H Koskela)
2021
2021 GSK Research title: Monitoring intermittent vs Regular inhaled corticosteroids in asthma: MIRSA: (Collaborators: Dr Max Plank, Dr Chris Grainge)
