We’re proud to support important research that helps us prevent, diagnose, treat and care for people living with lung disease and lung cancer.
Through our research awards and grants program, we invest in Australia’s best lung health researchers. For researchers starting out or midway through their careers, this program provides vital funding for lung research. It also offers them access to valuable guidance from senior research leaders.
The researchers we support are leading innovative projects and working with partners in Australia and around the world. They’re helping to shape how we treat lung disease and secure more investment to expand their work.
Thanks to the generosity of our donors and supporters, we can continue to invest in research that creates real change and improves the lives of people with lung disease and lung cancer.
For more information or to ask any questions, please contact our Hope Research Program team at [email protected].
2026 Award and grant recipients
Each year, we gather to celebrate the recipients of our groundbreaking research grants and those supported through our early career research grants. This ceremony takes place at our annual Lung Foundation Australia Hope Research Fund Dinner.
These researchers are recipients of our 2026 awards and grants round.
Pillar 1: Lung Foundation Australia Career Development Awards (Early and Mid-Career Grants-in-Aid, PhD Stipends, Fellowships and Travel Grants)
Travel Grants
- Lung Foundation Australia Rosyln Hogan Travel Grant (World Lung Cancer Conference)
Value: $1,250
Recipient: Dr Miranda Siemienowicz, Northern Imaging Victoria - Lung Foundation Australia Rosemary Holmes Travel Grant (World Lung Cancer Conference)
Value: $5,000
Recipient: Dr Anna McLean, The University of Sydney
- Lung Foundation Australia Marianne Ambrose Travel Grant (World Lung Cancer Conference)
Value: $10,000
Recipient: Kacy Ringshaw, Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service
- Australasian Bronchiectasis Consortium World Bronchiectasis Conference (Clinical) Travel Grant
Value: $5,000
Recipient: Dr Ke Li Chow, Hunter New England Local Health District
Project title: Identification of novel autoantibodies in non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis
- Australasian Bronchiectasis Consortium World Bronchiectasis Conference (Discovery) Travel Grant
Value: $5,000
Recipient: Mr Craig Schofield, The Kids Research Institute Australia
Project title: Single cell RNA sequencing data of sputum immune cells from children
- Lung Foundation Australia-Cure4Cystic Fibrosis Foundation World Bronchiectasis Conference Travel Grant
Value: $5,000
Recipient: Dr Crystal Bourke, The Kids Research Institute Australia
Project title: Mucus hyperconcentration and rheological abnormalities correlate with disease duration in children with bronchiectasis
Grants-in-Aid
- Ellen Yates Memorial Grant-in-Aid for Lung Cancer
Value: $30,000
Recipient: Dr Van To, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, The University of Melbourne
Project title: “Immune Biomarkers of SABR Plus Immunotherapy Response in Advanced Lung Cancer”
- Ivan Cash Grant-in-Aid for Research in Pulmonary Fibrosis
Value: $5,000
Recipient: Dr Gabriella Tikellis, Monash University
Project title: “Navigating the crossroads of choices and trade-offs in oxygen therapy for people with pulmonary fibrosis: A Discrete Choice Experiment (DCE) Study”
- Lizotte Family Grant-in-Aid for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
Value: $5,000
Recipient: Dr Amy Pascoe, Monash University
Project title: “Identifying missed opportunities for palliative care: A retrospective multi-site cohort study of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis care.”
- Ludwig Engel Grant for Respiratory Research
Value: $5,000
Recipient: Dr Simone De Luca, RMIT University
Project title: “From Lung to Brain: The Influence of Pulmonary Dysfunction on Cognitive and Immune Function.”
Fellowships and PhD Stipends
- Lung Foundation Australia and CRE-PF Fellowship 1
Value: $75,000
Recipient: Dr Ella Smalley, University of Tasmania
Project title: “A novel iPSC-derived organoid and co-culture model to investigate genetic drivers and therapeutic targets in familial pulmonary fibrosis”
- Lung Foundation Australia and CRE-PF Fellowship 2
Value: $75,000
Recipient: Dr Cheng Zhao, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, The University of Sydney
Project title: “Interstitial lung disease clinic, Respiratory department, RPA hospital, Missenden Road”
- Lung Foundation Australia – PCD Australia Research Grant
Value: $30,000
Recipient: Prof Phil Robinson
Project title: “Beyond the human eye: Expert-guided machine learning of ciliary beat pattern for the diagnosis of PCD.”
