Chronic Respiratory Disease Research Group
About us
“When you can’t breathe, nothing else matters”
(Lung Foundation Australia)
Why Chronic Respiratory Conditions?
Chronic Respiratory Diseases (CRD) such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease affect nearly half a billion people worldwide (WHO, 2024). CRDs are the leading cause of death and disability with COPD being the third leading cause of death globally. In Australia, it is one of the leading causes for hospitalization and length of stay in hospitals. Respiratory symptoms such as breathlessness are also common, with past studies reporting about 1 in 10 adults with the condition, significantly reducing quality of life and productivity (Sunjaya, Medical J of Australia 2024).
Our goal
Our work is dedicated to improving outcomes, especially quality of life, for the millions worldwide with CRDs, their families and the health system.
Our scope
We pioneer innovative solutions to prevent, assess, and manage lung diseases and their comorbidities. We utilize multiple approaches including co-design, implementation science, use of big data, AI and digital health technologies, multidisciplinary care, health economics, clinical trials and many other approaches. We work closely with multisectoral partners to translate our work into routine clinical practice to improve health globally.
Keywords
COPD, asthma, breathlessness, lung health, severe lung disease, interstitial lung disease, lung cancer, models of care, clinical decision support system, AI, digital health, primary care, allied health,chronic respiratory conditions
Our people
Our projects (selected)
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Our study found that in a national survey of Australian adults, clinically important breathlessness was associated with greater health care use, reduced likelihood of being employed, and higher societal economic costs. Breathlessness is estimated to cost $12.2 billion in societal costs per year in Australia. There is a need for more work to improve the quality of life for people with breathlessness, including for people without formal diagnoses of diseases. Improving timely access to care and alleviating breathlessness early could support their ability to work, thereby reducing the societal impacts of breathlessness.
Funder: The Australian Centre for Airways disease Monitoring (ACAM), a unit of the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, which conducted primary data collection for the National Breathlessness Survey receives investigator- initiated research grants provided by industry partners, including GlaxoSmithKline, AstraZeneca, and Novartis.
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The BREATHE study aims to integrate a clinical decision support system (BREATHE CDSS) in the electronic health record to better identify and manage patients with breathlessness in primary care. The pragmatic implementation trial will be a cluster randomised controlled 2-arm trial in 40 primary care sites. Practices will be recruited from urban and rural areas.
Funder: 2021 MRFF Chronic Respiratory Conditions Grant
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The BREATHE SMART study aims to develop and test an automated system that identifies at-risk patients with breathlessness to improve outcomes for patients with the condition. This system will be tested along with the BREATHE CDSS in a cluster randomised controlled trial in urban and rural Australia.
Funder: 2023 MRFF Clinician Researchers – Applied Research in Health Grant
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This trial led by collaborators in the United Kingdom will compare the performance of primary care clinicians in the interpretation of real-world spirometry with or without AI spirometry decision support software reports.
Funder: National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) through an AI Award in Health and Care (Phase 3- Application: Grant number AI_AWARD02204)
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We worked with consumers, clinicians, and research partner organisations to improve understanding of breathlessness, and develop patient resources which are the first in what is planned to be a series of items to raise awareness, improve outcomes for patients with the condition, and reduce provider burden in managing it.
Funder: Maridulu Budyari Gumal, the Sydney Partnership for Health, Education, Research and Enterprise (SPHERE)
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We worked with other experts on breathlessness as part of the International Primary Care Respiratory Group (IPCRG) to develop a world-first desktop helper that offers practical steps to primary care clinicians for the assessment and management of adults with long-term (chronic) distressing and disabling breathlessness. It aims to improve the consultation both for the individual and the clinician and offers practical ways to deal with this difficult symptom.
Funder: International Primary Care Respiratory Group
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We conducted one of the first meta-analyses as part of a living review to look at how COVID-19 affects people with asthma which provides reassurance that having the condition doesn't increase the risk of severe illness or death from the virus. This has informed messaging by Asthma Australia, the US Centers for Disease Control and many other guideline groups.
Funder: Asthma Australia
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Analyzing data from the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health & Development Study which has followed up participants longitudinally for over 50 years in collaboration with partners at the University of Otago, we explore the impact of respiratory symptoms in early adulthood (at age 26) and lung function decline during mid-adulthood (age 26-45), prevalence of respiratory symptoms at age 45 in distinct lung function trajectories, and how respiratory symptoms across the lifespan in the general population.
