Woolcock Institute of Medical Research

20/10/2025

Woolcock Centre for Lung Cancer Research Director Professor Maija Kohonen-Corish says her own cancer journey made her a more passionate champion for lung cancer, which is often stigmatised, and for lung cancer research. While that's starting to change, she says, it's still a harder path to tread. Read more: https://www.woolcock.org.au/news/lung-cancer-centre

Lung cancer has long been stigmatised and underfunded. That's starting to change.

14/10/2025

There are five different types of sleep. Which one are you?
Woolcock Early Career Researcher, Aurore Perrault, is first author of a paper published in the latest edition of PLOS Biology which describes each, their distinct brain activity patterns and impacts on health and behaviour. The work could lead to new depression and anxiety therapies. Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-au/health/other/you-could-have-one-of-five-types-of-sleep-and-this-is-what-it-means-for-your-health/ar-AA1O3MOQ

You could have one of five types of sleep and this is what it means for your health - Findings could pave way for individualised treatments for sleep disorder patients

13/10/2025

After a burst of hot weather across Australia's eastern states, spring has truly sprung bringing with it additional challenges for people living with asthma. High pollen days, hay fever and summer's thunderstorms can all make asthma more difficult to control, and increase the risk of exacerbations. Dr Aruvi Thiruvarudchelvan suggests ways you can be proactive about your respiratory health. Read more: https://www.woolcock.org.au/news/spring-asthma

Spring offers additional challenges for people with asthma but you can be proactive about your respiratory health according to respiratory specialist Dr Aruvi Thiruvarudchelvan.

09/10/2025

Asthma Australia is presenting two webinars to give people living with asthma the chance to Ask the Experts about Asthma Attacks and Oral Steroid Risks.
Register here: https://asthma.org.au/smarter-oral-steroids/?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Invitation+to+Ask+the+Experts&utm_campaign=QUM+Webinar+2+-+Post+Event+EDM+%28Flipchart%2FSurvey%29+%28Copy%29

07/10/2025

Cheap, illegal to***co available in the same places young people source cheap, imported vapes is spawning a whole new generation of smokers. And, disturbingly, young people who have become super-addicted to ni****ne through va**ng are now switching to ci******es as a way to quit vapes and becoming "dual users".
Read more: https://www.woolcock.org.au/news/illegal-to***co-and-vapes

Distinguished Professor Brian Oliver explains the additional health risks of illegal to***co as a new generation of cigarette smokers emerges through the rise of vapes.

29/09/2025

Woolcock Clinic Paediatric Sleep Specialist Dr Chris Seton shares his advice on managing the challenges for a good night's sleep presented by the upcoming end-of-year exams and this weekend's turning of our clocks forward for daylight saving.
Read more: https://www.woolcock.org.au/news/daylight-saving-exams-and-sleep

Sleep specialist Dr Chris Seton shares his advice on managing the challenges for a good night's sleep presented by exams and daylight saving.

25/09/2025

Distinguished Professor Brian Oliver, research leader of the Woolcock's Respiratory Cellular and Molecular Biology group, shares his tips for tackling mould and dust around your home this spring that prioritise your respiratory health.

Read more: https://www.woolcock.org.au/news/the-perils-of-spring-cleaning

Distinguished Professor Brian Oliver offers his tips for spring cleaning, tackling mould and dust around the home that prioritise your respiratory health.

24/09/2025

Sleep experts are gradually coming on board with co-sleeping when your child’s poor sleep is disrupting family life. Woolcock sleep expert Dr Chris Seton prefers to use the term “bed sharing”, believes co-sleeping has been unfairly stigmatised and that, in many cases, the positives outweigh the negatives. Dr Seton was one of a number of experts who spoke to Melissa Singer in a recent article published in The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.

22/09/2025

On this World Narcolepsy Day, we thank all patients involved in studies at the Woolcock testing new treatments for Narcolepsy and Idiopathic Hypersomnia - together we are committed to improving the lives of people living with these conditions. Read more Quick Facts about narcolepsy: https://www.woolcock.org.au/resources/project-sleep-quick-facts

Project Sleep's quick fact sheet, produced for World Narcolepsy Day 2025

18/09/2025

Geelong Advertiser journalist Zoe De Koning’s sleep problems led to depression, time off work and reliance on medication to fall asleep. She spoke to the Woolcock Clinic's Dr Aruvi Thiruvarudchelvan about lifestyle changes and sleep routines to improve sleep. Read more: https://www.woolcock.org.au/news/strategies-for-better-sleep

Geelong Advertiser journalist Zoe De Koning spoke to Dr Aruvi Thiruvarudchelvan about lifestyle changes and routines to improve sleep.

15/09/2025

Just because you can’t sleep, it doesn’t mean you have insomnia. Sleep psychologist Amelia Scott explains the difference between poor sleep and insomnia disorder and what you can do to manage both.

Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-gb/health/other/insomnia-the-misunderstood-sleep-disorder-you-probably-don-t-have/ar-AA1MfU5E

Insomnia: The misunderstood sleep disorder you probably don’t have - Just because you can’t sleep doesn’t mean you have insomnia. You might have another sleep disorder, or none at all

11/09/2025

The next lecture in our Sleep Talks series will be held on Thursday 25 September. Professor Nat Marshall will examine the effect that shifting our clocks forward for the start of Daylight Savings Time next month has on our bodies and overall health. Book your place now for Is Daylight Saving a Human Health Hazard?: https://event.mq.edu.au/sleep-talks/

These free public events will feature leading clinicians, educators, and researchers in sleep and chronobiology. Explore the latest insights and evidence on sleep health, its impact on individuals and society, and why sleep is crucial for overall well-being.