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Dr Sandra Hodge
To link to this page, please use the following URL: Biography/ Background
Position NHMRC CDA Research Fellow Senior Research Fellow, Lung Research, Hanson Institute and Department of Thoracic Medicine, Royal Adelaide Hospital Associate Professor, University of Adelaide, Department of Medicine Biography/background Sandra Hodge leads the internationally competitive COPD research group within the Lung Research Laboratory, Thoracic Medicine Department, Royal Adelaide Hospital (RAH). Funded studies have focused on providing a better understanding the cause-effect relationships between smoking, COPD and macrophage dysfunction and to evaluate treatment strategies specifically aimed at improving the quality of life of patients with COPD/emphysema. Her group is internationally recognised for their pioneering concept of dysregulated apoptosis and defective phagocytosis of apoptotic cells by alveolar macrophages in the airways of subjects with COPD. COPD patients have an increased risk of lung cancer, therefore a further focus is the investigation of pro-tumourogenic macrophage phenotype and function in normal and lung cancer tissue from COPD patients and smokers. She also has a keen interest in lung transplantation, which provides the only viable therapeutic option for patients with end-stage lung disease. This study forms is a collaborative venture between the Queensland, WA and SA transplant programs. Categories: Medicine and Medical Research, Therapies Expertise: COPD/emphysema, lung transplantation, phagocytosis, efferocytosis, lung and alveolar macrophages, macrophage-directed therapies. I am recognised as a leading authority in my research area and my pioneering concepts have attracted the attention of leaders in respiratory science worldwide, as reflected by frequent citations in the published literature by world-renowned experts in the field (Times Cited 649; h-index 14) and invited International and National presentations in 2009 that included as Visiting Professor to National Jewish Research at Denver USA (Internationally recognised as the leading institution in my field), as invited speaker to the Australian Respiratory Council, the Australian Lung Foundation, and as an invited Symposium speaker at the American Thoracic Society (ATS) Annual Meeting in New Orleans. In the last 5 years I have acted as Chairperson at both National and International Scientific conferences, as Member of National and International Conference Organization Committees, as Chief Book Editor (Lung Macrophages in Health and Chronic disease) and Honorary Editorial Board Member (Inflammation & Allergy – Drug Targets), submitted invited reviews/book chapters and continued my role as reviewer for internationally recognised journals, NHMRC and both International and National research grant proposals, and student theses. I have applied for a provisional patent with USA patent Office (and am currently negotiating with BD Biosciences regarding potential application of the patent). I was recently selected as a member of the prestigious Education and Research Committee of the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand (TSANZ). Awards and achievements- summary § 2009 I was awarded the Hanson Institute early career researcher of the year § 2010 Elected as member of the prestigious Education and Research committee, TSANZ § 2010 Cancer Council SA Award § 2009 Australian Respiratory Council Harry Windsor Award § 2009 Affiliate Associate Professor, University of Adelaide § 2008 Australian Lung Foundation/ Webster COPD Research Award- competitive 1y fellowship § 2008 NHMRC Clinical Career Development Award – relinquished for Biomedical CDA § 2008 NHMRC Biomedical Career Development Award § 2008 RAH/IMVS Research Committee Florey Fellowship, a competitive three year fellowship § 2008 Nominated by, and represented, NHMRC at Australian Parliamentary Offices, Canberra § 2008 Honorary Editorial Board Member: Inflammation & Allergy – Drug Targets § 2007 Qantas Research Travel Support Scheme Award to further my collaborative endeavours with key researchers in the USA and to attend the ATS Annual Scientific Conference § 2006 Affiliate Senior Lecturer, University of Adelaide § 2005 TSANZ/ Allan Hanbury’s Respiratory Research Fellowship, a two-year research fellowship, only one offered on a competitive basis per year, nationally. § 2004 National President of the AFCG § 2002 Australian Lung Foundation/ Boehringer Ingelheim Chronic Airflow Limitation Research Fellowship, a two-year research fellowship, only one offered on a competitive basis per year. § 2002 TSANZ (SA) YIA, a single prestigious award open to all respiratory research investigators. § 2000 RAH E.R. Dawes Scholarship § 2000 In recognition of my national profile in the field I was elected National AFCG Secretary