External Collaborators and Partners
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- The George Institute for Global Health, Australia
- University of Notre Dame, Australia
- University of Sydney
- University of Newcastle, Australia
- Woolcock Institute of Medical Research
- Lung Foundation Australia
- Asthma Australia
- Ochre Health
- and others
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- Imperial College London
- Kings College London
- University of Cambridge
- University of Leicester
- University of Edinburgh
- University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI)
- The George Institute for Global Health, India
- Asthma + Lung UK
- International Primary Care Respiratory Group
- Dunedin Study, University of Otago
- and others
Collaborate with us
Are you looking for an honours, masters or PhD position? Or looking to collaborate as visiting fellows or researchers? We have projects available relating to:
- Epidemiology and Optimizing Management of Cardiorespiratory Multimorbidity
- Early Detection of Chronic Respiratory Conditions
- Digitally enabled models of primary care respiratory medicine
- Breathlessness care pathways
Please contacta.sunjaya@unsw.edu.aufor more information
Our publications (selected)
- Academic publications
- Editorials
- Reports (selected)
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- Sunjaya AP, Edwards G, Harvey J, Sylvester K, Purvis J, Rutter M, Shakespeare J, Moore V, El-Emir E, Doe G, Van Orshoven K, Patel S, De Vos M, Cuyvers B, Desbordes P, Evans R, Morgan M, Russell R, Jarrold I, Spain N, Hopkinson N, Taylor S, Kon S, Scott D, Prevost T, Topalovic M, Man W. Validation of artificial intelligence spirometry interpretation software in primary care: a retrospective, diagnostic accuracy study. ERJ Open Research. 2025. Accepted
- JoshiR,ChaudhriK,SunjayaAP, etal.Task-sharingfornon-communicabledisease prevention and control in low- and middle-income countries in the context of health worker shortages: A systematic review. PLoS Global Health. 2025. Accepted
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- ChiYanHui;Kathleena Condon;NicolaRoberts;KatherinaBernadetteSreter;SamiOSimons; CarlosFigueiredo;ZoeMcKeough;HaniSalim;AleksandraGawlik-Lipinski;ApollineGonsard; Ayşe Önal Aral; Anna Vanoverschelde; Matthew Armstrong; Dario Kohlbrenner; Cátia Paixão; Patrick Stafler; Efthymia Papadopoulou; Adrian Paul Rabe; Milan Mohammad; Izolde Bouloukaki; Shirley Quach; Malek Chaabouni; Georgios Kaltsakas; Kate Loveys; Tonje Reier- Nilsen;AnthonyPauloSunjaya;PaulRobinson;HilaryPinnock;AmyHaiYanChan. Implementing digital respiratory technologies for people with respiratory conditions: a protocol for a systematic scoping review. PLOS ONE. 2024. Accepted
- Sunjaya AP, Poulos L, Di Tanna GL, Lung T, Marks G, Reddel HK, Jenkins C. The health and economic burden of breathlessness in Australia: findings from a nationwide cross-sectional survey. Medical Journal of Australia. 2024
- Sunjaya AP, Martin A, Arnott C, Di Tanna GL, Gianacas C, Marks G, Jenkins C. Acceptability and feasibility of a chronic breathlessness diagnostic clinical algorithm in Australian primary care. Aus J General Practice. 2024
- DoeG, El-Emir E,EdwardsG, TopalovicM, Evans RA,Russell R, SylvesterK, Van Orshoven K,SunjayaAP,ScottDA,PrevostAT,HarveyJ,TaylorSJC,HopkinsonNS,KonSS,JarroldI, Spain N, Banya W, Man WD-C. Comparing performance of primary care clinicians in the interpretation of SPIROmetry with or without Artificial Intelligence Decision support software (SPIRO-AID): a protocol for a randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open. 2024. DOI:10.1136/bmjopen-2024-086736
- Zhang X; Gray AR; Hancox RJ,2024,'Distinct trajectories of lung function from childhood to mid-adulthood.',Thorax,79,pp. 754 - 761,
- Zhang X; Gray AR; Hancox RJ,2024,'Predictors of lung function in early adulthood: A population-based cohort study.',Respirology,
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- SunjayaAP,MartinA,ArnottC,MarksG,JenkinsC.“It’slikeaforgottenissuesometimes…”: Qualitativestudyofindividualslivingandcaringforpeoplewithchronicbreathlessness.Clinical Respiratory Journal. 2023
- Doe G, Taylor SJ, Topalovic M, Russell R, Evans RA, Maes J, Van Orshovon K, Sunjaya A, Scott D, Prevost AT, El-Emir E, Harvey J, Hopkinson NS, Kon SS, Patel S, Jarrold I, Spain N, Man WD, Hutchinson A. Spirometry services in England post-pandemic and the potential role of AI support software: a qualitative study of challenges and opportunities. Br J Gen Pract. 2023 Nov 30;73(737):e915-e923. doi: 10.3399/BJGP.2022.0608. PMID: 37903639; PMCID: PMC10633654.
