Adelaide Cystic Fibrosis Airway Research Group

09/09/2025

If you have CF or are a family member of someone with CF please fill in this important survey!

The State of CF Survey has been extended until the 5th of October. This is your chance to share your experience, ensure your voice is heard, and help shape a better future for everyone with cystic fibrosis.

State of CF Research Project Information

You are invited to participate in an important research project that aims to better understand the experiences, challenges, and needs of people living with cystic fibrosis (CF) and their families across Australia.

Currently, there is no data about issues facing the CF community, such as the cost of living, side effects of modulators, and access to healthcare in Australia. As a result, CF Together has developed this survey, to assist advocacy for care and treatments, shape future support programs, and inform research to improve outcomes for the CF community.

Please consider sharing within your networks; this project aims to involve as many people as possible, reflecting the diverse experiences of those living with CF. The survey will take approximately 30 minutes; progress can be saved to allow you to return later, prior to the survey closing on September 5. Participants can choose to enter a draw to win one of ten $50 gift cards.

Please complete the survey here - https://ap1.hubs.ly/y0dGm40

25/08/2025

Welcome to our new Masters students, Mudita and Ishan, who will be with us for the next 12 months, helping CFARG reach its goals.

Both are diving into the world of airway stem cells — each exploring them from a unique angle.

Mudita will focus on making airway stem cells as healthy as possible, with the long-term goal of using them in cell therapy. She’ll also explore how CF-derived stem cells differ from healthy ones, providing important insights into their therapeutic potential.

Ishan will investigate whether there are differences in the number and types of stem cells in CF airways using an advanced approach known as single-cell sequencing. Understanding these differences will help us learn how CF airways repair after infection.

We’re excited to have them on board and can’t wait to see what they discover!

15/08/2025

In July we had great week of experiments at the SPring-8 synchrotron facility in Japan, followed by insightful meetings with the Respiratory Department at Nagoya University.
Excited to see the results from our work and looking forward to future collaborative projects! It was also lovely to see our PhD student, Madi, settled in at Nagoya.

08/08/2025

Did you catch us at Science Alive 2025? It was a blockbuster debut for CFARG and the Robinson Research Institute! Our researchers Ali, Nathan, and Stuti volunteered at the RRI booth, chatting with thousands of curious kids and bringing science to life with hands-on activities:

🫁 Lung function tests – showing how we check lung health in the clinic
🎈 Balloon lung model – understanding what happens when lungs don’t work properly
🔬 Microscopes – zooming in on the tiny building blocks of life
🧪 Slime station – making a microbiome with good and bad bugs

Here’s to inspiring the next generation of scientists!

11/07/2025

Check out our new ReXIL key rings! Thanks Carter Donnelley!

08/07/2025

Our PhD student Madi has settled in at the University of Nagoya in Japan where she is spending the year as part of her joint degree with the University of Adelaide. Madi is looking at the role of specific genes in the development of lung fibrosis, including their role in cystic fibrosis. She also has a bit of time to visit castles and the Pokémon store, and perfect her already-excellent Japanese!

19/06/2025

Recently, Nikki attended the European Cystic Fibrosis Conference in Milan and had a great few days filled with science, inspiring talks, and valuable collaboration.
Following the conference, Nikki visited Grenoble, where she had the opportunity to present her research at the CEA—one of Europe’s leading research centres. She shared her work using X-ray Velocimetry to visualise how air moves through the lungs in cystic fibrosis, and was given a tour of their impressive, high-tech facilities.
A fantastic week of science, connection, and momentum in CF research!

03/06/2025

Congratulations to the CFARG team for being a finalist! 🤞

We’re thrilled to announce the finalists of the Women’s and Children’s Health Network (WCHN) Excellence Awards 2025 ✨

🟣𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐧𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐇𝐨𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝
• Allogeneic Stem Cell Donor Service
• Dr Abdul Musa
• Small Baby Group

🟣𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐍𝐨𝐧-𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝
• Haematology Oncology School Team
• Kieran Higgins
• Taikurrinthi - Aboriginal Liaison Unit

🟣𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝
• Cystic Fibrosis Airway Research Group
• Monica Diaz
• Transforming Crohn’s care through nutrition therapy

🟣𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝
• Dana Afford
• Disability Access & Inclusion Project at Yarrow Place
• Sensory Toolbox Project

🟣𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐐𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝
• Management of Acute Anaphylaxis
• Safety, Quality, Risk Mentoring Project
• Sophie Sennar

🟣𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝
• 3D Health Encompass Nursing Team
• Child Health and Development Check
• Victoria Mango

🟣𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐎𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐨𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝
• Paediatric Trauma Prevention
• Transfusion@Home
• Cocoon Program

🟣𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝
• Aboriginal Allied Health Assistant School Based VET Partnership
• Continuity of Care Protocols Project
• Rose Highfold

🟣𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝
• Jacob Hall
• Marnie O'Meara
• Rebecca Dunn

🟣𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐄 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝
• Alongside Grief and Loss Program
• Dr Jemma Anderson
• Yarrow Place R**e and Sexual Assault Service

Each year, the Excellence Awards provide an opportunity for us to celebrate innovation, leadership, dedication, and teamwork across our Network.

We look forward to presenting our 2025 winners at the awards ceremony on Friday 15 August which is proudly supported by the Foundation

27/05/2025

Congratulations to our students Stuti and Jay, on their recent graduation from the Master of Biotechnology program at the University of Adelaide!

16/05/2025

Day 16: Gene Therapy in Cystic Fibrosis

One of the most exciting areas of research is gene therapy, which aims to address the root cause of CF by repairing or replacing the faulty CFTR gene. Unlike current treatments that manage symptoms or improve protein function, gene therapy works at the genetic level - offering the potential for long-term, even lifelong, impact.

There are more than 2,000 known mutations in the CFTR gene. The most common, F508del, is found in around 90% of Australians with CF. Gene therapy could help not only those with this mutation, but also individuals who currently do not benefit from CFTR modulator drugs.

Globally, over 50 gene therapy programs are in development, including gene addition, mRNA therapy, and gene editing using technologies like CRISPR. While most are still in early clinical trials, some have shown promising safety and early signs of improved lung function.

Supporting CF research is more than an investment in science - it’s an investment in real futures. As we raise awareness this month, we also raise hope that one day, treatments like gene therapy could transform CF from a life-shortening disease into a treatable or even curable condition.

15/05/2025

This week Martin is attending the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy meeting in New Orleans! He’s presenting some of our magnetically controlled CF gene therapy results, including data from PhD student Madi and images from the SPring-8 Synchrotron.

Thanks to CF Geelong and CF Australia for funding this exciting work!

29/04/2025

Our PhD students Madi and Stuti recently participated in the Children’s University Program, an initiative by the University of Adelaide, designed to spark curiosity and foster a love for science among school-aged children. They led a hands-on session about viruses and bacteria, with clay modelling and interactive activities. It was a fantastic day of learning, creativity, and inspiring the next generation of scientists!