Invitations – International speaker/conference chair [last 5 years; detailed in my CV) § 2010 TSANZ Immunology and Cell Biology Conference chairperson § 2010 ATS Annual Scientific Meeting New Orleans Scientific Symposium Invited speaker § 2010 ATS Annual Scientific Meeting New Orleans Scientific Symposium Session Chair § 2009 National Jewish Medical Research Centre, Denver, USA Visiting Professor § 2007 Joint Congress of the APSR/ACCP, Queensland, Australia Invited speaker § 2007 Joint Congress of the APSR/ACCP, Queensland, Australia. Oral Session Chair § 2006 riCEDD COPD Think Tank (RICOTTA) Novel Targets meeting, Philadelphia, USA, invited as one of a small group of reputed international experts in my field. Selected National Invitations- brief summary (details are presented in my CV) § 2010 TSANZ Immunology and Cell Biology Oral Session conference chair § 2009 TSANZ conference chair § 2008 TSANZ Annual Conference. Immunology and Cell Biology Mentor Poster Session. § 2008 Newcastle Asthma Meeting Invited speaker § 2008 Australian Parliamentary Offices, representing NHMRC Invited presenter § 2009 Australian Lung Foundation Invited speaker § 2009 Australian Respiratory Council Invited speaker § 2008 TSANZ Annual Meeting Poster Mentor § 2007 Womens’ and Childrens’ Hospital Laboratory Division Invited speaker § 2007 University of Adelaide, Department of Physiology Invited speaker § 2005 National television (National Nine news report) § 2004 AFCG Annual Meeting Presidential address § 2004 TSANZ COPD Symposium, Adelaide Invited speaker § 2004 AFCG / ASI/ HLDA Combined Scientific Meeting. Mentor Cell Biology Poster Session 1 § 2004 AFCG/ ASI/ HLDA Combined Scientific Meeting. Mentor Cell Biology Poster Session 2 § 2004 Australian Society for Immunolgy, FIMSA Workshop facilitator § 2004 AFCG/ ASI/ HLDA Combined Scientific Meeting. Chair Student Presentations Session § 2003 TSANZ Annual Scientific Meeting Invited Speaker § 2000 AFCG Annual Scientific Meeting. Chair Cell Biology Oral Session Publications I have published 52 manuscripts in reviewed scientific journals/reviews/book chapters and 83 abstracts in the last 10 years, increasingly as senior author. Most of these have been published in leading journals in my field of respiratory medicine, as detailed in Appendix I. Editorial Board Membership Honorary Editorial Board Member: Inflammation & Allergy – Drug Targets Book Editorial roles Editor: Lung Macrophages. Bentham Science Publishers 2008 Fellowships and grant funding This funding and the ideal placement and resources of my host institution have facilitated the successful interaction of clinical medicine and basic science. My total funding for my career (detailed in Attachment) has been $7,121,209.00 [$750,500 relinquished]. I am responsible for the oversight of financial management of my grants including all budget and staffing issues related to the successful management of my grant funds. Personal commitment to my field of respiratory research. In recognition of my profile in my field, I was elected both National Secretary and National President of the AFGC. I have played a role in organization of National and International Respiratory Conferences, including a Scientific Symposium at the 2010 ATS meeting in New Orleans. I currently serve as a member of the TSANZ Education and Research Committee and the Immunology Cell Biology SIG. Society Memberships § National Association for Research Fellows of NHMRC Inc. § TSANZ § APSR § AFCG § Child Health Research Institute § Australian Lung Foundation § Hanson Institute Executive positions held § 2010 Member Immunology cell Biology SIG TSANZ § 2010 Member Education and Research committee, TSANZ § 2000 National Secretary, AFCG § 2004 National President, AFCG Organisation Committee for National/International Conferences § 2011 TSANZ Annual Scientific Meeting § 2010 ATS Organiser Scientific Symposium: Coins for the Boatman; efferocytosis in chronic lung disease § 2000 Organisation Committee AFCG Annual Scientific Meeting § 2004 Organisation Committee AFCG Annual Scientific Meeting § 2004 FIMSA Workshops, ASI Annual Scientific Meeting Further evidence of my involvement in professional activities: Reviewer for high-calibre scientific journals Thorax, Respiratory Medicine, European Respiratory Journal, Cytokine, Cytometry, American Journal of Physiology, Respiratory Research, Respiratory Medicine, Respirology, Am J Respir Crit Care Med, Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol). Review of grant and other research applications § 2010 University of Adelaide Honours § 2010 University of Melbourne, PhD § 2009 Asthma Foundation of NSW § 2008 Invited NHMRC Grant Review Panel 3C-Respiratory Medicine/Sleep (not undertaken) § 2008 Chronic Granulomatous Disorder Research Trust UK § 2008 Medical Research Council UK § 2008 British Lung Foundation § 2007-2010 NHMRC Project grants § 2007 NHMRC Complementary and Alternative Medicine Grant § 2005, 2006 Reviewer, Hong Kong Grants Committee § 2005 Examiner, University of Sydney § 2004 Reviewer, Astra Zeneca Young Investigator Grant-in-Aid Research policy: my research aims to better characterise smokers at risk for COPD, to develop new therapeutic approaches for COPD and to provide further insights into the link between macrophage function and lung cancer risk. This work thus has enormous potential for a major impact on healthcare for the patients, physicians and community at large. I am an advocate for changes in clinical practice of treatment for COPD based on clinical trial evidence. I played a lead role in the development and instigation of a clinical trial, investigating the clinical benefits of low dose azithromycin in COPD (including trial protocol development, ethics submissions, and collection of clinical samples, overseeing or personally performing laboratory testing and final collation and publication of data). The results from this trial showed that azithromycin has a positive effect clinical effect in COPD (Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2008). An extension of this study is a current multi-centre NHMRC-funded clinical trial to assess the effects of azithromycin in asthma. I anticipate that other novel treatments that I have identified in in vitro studies and in animal models will also be used in clinical