Professor Robert J Pierce was the founder of the Institute for Breathing and Sleep. He was the CEO of the Institute until his untimely death in the Black Saturday bushfires of February 2009.
Rob, as he was known to all, was also the Director of the Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine at Austin Health and the inaugural Professor of Respiratory Medicine at the University of Melbourne.
Rob was involved in most IBAS projects as well as being a source of inspiration and facilitation. He had particular strengths in fostering passion for research and in ensuring that the links between research and clinical work were never lost. At the time of his death he was dedicating significant time and effort to projects addressing respiratory health needs in Australia’s indigenous community.
Rob’s work over the first nine years of the Institute’s existence resulted in IBAS being in a strong position to continue his work and his vision. Rob’s role and contribution to current projects will continue to be recognised through publication and presentation.
Rob’s work is commemorated in a number of ways: the annual RJ Pierce Symposium and the presentation of the Rob Pierce Memorial Award, both as part of Austin Health ResearchFest through the Robert Pierce Grant-in-Aid for Indigenous Lung Health, awarded annually by the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand (TSANZ) and the Rob Pierce Grant in Aid awarded annually by the Australasian Sleep Association (ASA).
For more information about Rob’s work and life, please see the obituary that was published in The Age newspaper.
SHIFT WORK AND BREASTFEEDING PROJECT
Researchers at Austin Health are looking for volunteers to participate in a study exploring the impact shift work has on breast milk composition. Participants will be compensated with a $100 gift voucher.
Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a chronic lung condition that causes stiff lungs and restricts sufferers from taking a deep breath. Exercise in a gym, or swimming, walking or riding a bike, can help...
Sleep apnea is a condition where breathing is abnormal during sleep. There are two main forms of sleep apnea: obstructive and central. For obstructive sleep apnea, breathing is reduced because the airway...
Grants Success: The Institute for Breathing and Sleep (IBAS) has received two research grants from the Austin Medical Research Foundation (AMRF) for 2025. Congratulations to Dr Charissa Zaga and Dr Catherine Hill from IBAS.
Congratulations to Professor David Berlowitz, Dr Marnie Graco, and Dr Nicole Sheers who were recognised by Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Australia at a Parliament House event sponsored by the Parliamentary Friends of MND in Canberra last week.
WORLD SLEEP DAY ON 15TH MARCH 2024
The benefits of quality sleep and to acknowledge the issue of sleep problems and their medical, educational, and social aspects as well as the prevention and management of sleep disorders, is promoted on World Sleep Day on the 15th March 2024.
IBAS leads project to revolutionize Home Ventilation with $1.2 million grant for Assoc. Prof Mark Howard's research titled "Synchronise non-invasive ventilation at home".
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