Woolcock Institute of Medical Research

20/11/2025

Thunderstorm asthma burst into the p***c consciousness almost a decade ago - with good reason. Although large-scale events are rare, the environmental conditions that drive them may be increasing. What can you do to protect your respiratory health?
Read more: https://www.woolcock.org.au/news/thunderstorm-asthma

As our climate changes, bringing with it longer pollen seasons, higher pollen loads, will large-scale thunderstorm asthma events become more common? What can you do to manage your respiratory health if you have asthma or COPD.

20/11/2025

Congratulations to Associate Professor Kamal Dua, Research Leader in our Respiratory Cellular and Molecular Biology group on being ranked the nation's No. 1 researcher in the field of Pharmacology and Pharmacy under the Health and Medical Sciences discipline. The recognition came in The Australian Research Magazine's list of Australia’s Top 250 Researchers for 2026, published on 19 November. Read more about Kamal's work: https://www.woolcock.org.au/our-people/associate-professor-kamal-dua

Kamal Dua - Woolcock Institute People - improving respiratory and sleep health through world-class research, clinical care and education.

19/11/2025

Asbestos found in coloured sand products sold at major retailers has many parents concerned about the risks to their children's health. The Woolcock's Respiratory Cellular and Molecular Biology Research Leader, Distinguished Professor Brian Oliver offered his advice to parents in the Canberra Times. Read more: https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/9112356/asbestos-warning-causes-act-schools-to-close-whats-the-risk-to-kids/

Here's what you need to know, and how to get rid of contaminants.

13/11/2025

It's less than a week until our final Sleep Talk for 2025 on Thursday 20 November. Join Professor Bandana Saini, Australia’s leading pharmacy researcher in respiratory and sleep health, as she unpacks the complex relationship between sleeping pills and sleep quality. Book your place now for What Do Sleeping Pills Do To Your Sleep?: https://event.mq.edu.au/sleep.../registration/Site/Register

13/11/2025

Welcome to our Woolcock New-Starters.
Yesterday we held our inaugural Welcome to Woolcock morning tea for our new starters to meet each other and also our management team. Thank you for choosing us and we hope you enjoy your Woolcock journey.

12/11/2025

More and more of us are using wearable sleep trackers like rings and watches, even gadgets that can go under your mattress. It's a booming industry, but is all this extra data helping people get more rest or is it just extra noise? Read more: https://www.woolcock.org.au/news/sleep-tracking-traps

Sleep monitoring is a booming industry, but is extra data helping us sleep or is it just extra noise?

04/11/2025

The final presentation of our 2025 Sleep Talks series is being held on Thursday 20 November. Join Professor Bandana Saini, Australia’s leading pharmacy researcher in respiratory and sleep health, as she unpacks the complex relationship between sleeping pills and sleep quality. Book your place now for What Do Sleeping Pills Do To Your Sleep?: https://event.mq.edu.au/sleep-talks/registration/Site/Register

Presented by the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research and Macquarie University, these free public events will feature leading clinicians, educators, and researchers in sleep and chronobiology.View the full lineup of Sleep Talks for 2025 on the event website.Please note that you can come back at an...

04/11/2025

Congratulations Danielle Luu who has completed her Macquarie University Research Internship (MURI) at the Woolcock. Danielle worked on an air quality project with Dr Christine Cowie and Professor Brett Toelle.

29/10/2025

We are so proud of our Research Leaders – Professor Helen Reddel and Professor Greg Fox – for their election as Fellows of AAHMS.

28/10/2025

The Woolcock's Sleep Group is hiring. We're looking for dynamic and talented people to fill multiple roles at our state-of-the-art sleep and circadian research facility and help us forge new ground in the understanding of the biology of sleep and the prevention and treatment of sleep disorders. Find out more: https://www.woolcock.org.au/phd-opportunities-jobs/multiple-roles-clinical-sleep-research

We're seeking expressions of interest for multiple roles at our state-of-the-art sleep and circadian research facility at the Woolcock Clinic in Sydney

27/10/2025

Ever found yourself lying in bed staring at the ceiling at 3am, wondering why you can’t get back to sleep? You’re not alone. While it can feel like insomnia, early-morning awakening is often the result of your body following its natural circadian rhythms. Read more: https://www.woolcock.org.au/news/3am-wake-up

Early-morning awakening can feel like insomnia but it's often the result of circadian rhythms.

22/10/2025

Are you an orthosomniac? Obsessed with tracking your sleep? The rise of wearables and apps has improved awareness of the importance of sleep but, like many sleep experts, the Woolcock's Dr Donald Lee is concerned about their overuse and stresses that they have their limitations. Read more in The Guardian: https://www.aol.co.uk/lifestyle/rise-sleep-data-nerds-harder-140017781.html

Wearable sleep trackers may help you measure hours asleep but experts ask how accurate they are, how useful the data is and even what good sleep looks like