Pillar 2: Innovation and Incubator Grants
- Professor Christine Jenkins AM Women of Influence in Lung Health Grant
Value: $10,000
Recipient: Dr Katharine See, Safer Care Victoria
- Innovation Grant
Value: $40,000
Recipient: Prof Louisa Collins, Cancer Council Queensland
Project title: “Evaluating health economic and equity consequences of government regulations of e-cigarette use (E4 study)”
Pillar 3: Strategic Partnership Grants
- Deep Manchanda Strategic Grant
Value: $80,000
Recipient: Professor Kwun Fong, The Prince Charles Hospital, The University of Queensland
Project title: “Australian Lung Cancer Screening Trial (ALST)”
- Deep Manchanda Strategic Grant
Value: $80,000
Recipient: Dr Ria Turangan, Curtin University
Project title: “Improving Outcomes for Patients with Lung Cancer in Australia Through Lung Cancer Clinical Quality Data Platform (LUCAP)”
- Deep Manchanda Strategic Grant
Value: $80,000
Recipient: Dr Tracy Leong
Project title: “TRACKER Biobank”
- Strategic Partnerships Grant
Value: $2.4 million
Recipient: Professor Tamera Corte
Project title: Centre for Research Excellence in Pulmonary Fibrosis, The University of Sydney.
Past recipients
You can also find information about our past award recipients from 2025:
Pillar 1: Lung Foundation Australia early and mid-career grants and awards
Lung Foundation Australia – Chiesi Australia Research Fellowship in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Value: $140,000
Recipient: Dr Julia Chitty, Monash University
Project title: Assessing the potential of Pirfenidone in novel models of AECOPD.
Tony Britton Memorial PhD Scholarship in Occupational Lung Disease supported by Trail to Triumph
Value: $45,000
Recipient: Dr Kirsten Bennett, Institute of Respiratory Health, Curtin University
Project title: Safer Scans, Healthier Futures: Protecting workers from dust disease with ultra-low dose CT and AI.
CREATE Hope Fellowship 1
Value: $75,000
Recipient: Dr Christian Aloe, RMIT University
Project title: A novel therapeutic strategy to halt pulmonary fibrosis progression by targeting pathogenic foamy macrophages in the lung.
CREATE Hope Fellowship 2
Value: $75,000
Recipient: Dr Sionne Lucas, Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania
Project title: Advancing research in pulmonary fibrosis genetics.
Ivan Cash Grant for Research in Pulmonary Fibrosis
Value: $5,000
Recipient: Miss Mymy Tran, Centre of Research Excellence in Pulmonary Fibrosis, The University of Sydney
Project title: Novel exhaled breath biomarker for detecting and monitoring interstitial lung diseases.
Lizotte Family Grant-in-Aid for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Research
Value: $5,000
Recipient: Miss Mymy Tran, Centre of Research Excellence in Pulmonary Fibrosis, The University of Sydney
Project title: Novel exhaled breath biomarker for detecting and monitoring interstitial lung diseases.
Ludwig Engel Grant-in-Aid for Physiological Respiratory Research
Value: $5,000
Recipient: Dr Lisa van der Lee, South Metropolitan Health Service
Project title: Oesophageal manometry to measure transpulmonary pressure during ventilator hyperinflation treatment in mechanical ventilated patients with severe pneumonia.
