Summary of Research Funding since 1990: $1,373,565

2012 Hon Walter Jona (AO) Paediatric Research Grant $25,000
Dr Jennifer Koplin, Murdoch Children's Research Institute.  Dr Koplin will investigate the relationship between vitamin-D insufficiency and both food allergy and asthma, and to determine whether the relationship between food allergy and asthma can be explained by vitamin-D.

2012 Helen Macpherson Smith Trust Grant $25,000.
Dr Michelle Tate, Monash Institute of Medical Research, Centre for Innate Immunity and Infectious Disease.  Dr Tate will examine the role of the innate immune system in influence virus-induced exacerbation of asthma.

2011 Total $57,500
Helen Macpherson Smith Trust Grant for general asthma research $25,000
Investigation of the role of the tetraspanin MS4A8B in asthma
Dr Mark Hulett, Department of Biochemistry at La Trobe University

2011 Lillian Roxon Travel Grant $7,500
Ms Connie Xia, Department of Pharmacology at the University of Melbourne
Presentation at the American Thoracic Society in Denver, May 2011

2011 Hon Walter Jona (AO) Paediatric Research Grant $25,000
The Development of a highly efficient nebuliser for asthma treatment
Dr Aisha Qi, Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering at Monash University

2010 Total $70,000
Helen Macpherson Smith Trust Grant for general asthma research
Adult Asthma Mortality Study $20,000
Ms Dianne Goeman, Department of Allergy, Immunology and Respiratory Medicine, The Alfred Hospital

Helen Macpherson Smith Trust Grant for general asthma research
Investigating the mechanisms of innate immunity suppression by TGF-β $20,000
Dr Belinda Thomas, Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Monash Medical Centre

The Asthma Foundation of Victoria Grant for children’s/adolescent asthma research
The 12 month follow up of the PEBBLES study: an RCT to reduce the incidence of asthma by prevention of eczema $25,000
Dr Adrian Lowe, Melbourne School of Population Health, The University of Melbourne 

2009 Lillian Roxon Travel Grant $5,000
Dr Sarah Prickett, Department of Immunology, Monash University
Presentation at the 2010 European Academy of Allergology and Clinical Immunology Meeting in London, UK

2009 Total $55,000
Helen Macpherson Smith Trust Grant for general asthma research
Non-fibrinolytic roles for plasmin in asthmatic airways remodelling $25,000
Dr Michael Schuliga, Department of Pharmacology, Melbourne University

The Asthma Foundation of Victoria Grant for children’s/adolescent asthma research
Assessment of Lung Function using a multiple breath washout technique in pre-school children with a history of wheezing $25,000
Dr Sarath Ranganathan, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Royal Children’s Hospital

2009 Lillian Roxon Travel Grant $5,000
Mr Xiahui Tan, Department of Pharmacology, Melbourne University
Presentation at the 2009 American Thoracic Society Meeting in San Diego, United States

2008 Total $55,000
Helen Macpherson Smith Trust Grant for general asthma research
PPAR ligands as therapeutic agents for inflammation and airway remodelling in asthma. $25,000
Dr Jane Ward, Department of Pharmacology, Melbourne University

The Asthma Foundation of Victoria Grant for children’s/adolescent asthma research
Functional analysis of IgE antibodies to tropomyosin – cross-reactivity between ingested crustacean and inhaled insect allergens causing asthma $25,000
Dr Andreas Lopata, Allergy Research Group, RMIT University

2008 Lillian Roxon Travel Grant $5,000
Dr Simon Royce, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute
Presentation at the 2008 European Academy of Allergology and Clinical Immunology Congress in Barcelona, Spain

2007 Total $50,000
Helen Macpherson Smith Trust Grant for general asthma research
Natural Killer T cell response to grass pollen in allergic asthma. $25,000
Dr Diana Mittag, Department of Immunology, Monash University.

The Asthma Foundation of Victoria Grant for children’s/adolescent asthma research
Evaluation of Airway Function in pre-school children with asthma. $25,000
Dr Sarath Ranganathan, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Royal Children’s Hospital.

2006 Total $25,000
Helen Macpherson Smith Trust Grant for general asthma research
The 8 year follow-up study of the Tasmanian Asthma Rich Families (ARF)
Dr Melanie Matheson, School of Population Health, Melbourne University.

2005 Total $60,000
Helen Macpherson Smith Trust Grant for general asthma research
Bahia grass: an important allergen source in seasonal asthma? $20,000
Dr Janet Davies, Department of Immunology, Monash University.

Convoy for Kids Grant for children’s asthma research
Protein and gene profiling of intraepithelial lung macrophages from asthmatic children. $20,000
Dr Ross Vlahos and Dr Steve Bozinovski, Department of Pharmacology, Melbourne University 

Convoy for Kids Grant for children’s asthma research
Unravelling the joint adverse effects of air pollution and pollen on childhood asthma in Australia, Stage 1: Melbourne Study. $20,000
Dr Bircan Erbas, Department of Public Health, Melbourne University.