trial. I was invited to present my findings on National Television - as a result I have established links with over 500 COPD subjects and many of their GPs who have contacted me and are very keen to be enrolled in our clinical trials or to be informed of clinical trial outcomes. My research data and the translation of this data to clinical trial is thus directly paving the way, both in this country and overseas, for changes in clinical practice for the treatment of COPD based on clinical trial evidence. Service to the community: My research is directly aimed at service to the community by implementing a constructive and effective change in a public health discipline. As described above I play a lead role in the design, conduct and final publication of data relating to clinical trials of new treatment strategies for COPD. I therefore have a key responsibility for changes to policy and practice with regard to COPD treatment options. My success here is evident by the Clinical translation of my research: Clinical trial of low-dose Azithromycin therapy in COPD 2007, and Clinical trial of low-dose Azithromycin in asthma 2009-2012 Patent - No 61/215911 Provisional Patent applied for USA Patent Office 2009: this is an application for a new method for identifying lung transplant patients at early stages of graft rejection and will therefore directly benefit patients (presently a 50% 5 year mortality rate; the worst of any solid organ transplant). Other service to the community • 2007-2009 Organizing work experience for secondary school students • 2008 I was nominated by, and represented NHMRC at ‘Science Meets Parliament’. After consultation with the Australian Lung Foundation and Smokefree Australia, I met with Senator McLucas, Senator Colbeck, B Haase MP and Joe Hockey MP. This gave me an exceptional opportunity to raise the awareness of COPD among parliamentarians and to highlight the lack of awareness and diagnosis (and therefore lack of effective treatment) of the disease in the Australian community. • 2005-present Establishment of a regular “screening clinic” for our smoker and COPD volunteers and offer lung function, chest x-ray and blood testing. The main aim is to recruit subjects for our ongoing studies, however all subjects are consulted by a respiratory physician and a summary of their results sent to their local GP. This community service has resulted in improved patient care for many subjects who were otherwise unaware of their disease severity or not adequately treated. • 2005 Presented my research findings on National TV to raise community awareness of COPD. As a result I have established links with over 500 COPD subjects, many of whom are keen to be enrolled in clinical trials or to be informed of trial outcomes. Links to these patients and to their GP's will ensure that any positive clinical trial evidence will directly lead to changes in clinical practice with regards to treatment of COPD. • 2000; 2004 Organisation committees for three National Scientific Conferences. Roles included raising community awareness of health issues by release of press conferences and media contact. • 1999-2000 Career advisory forums for secondary students, organised by a service club (Zonta). Teaching and supervision I supervise postgraduate students and advanced trainees in respiratory medicine as detailed in my CV. My research data relies heavily on the science of flow cytometry; I am firmly committed to training of Australian 'flow cytometrists' at under- and post-graduate levels to ensure the quality of this research. This is evident by my continued involvement with local and national training programs and the AFCG (as past-National Secretary and past-National President). I maintain close liaison with the University of Adelaide and am very active in my efforts to recruit graduate students. In addition to my own commitment to presenting my data at a national and international conferences and seminars in the field of respiratory medicine, I strongly encourage my staff and students to present their work at relevant meetings. This year my group presented 9 abstracts at the 2010 TSANZ Annual Scientific Meeting (3 awards), 2 at the ATS meeting and 3 at the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation Meeting in addition to numerous previous national and international presentations and presentation on national TV. In support of my successful track record of supervision, training and mentoring is the considerable success that my staff, students and team members have enjoyed as a result of their presentations as detailed below. § 2010 Dr Violet Mukaro: best oral presentation in the field of COPD; national TSANZ meeting § 2010 Dr Wei Xia Slater & Gordon International Mesothelioma Travel Grant.2010 § 2010 Dr Wei Xia Maurice Blackburn International Travel Award § 2010 Dr Ann Reynolds Best Presentation in Orphan Lung Disease Prize TSANZ Brisbane § 2009 Ms Jessica Ahern: award for the best overall poster; national TSANZ meeting. § 2009 and 2010 Ms Jessica Ahern Travel awards to attend the national TSANZ conferences § 2010 Dr Violet Mukaro Travel award to attend the TSANZ conference, Brisbane § 2009 Mr Michael Djukic Travel award to attend TSANZ conference Darwin § 2006 Honours student Sheree Brozyna: TSANZ (SA) Young Investigator Award § 2005 Dr Katherine Finan: TSANZ (SA) Young Investigator Award § 2004 Ms Judi Nairn, PhD student: best student presentation award; National AFCG meeting Further, my students have progressed to independent careers as detailed in my CV
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