Tom Gentles

Tom was awarded $19,992 to enable the introduction of pulse oximetry screening in a rural setting as part of a study investigating the feasibility of introducing a nationwide screening programme. Phase one of the study was rolled out at Auckland City Hospital in April 2016.

John Kolbe

John was awarded $20,000 for his project ‘Lung Clearance Index: Validating measures of airway dysfunction.’  The Lung Clearance Index (LCI) is a measure of ventilatory inequality based on the multiple gas washout test and is a sensitive indicator of pulmonary function impairment, with abnormality preceding changes in FEV1.  It has potential as a test to demonstrate the acute effect of interventions, particularly those that may influence mucociliary clearance but also as a measure of small airway function.  The aim of the project is to develop and test the LCI in terms of repeatability, variability and responsiveness.