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- Sunjaya AP, Martin A, Arnott C, Jenkins C. Management of chronic breathlessness in primary care: What do general practitioners (GPs), non-GP specialist, and allied health professionals think?. Australian Journal of Primary Health. 2022. DOI: 10.1071/PY22018
- Sunjaya AP, Poulos L, Reddel HK, Jenkins C. Qualitative validation of the modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnoea scale as a patient-reported measure of breathlessness severity. Respiratory Medicine. 2022. DOI: 10.1016/j.rmed.2022.106984
- SunjayaAP,AnsariS,JenkinsC.Asystematicreviewontheeffectivenessandimpactofclinical decisionsupportsystemsforbreathlessness.NPJPrimaryCareRespiratoryMedicine.2022.DOI:10.1038/s41533-022-00291-x
- Sunjaya AP, Sengupta A, Martin A, Di Tanna GL, Jenkins C. Efficacy of self-management mobile applications for patients with breathlessness. Respiratory Medicine. 2022. DOI:10.1016/j.rmed.2022.106947
- SunjayaAP,BaoL,MartinA,DiTannaGL,JenkinsC.SystematicReviewofEffectivenessand Quality Assessment ofPatient Education Materials and Decision Aids for Breathlessness. BMC Pulmonary Medicine. 2022. DOI: 10.1186/s12890-022-02032-9
- SunjayaAP,HomairaN,CorcoranK,MartinA,BerendN,JenkinsC.Assessmentanddiagnosis of chronic dyspnea: A literature review. NPJ Primary Care Respiratory Medicine. 2022. DOI:10.1038/s41533-022-00271-1
- SunjayaAP,MartinA,JenkinsC.ADesignThinkingApproachtodevelopingaClinicalDecisionSupport System for Breathlessness in Primary Care. Stud Health Technol Inform, 2022. 290. DOI: 10.3233/SHTI220197
- Sunjaya AP, Allida S, Di Tanna GL, Jenkins C. Asthma and Coronavirus Disease 2019 Risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur Resp Journal. 2022 Mar. DOI:10.1183/13993003.01209-2021
- Hancox RJ; Gray AR; Zhang X; Poulton R; Moffitt TE; Caspi A; Sears MR,2022,'Differential Effects of Cannabis and Tobacco on Lung Function in Mid-Adult Life.',Am J Respir Crit Care Med,205,pp. 1179 - 1185,
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- SunjayaAP,PoulosLM,ReddelHK,JenkinsCR.Untanglingchronicbreathlessnessinprimary care. Respiratory Medicine Today. 2021 September. Vol 6(2)
- Sunjaya, AP, Martin A, and Jenkins C, Co-Designing a Primary Care Breathlessness Decision Support System: General Practitioners Requirements Analysis, Workflow Assessment and Prototype Development. Stud Health Technol Inform, 2021. 279: p. 149-156. DOI:10.3233/SHTI210103
- Sunjaya AP, Allida S, Di Tanna GL, Jenkins C. Asthma and risk of infection, hospitalisation, ICU admissionandmortalityfromCOVID-19:Systematicreviewand meta-analysis.JAsthma. 2021 February. DOI: 10.1080/02770903.2021.1888116
- Hancox RJ; Zhang X,2021,'Does COPD start in the nursery?',Respirology,26,pp. 1096 - 1097,
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- Sunjaya AP, Morawska L. Evidence Review and Practice Recommendation on the Material, Design and Maintenance of Cloth Masks. Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness. 2020 August. Vol 14(5). DOI: 10.1017/dmp.2020.317
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- Hancox RJ; Zhang X,2018,'Early life origins of the Asthma-COPD Overlap Syndrome?',Respirology,23,pp. 731 - 732,
- Sunjaya AP, 2022, 'Uplifting Primary Care Through the Electronic Health Record', Annals of Family Medicine, 20, pp. 303 - 304,
- Jenkins C; Sunjaya A, 2021, 'Social distancing as a strategy to prevent respiratory virus infections', Respirology, 26, pp. 143 - 144,
- Sunjaya AF; Sunjaya AP, 2020, 'Pooled Testing for Expanding COVID-19 Mass Surveillance', Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness, 14, pp. e42 - e43,
- Sunjaya AP; Jenkins C, 2020, 'Rationale for universal face masks in public against COVID-19', Respirology, 25, pp. 678 - 679,
- Sunjaya AP, 2020, 'Covid-19 and rapid research translation: Universal masking as a case study', Journal of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, 50, pp. 209,
- Sunjaya AP, 2020, 'Implications of respiratory pathogen transmission dynamics on prevention and testing', International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health, 228,
- Doe G, Hutchinson A, Sandberg J, Sunjaya A, Williams S. Desktop Helper No.17 - Breathlessness in adults: A practical guide for primary care clinicians. International Primary Care Respiratory Group (IPCRG). 2024.
- Bhaumik S, Kumar A, Gong J Yin X, Ouyang M, Li J, Santos JA, Smyth B, Keshri VR, Parveen S, Sunjaya AP, Ajisegiri WS. COVID-19 and non-communicable disease: systematic mapping of registered clinical trials. The George Institute for Global Health. 6 August 2020.
- Sunjaya AP, Allida S, Di Tanna GL, Jenkins C. Asthma and COVID-19 Rapid Review. Report for Asthma Australia. 2020.
