We are the Australian Respiratory Early Surveillance Team for Cystic Fibrosis (AREST CF). We are a team of doctors, nurses, scientists and researchers who are dedicated to the improvement of the general health of children with CF.
We have two centres, one in Perth (Princess Margaret Hospital for Children) and one in Melbourne (Royal Children's Hospital).
Importantly, if you want to discuss any aspect of our research OR have a research idea, speak to a team member about this - we want to make your idea a reality.
Chief Investigators
 Steve Stick |
 Graham Hall |
 Peter Sly |
 Sarath Ranganathan |
 Nick de Klerk |
 Colin Robertson |
 Phil Robinson |
 Andre Schultz |
 Linda Shields |
 John Massie |
 Phil Sutton |
Research Operations Team
| Perth Members | |||
 Andrew Chong |
 Lisa Bennett |
 Lidija Turkovic |
 Luke Berry |
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Renée La Grange |
Joseph Bartlett | Nat Eiffler | Kaye Winfield |
| Melbourne Members | |||
 Louise King |
 Suzanna Vidmar |
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Scientific Team
| Perth Members | |||
 Anthony Kicic |
 Daan Caudri |
 Ingrid Laing |
 Lauren Akesson |
 Erika Sutanto |
 Luke Garratt |
 Kak-Ming Ling |
 Thomas Iosifidis |
 Tim Rosenow |
 Rachel Foong |
 Kathryn Ramsey |
 Alana Harper |
 Liz Kicic-Starcevich |
 Kevin Looi |
Jessica Hillas |
Laura Devlin |
| Melbourne Members | |||
 Kristy Azzopardi |
 Rosemary Carzino |
 Karla Logie |
 Jane Sheehan |
 Nadeene Clarke |
 Anne-Marie Adams |
 Billy Skoric |
 Paul Griffin |
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Rebecca McElroy |
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Clinical Team
| Perth Members | |||
 Barry Clements |
 Conor Murray |
 Elizabeth Balding |
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 Steve Oo |
Ayla Ishak |
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| Melbourne Members | |||
 Katherine Frayman |
 Jo Harrison |
 Jonathan Ajzner |
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Clinical Trials Team
| Perth Members | ||
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Georgia Banton |
Jasminka Murdzoska |
Alana McNamara |
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Samantha Grogan |
Alexia Foti | |
| Melbourne Members | ||
 Julie Smith |
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Clinical Trials Pharmacy Team
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Students
| Perth and Melbourne |
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Samuel Montgomery |
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Clara Mok PhD in Paediatrics Characterising low attenuation regions (LAR) on CT scans in children with cystic fibrosis Repurpose and validate the use of a novel quantitative CT scoring technique (PRAGMA-CF) in MRI images. Using a mathematical model of the lung, assess how the extent and geographic distribution of CT LARs change over time and correlate these findings with clinical markers of disease.Determine the cause of CT LARs (ventilation, perfusion or combined defect) using functional MRI. Email: Clara.mok@telethonkids.org.au
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Nicole Shaw PhD The development of personalised molecular therapies to treat disorders of surfactant protein metabolism My affiliation with AREST CF comes from my research assistant position, which is now only part time. I work with Andre, Anthony and Steve on research studies focused on CF airway biology.
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Kelly Martinovich
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Boris Vlottes I am a masters medicine student from Rotterdam (Erasmus Medical Centre) in the Netherlands. I am doing my master's research project in Melbourne (RCH), which officialy lasts 5 months, but depending on the outcome of my study I will probably spend more time on it in the Netherlands as well. My supervisor here is Sarath Ranganathan. The project focuses on the importance of early lung disease in cystic fibrosis. We are looking at children aged three months and one and three years of age between 2006-2015. We divided this into cohort 1 (2006-2010) and cohort 2 (2011-2015). We plan to look if there is a significant change in any of our variables. Our most important outcome is a possible change in proportion of patients with detectable free neutrophil elastase in BAL. Other outcomes include, lung function, MBW, CT-score changes, infection rates and proportion of patients who get admitted for IV-antibiotics. Contact-email is either: 381863bv@student.eur.nl or boris.vlottes@hotmail.com.
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Shivanthan Shanthikumar PhD The aim of my research is to identify epigenetic markers from early life which predict the severity of lung disease at 9 years of age. I will do this by comparing two groups, one with mild lung disease and one with severe lung disease at 9 years of age (based on CT scan results), and I will perform whole genome methylation analysis on broncho-alveolar lavage from early life with the aim of indentifying differential methylation patterns between the two groups. The study invovles patients with CF - so the 2 groups of kids will be kids with CF from the AREST CF cohort. Shivanthan.shanthikumar@rch.org.au
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Alumni (past team members)
Perth
Siobhain Brennan, Program Coordinator
Samantha Grogan, Program Coordinator
Clair Lee, Clinical Research Manager
Samantha Gard, Laboratory Manager
Srinivas Poreddy, Clinical Fellow
Claudia Calogero, Clinical Fellow
Andrew Martin, Clinical Fellow
David Mullane, Clinical Fellow
Barbara Sheil, Research Coordinator
Gary Nolan, PhD Student
Michael Stutz, Honours Student
Faith Parsons, Biostatistician
Judy Park, Biostatistician
Caroline Gallagher, Research Assistant
Jasmin Grdosic
Anneli Robbshaw
Alexzarndra Hutchin
Lucy McCahon
Melbourne
Barry Linane, Clinical Fellow
Naveen Pillarisetti, Clinical Fellow
Elizabeth Williams, Biostatistician
Emily Hart, Postdoctoral Officer
Chief Investigators
The Chief Investigators (CIs) meet monthly via teleconference to discuss the program, its direction, new projects and publications.
Research Ideas
Is there something that you would like us to research?
Please email us your idea to info@arestcf.org.
We would like to hear your ideas and explore the the possiblity of making your research idea a reality.