Lorraine Tyler OAM Young Investigator Award
Value: $10,000
Recipient: Mr Chellan Kumarasamy, Curtin University
Project title: Participant Eligibility for Lung Cancer Screening in Australia: An Analysis of Proposed Criteria
2025 Australian Lung Cancer Conference Early Career Researcher Award
Value: $5,000
Recipient: Ms Kathleen McFadden, The University of Sydney
Project title: Psychosocial Impacts of, and Barriers to, Lung Cancer Screening: An International Qualitative Study of Healthcare Provider Perspectives
2025 Australian Lung Cancer Conference Early Career Researcher Award
Value: $5,000
Recipient: Mr Nathan Harrison, Flinders University
Project title: Text-based Smoking Cessation Resources for Use in Lung Cancer Screening: Rapid Review and Evaluation of Messaging Characteristics
2025 Australian Lung Cancer Conference Early Career Researcher Award
Value: $5,000
Recipient: Dr Yue He, The Daffodil Centre
Project title: Projections of lung cancer in Australia by histological subtype and molecular characteristics (2020-2030)
2025 Australian Lung Cancer Conference – Roslyn Hogan Award for Best Oral Presentation
Value: $2,000
Recipient: Ms Georgia Bartlett, University of Melbourne
Project title: Equity from the Outset: Understanding the Needs of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Communities in Preparation for the National Lung Cancer Screening Program
2025 Australian Lung Cancer Conference – Carolyn Riordan Award for Best Poster Presentation
Value: $2,000
Recipient: Dr Julien Robinson, Alfred Health
Project title: Effect of timeliness of treatment initiation on survival outcomes in non-small cell lung cancer. A registry-based observational study.
Pillar 2: Innovation and incubator grants
Heart of Australia
Value: $50,000
Recipient: Dr Rolf Gomes
Prof Christine Jenkins AM Woman of Influence in Lung Health
Value: $10,000
Recipient: Dr Tracy Leong
Pillar 3: Strategic Partnership Grants
Lung Foundation Australia also proudly supported the following Awards at TSANZSRS 2025:
Lung Foundation Australia David Serisier Memorial Award for Translational Research in Bronchiectasis
Recipient: Ms Brooke Bailey for their oral presentation “Patient satisfaction with non-CF bronchiectasis healthcare and patient-reported problems”
Recipient: Mr Craig Schofield for their poster presentation “Pathogenic cystic fibrosis airway neutrophil subset is absent in non-cystic fibrosis paediatric bronchiectasis.”
TSANZ Lung Cancer SIG Award
Recipient: Ms Chloe Charlesworth for their presentation “Discordance of Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status assessed by patients with malignant pleural effusion, their clinicians and carers.”
TSANZ Bill Musk Occupational & Environmental Lung Disease SIG Award
Recipient: Dr Christian Aloe for their presentation “Iron alters the transcriptome and volatile organic compounds in the BAL of silicosis patients.”
TSANZ Orphan Lung Diseases, Lung Transplant, Interstitial Lung Disease and Pulmonary Vascular Disease (OLIV) SIG Award
Recipient: Dr Ling-ling Tsai for their presentation “Diagnostic agreement between interstitial lung disease multidisciplinary meetings: A bi-national study.”
TSANZ Physiotherapy SIG Award
Recipient: Ms Georgina Whish-Wilson for their presentation “Randomised controlled trial of home-based exercise following lung cancer surgery”
TSANZ Primary Care SIG Award
Recipient: Prof Bandana Saini for their presentation “Airing out pharmacists’ roles in minimising the environmental impact of inhalers used by patients with respiratory conditions.”
TSANZ John Reid Pulmonary Physiology and Sleep SIG Award
Recipient: Ms Helen Luo for their presentation “Implications of race-neutral equations on interpretation of lung function in Australia.”
TSANZ Respiratory Infectious Diseases SIG Award
Recipient: Dr Ophir Bar-On for their presentation “Preventing attachment of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to respiratory cilia.”
TSANZ Respiratory Nurses SIG Award
Recipient: Ms Pauline Connell for their presentation “Healthy teeth for healthy lungs.”
TSANZ Tobacco and Related Substances SIG Award
Preliminary results of a pre/post evaluation of the Incentive 2 Quit (I2Q) health professional training program.
Research projects and our alumni
Explore the innovative research projects from our research alumni. You can find projects focused on early detection, treatments, and improving the quality of life for people living with lung disease or lung cancer.
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