Key Facts:
New respiratory research to be presented at TSANZSRS 2026 spans genomics, rare lung disease, COPD and life-course lung health.
The program includes the Ann Woolcock New Investigator Session, showcasing results from early-career researchers with potential clinical and translational impact.
Featured investigators represent major centres including The Kids Research Institute Australia, the University of Melbourne, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Edith Cowan University and the University of Newcastle.
New work will examine how respiratory disease develops, how it may be detected earlier, and how emerging technologies could improve treatment and prevention.
Perth, March 2026 - New research ranging from precision genomics to pleural disease, rare inherited lung conditions and the long-term respiratory consequences of premature birth will be presented at the TSANZSRS Annual Scientific Meeting 2026, offering a picture of the investigations shaping respiratory medicine.
Held from 27 - 31 March at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre, the meeting's scientific program will present studies examining how respiratory disease develops, how it can be detected earlier, and how care may be improved through better diagnostics.
Ann Woolcock New Investigator, research with clinical relevance
Among the research to be presented, Dr Meera Srinivasan will examine the clinical significance of hyperinflation and expiratory flow limitation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Her recent work offers new insights into identifying patients living with COPD at higher risk of deterioration.
"Hyperinflation and expiratory flow limitation are described as physiological hallmarks of COPD, but they also have practical consequences for patient symptoms, including poor sleep and reduced exercise capacity. Improved understanding of these relationships may help us identify which patients are at greatest risk of deterioration and ultimately develop strategies to improve patient outcomes", explained Dr Meera Srinivasan.
Research into pleural disease will also be presented in the Ann Woolcock New Investigator Session, where Mrs Bianca Iacopetta will bring findings from the PLEASE-3 study investigating bendopnoea, breathlessness triggered by bending forward, in patients with pleural effusion.
"It is not every day that you can report a new symptom in a centuries-old condition! Bendopnoea is a common symptom in pleural effusion that is important for clinicians to recognise. It is associated with worse breathlessness and shorter walking distances at baseline. Importantly, it can help identify which patients are most likely to benefit in walking capacity post-drainage, which could make a real difference in clinical care", highlighted Mrs Bianca Iacopetta.
In laboratory-based research, Mrs Sahel Amoozadeh will present work exploring how Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency alters infection responses in human lung stem cell models, providing insight into how this inherited condition contributes to early lung damage.
"Stem cell models give us a way to study how inherited lung diseases behave in human tissue. In Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency, that may help us better understand why infection responses are altered and where future therapies could intervene", explained Mrs Sahel Amoozadeh.
Genetics, genomics and early-life lung health
Research into the origins of respiratory disease will also have a prominent place at the conference, with a focus on how genetics, epigenetics, and early-life exposures play a role in the onset and development of respiratory disease.
Dr Dinh Bui will present work examining how premature birth influences lung function trajectories and the risk of developing COPD later in life, highlighting the long-term respiratory consequences of early-life health factors.
"Respiratory disease in adulthood can begin much earlier in life than many people realise. Understanding how premature birth shapes lung function across the lifespan may help identify where prevention and intervention can have the greatest impact", said Dr Dinh Bui.
Meanwhile, Associate Professor Gerard Kaiko will present research exploring how patient-specific genomic data could refine diagnosis and treatment in respiratory medicine.
"Precision respiratory medicine depends on understanding how disease differs from one patient to another. Patient-specific genomics and patient cell-based functional readouts offer a way to move towards more tailored approaches to target clinical trials and patient care", explained Associate Professor Gerard Kaiko.
Research shaping the future of respiratory medicine
These studies provide a snapshot of the breadth of research presented at TSANZSRS ASM 2026, and the findings illustrate how investigators across the respiratory research community are advancing understanding of lung disease and exploring new pathways for prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