2004 Total $62,000
Helen Macpherson Smith Trust Grant for general asthma research
A qualitative study of the barriers to optimal asthma care in the older person with asthma $18,500
Dr Jo Douglass, Department of Allergy, Immunology and Respiratory Medicine, Alfred Hospital

Helen Macpherson Smith Trust Grant for general asthma research
Effect of deep inspiration on airway smooth muscle cell function $18,500
Dr Darren Fernandes, Department of Pharmacology, Melbourne University.

Convoy for Kids Grant for children’s asthma research
The role of maternal and childhood exposures in the development of asthma and allergies in genetically predisposed Victorian children $25,000
Dr Shyamali Dharmage, Department of Public Health, Melbourne University.

2003 Total $40,000
Helen Macpherson Smith Trust Grant for general asthma research
‘Stage 1 of the 35 year follow-up of the Tasmanian Asthma Study’ $20,000
Dr Shyamali Dharmage, Department of Public Health, Melbourne University.

Convoy for Kids Grant for children’s asthma research
‘Breathlessness during exercise in children; is it asthma?’ $20,000
Dr Ric Roberts, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Royal Children’s Hospital.

2002 Total $60,000
Helen M Schutt Trust Grant for general asthma research
Inflammatory and fibrogenic mechanisms associated with Rhinovirus infection $20,000
Professor Philip Bardin and Associate Professor Nick Freezer, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Monash Medical Centre

Convoy for Kids Grant for children’s asthma research
Improving childhood asthma outcomes through parental smoking cessation $20,000
Associate Professor Susan Sawyer, Centre for Adolescent Health, Royal Children’s Hospital

The Parker Grant for research into the Buteyko Breathing method
An extended double-blind, clinical trial of the Buteyko Breathing technique for Asthma $20,000
Dr Marc Cohen, Institute of Public Health, Health Services Research, Monash University.

2001 Total $62,500
Helen M Schutt Trust Grant for general asthma research
Does failure of negative signalling cause severe asthma? $20,000
Ms Sarah-Jane Beavitt, Department of Pharmacology, University of Melbourne

Convoy for Kids Grant for children’s asthma research
International Study of Asthma and Allergy in Childhood – Phase III $19,000
Assoc Prof Colin Robertson, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Royal Children’s Hospital

The Parker Grant for research into the Buteyko Breathing method
An extended double-blind, clinical trial of the Buteyko Breathing technique for Asthma $20,000
Dr Marc Cohen, Institute of Public Health, Health Services Research, Monash University.

Anna Jane Grant for adolescent asthma research
The experience of well being during engagement in leisure occupations of young people with chronic asthma $3,500
Ms Emily Simms, School of Occupational Therapy, La Trobe University

2000 Total $60,000
Helen M Schutt Trust Grant for general asthma research
Does lyn regulate Asthma? $20,000
Dr Gary Anderson, Department of Pharmacology, University of Melbourne

Convoy for Kids Grant for children’s asthma research
Physical activity and fitness of asthmatic children $20,000
Dr Ric Roberts, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Royal Children’s Hospital

The Parker Grant for research into the Buteyko Breathing method
A double-blind, clinical trial of the Buteyko Breathing technique for Asthma $20,000
Dr Marc Cohen, Institute of Public Health, Health Services Research, Monash University.

1999 Total $115,000
Helen M Schutt Trust Grant for general asthma research
Mechanisms of rye grass pollen immunotherapy $10,000
Dr Jennifer Rolland, Department of Pathology and Immunology, Monash University

Self limiting actions of glucocorticoids in inflammation $10,000
Dr Ross Vlahos, Department of Pharmacology, University of Melbourne

Convoy for Kids Grant for children’s asthma research
Evaluations of bronchial responsiveness to mannitol dry powder in children as an objective measure of asthma in epidemiological surveys $20,000
Dr Colin Robertson, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Royal Children’s Hospital

Dr V N Bristow Research Grant
Hospital discharge policies and practices for people with asthma $35,000
Associate Professor Don Campbell, Clinical Epidemiology and Health Services Evaluation, North Western Health
Professor Robyn O’Hehir, Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Monash University\

The Asthma Victoria Sporting Achievers Research Grant
Exercise Induced Asthma in elite athletes $40,000
Dr Jo Douglass, Department of Allergy, Asthma and Clinical Immunology, Monash University
Dr Sandra Anderson, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney

1998 Total $48,000
Helen M Schutt Trust Grant for general asthma research
Reliability of adolescent self report with preventative asthma medication.  A comparison with parental report and objective measurement. $20,000
Dr Susan Sawyer, Centre for Adolescent Health, Melbourne

Convoy for Kids Grant for children’s asthma research
Bronchial responses during and after exercise in asthmatic children $20,000
Dr Richard Roberts - Department of Thoracic Medicine, Royal Children’s Hospital 

Anna Jane Grant for adolescent asthma research
Smoking in adolescents with asthma $6,000
Dr Susan Sawyer, Centre for Adolescent Health, Melbourne

1998 Lillian Roxon Travel Scholarship $2,000
Darren Fernandes, St Vincent’s Hospital. Presentation at ATS Conference, U.S.A.

