Research

Explore the Research grants applications submitted by our research team investigating Sarcoidosis with information on investigators and institutions. 

Research underway

Verification that mycobacterium Avium paratuberculosis (MAP) is consistently cultured in the blood of Sarcoidosis sufferers and is not consistently cultured in the blood of subjects NOT suffering from Sarcoidosis, in a randomized, blinded study of 60 subjects, 30 Sarcoidosis sufferers and 30 Control subjects.
Project Lead: Prof. Chris Hayward

Research on prevalence of Sarcoidosis and rates of hospitalization available a data base 2000- 2020 of all NSW Hospital cardiovascular diagnoses and surgical intervention as well as admissions.
Project Lead: Prof. Louisa Jorm, Prof. Branko Celler, Prof Arcot Sowmya

Past research applications

2020 NHMRC Grant Program

A clinical and laboratory investigation of Sarcoidosis

CIA
Prof Christopher Hayward
St Vincent's Hospital Sydney


CIB
Prof Paul Thomas
University of New South Wales


CIC
Prof Thomas Borody
Centre for Digestive Diseases


CID
Assoc Prof Cristan Herbert
University of New South Wales


CIE
Dr Ahmadreza Argha
University of New South Wales


CIF
Emer Prof Branko Celler
University of New South Wales

Sarcoidosis, first described more than 120 years ago, is a multisystem disease of unknown cause that is characterised by the formation of granulomas in various organs, mainly the lungs and the lymphatic system, but also on skin, in eyes and kidneys. Sarcoidal granulomas may spontaneously resolve or they may accumulate and persist. Accumulation and persistence of granulomas within an organ can lead to dysfunction and cause scarring and irreversible organ damage. In the heart, sarcoidosis may be manifested by silent myocardial granulomas, that can lead to symptomatic conduction disturbances, ventricular arrhythmias and progressive heart failure and sudden death.

Progression of the disease over time leads to increasing morbidity, often lung and heart transplants or death.
Curing or eliminating sarcoidosis remains an elusive goal because its cause and how the disease develops are not known. Further the diagnosis and management of sarcoidosis in Australia is very poor, with sufferers often requiring years of progressive morbidity and incapacity before a definitive diagnosis is made. Clinical trials of treatments may help in the management of these patients, but real breakthroughs are likely to only occur after more is learned about the basics of this disease. Until the urgently needed research is carried out and yields answers, hundreds of thousands of people worldwide will continue to suffer the burden of this disease.

Not successful.

2021 NHMRC Synergy Grants

A clinical and laboratory investigation of Sarcoidosis

CIA
Prof Jason Kovacic
Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute Limited


CIB
Prof Christopher Hayward
St Vincent's Hospital Sydney


CIC
Prof Paul Thomas
University of New South Wales


CID
Prof Thomas Borody
Centre for Digestive Diseases


CIE
Prof Craig McLachlan
Torrens University Australia Limited


CIF
Assoc Prof Cristan Herbert
University of New South Wales


CIG
Prof Arcot Sowmya
University of New South Wales


CIH
Mr John Aitken


CII
Dr Ahmadreza Argha
University of New South Wales


CIJ
Emer Prof Branko Celler
University of New South Wales

Sarcoidosis, first described more than 120 years ago, is a multisystem disease of unknown cause that is characterised by the formation of granulomas in various organs, mainly the lungs and the lymphatic system, but also on skin, in eyes and kidneys. Sarcoidal granulomas may spontaneously resolve or they may accumulate and persist. Accumulation and persistence of granulomas within an organ can lead to dysfunction and cause scarring and irreversible organ damage. In the heart, sarcoidosis may be manifested by silent myocardial granulomas, that can lead to symptomatic conduction disturbances, ventricular arrhythmias and progressive heart failure and sudden death. Progression of the disease over time leads to increasing morbidity, often lung and heart transplants or death.

Curing or eliminating sarcoidosis remains an elusive goal because its cause and how the disease develops are not known. Further the diagnosis and management of sarcoidosis in Australia is very poor, with sufferers often requiring years of progressive morbidity and incapacity before a definitive diagnosis is made. Clinical trials of treatments may help in the management of these patients, but real breakthroughs are likely to only occur after more is learned about the basics of this disease. Until the urgently needed research is carried out and yields answers, hundreds of thousands of people worldwide will continue to suffer the burden of this disease.

Not successful.