Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) Professor Sarath Ranganathan has been awarded the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand (TSANZ) Research Medal, recognising his outstanding contribution to respiratory medicine and science.

Former leader of MCRI’s Respiratory group Professor Ranganathan is an internationally recognised paediatric respiratory physician and clinician scientist, with more than three decades of leadership across research, clinical care and medical education.

He is also Head of the University of Melbourne’s Melbourne Medical School, a consultant at The Royal Children’s Hospital and Deputy Chair of Lung Foundation Australia.

Image: Professor Sarath Ranganathan

Professor Ranganathan’s work has helped transform the early detection and management of childhood lung disease, particularly cystic fibrosis and severe asthma. With more than 350 peer-reviewed publications and over $70 million in research funding, he has made sustained contributions to national and international respiratory societies and improved care for children with chronic lung conditions.

Current head of MCRI’s Respiratory group, Associate Professor Shivanthan Shanthikumar, said the award was testament to Professor Ranganathan’s track record of undertaking high-quality research that has informed the way paediatric respiratory disease is managed.

“The impact he’s had in leading respiratory research at MCRI, and his capacity to train, mentor and inspire the next generation of researchers is evidenced by the success of our Group in receiving other awards,” she said.

The Thoracic Society awards support respiratory health clinicians and research scientists to further their research and undergo career development. Other MCRI award winners and finalists were:

• International Child Health Group’s Associate Professor Hamish Graham received the TSANZ President’s Award for his contribution to promoting respiratory health in the community. He leads MCRI’s Global Oxygen Access team, improving access to oxygen and respiratory support for children and newborns.
• Respiratory Group’s Dr Cassidy Du Berry received the TSANZ Peter Phelan Research Award for paediatric and early life research. His research focuses on defining disease trajectories, detecting early airway pathology, and identifying early-life factors that influence lifelong lung health.
• Lung Disease Group lab-based scientist and PhD student Sahel Amoozadeh was a finalist in the Ann Woolcock New Investigator Award.

MCRI Respiratory Group’s Professor Phil Robinson was also recently awarded a $30,000 Lung Foundation Australia – PCD Australia Research Grant for his project, Beyond the human eye: Expert-guided machine learning of ciliary beat pattern for the diagnosis of PCD. Professor Robinson is also Director of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine at The Royal Children’s Hospital.