1997 Total $2,000
1997 Lillian Roxon Travel Scholarship $2,000
Dr Rosalie Woods, Alfred Healthcare Group & Monash University Medical School Presentation of paper on monosodium glutamate at AAAAI Conference, USA

1995 Total $60,000
A double blind placebo controlled study to determine if monosodium glutamate (msg) is a trigger factor in a group of asthmatics who perceive that they are msg sensitive. $40,000
Prof Haydn Walters, Dept of Respiratory Medicine, Alfred Hospital

Investigation of dust mite populations and allergens in different bedding materials  
$20,000
Assoc Prof Dan Czarny, Dept of Allergy, Alfred Hospital

1994 Total $132,300
High dose inhaled versus oral steroids in acute exacerbations of asthma in children $31,500
Dr Peter Barnett, Royal Children’s Hospital

The effect of in-utero cigarette smoke exposure on in-utero lung development and post-natal lung function $24,800
Dr Philip Robinson, Dept of Thoracic Medicine, Royal Children’s Hospital

Prediction of bone loss in asthmatics on high-dose inhaled or oral glucocorticoids $19,500
Dr Peter Ebeling, Dept of Diabetes & Endocrinology, Royal Melbourne Hospital

Validation of an asthma questionnaire $10,500
Mr Mark Jenkins, Dept Public Health & Community Medicine, University of Melbourne

Specificity and function of grass pollen allergen specific T cells $19,000
Dr Jennifer Rolland, Dept of Pathology & Immunology, Monash Medical School

A pilot study to determine if monosodium glutamate is a trigger factor in asthmatics $25,000
Prof Haydn Walters, Dept of Respiratory Medicine, Alfred Hospital

1994 Lillian Roxon Travel Scholarship $2,000
Lyle Palmer, Western Australian Research Institute for Child Health, University of WA
Postgraduate study at Oxford University and participation in European workshop

1993 Total $72,569
The effect of passive exposure to cigarette smoke on the airway reactivity occurring in association with Respiratory Syncitial Virus (RSV) induced bronchiolitis $36,559
Dr Philip Robinson, Dept of Thoracic Medicine, Royal Children’s Hospital

Asthma Drugs and Deaths from Asthma $31,860
Dr Michael Abramson, Dept of Social & Preventative Medicine, Monash Medical School

Assessment of Asthma Knowledge of Australian Dieticians $2,150
Ms Rosalie Woods, Dept of Social & Preventative Medicine, Monash Medical School

1993 Lillian Roxon Travel Scholarship $2,000
Cenk Suphioglu, School of Botany, University of Melbourne
Presentation at European conference.

1992 Total $67,000
International Study of Asthma Prevalence and Risk Factors $15,000
Dr Michael Abramson, Alfred Hospital

Airway Hyper-reactivity in Respiratory Syncitial Virus (RSV) induced bronchiolitis $15,000
Dr Philip Robinson, Royal Children’s Hospital

The role of prostaglandins and cytokine expression in atopy $24,000
Dr A Wooton, Dept of Biochemistry, Royal Melbourne Hospital

Morbidity and prevalence of Asthma in Victorian children and adolescents $11,000
Dr Colin Robertson, Royal Children’s Hospital
1992 Lillian Roxon Travel Scholarship $2,000
Dr Guy Marks, post-doctoral studies St Thomas’ Hospital, London

1991 Total $78,780
The role of IL4 and gamma-interferon in allergic disease $27,469
Dr Andrew Wootton, Royal Melbourne Hospital; Dr George Varigos, Royal Children’s Hospital

Grass pollen molecules that provoke allergic asthma $30,000
Dr Mohan Singh & Prof R Bruce Knox, School of Botany, University of Melbourne

Prevalence of Asthma in rural Victoria $10,695
Dr Colin Robertson, Royal Children’s Hospital

Assessment of the severity of asthma in general practice $3,616
Dr Naren V Morris, Park Orchards Medical Centre; Dr Michael Abramson, Monash University

Evaluation of AFV Asthma Camping Program $5,000
Andrea Lord, Deakin University 

1991 Lillian Roxon Travel Scholarship $2,000
Dr Jeffrey Bowden, post doctoral studies, University of California

1990 Total $90,916
Morbidity and prevalence of asthma in Victorian children and adolescents $16,010
Dr Colin  Robertson, Royal Children’s Hospital

Cellular immune responses in allergic respiratory disorders due to house dust mite sensitivity $22,000
Dr Richard O’Brien, University of Melbourne

Grass pollen molecules that provoke allergic asthma $30,906
Prof R Bruce Knox, Dept of Botany, University of Melbourne

Development of a new questionnaire to measure the prevalence of clinically significant asthma in adults $20,000
Dr Michael Abramson, Dept of Social & Preventative Medicine, Monash University

1990 Lillian Roxon Travel Scholarship $2,000
Dr Philip Robinson, Royal Children’s Hospital, post doctoral studies in Canada