james_gClinical Professor Alan James – Chairman

Research Interests: Epidemiology of respiratory disease, Pulmonary physiology, Airway remodelling, Sleep disorders

Professor Alan James is a consultant respiratory physician at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and at Hollywood Private Hospital. His research involves the investigation of genetic and environmental risk factors for respiratory disease in populations including the Busselton Health Studies and the characterisation of respiratory disease in remote indigenous communities.

His other area of research includes the investigation of airway narrowing in asthma and COPD, currently focusing on the stereological measurement of hyperplasia and hypertrophy of airway smooth muscle, the role of extracellular matrix in airway function in smokers and the effect of treatment of sleep apnoea on symptoms of fatigue, sleepiness and depression.

C/Prof James trained in respiratory medicine in Western Australia prior to taking up a position as a Canadian Research Fellow in Vancouver to study airway mechanics in asthma, the subject of his MD. He has established an independent research laboratory in the West Australian Sleep Disorders Research Institute and currently holds adjunct appointments for teaching and research at the University of Western Australia and the Notre Dame University in Perth and is also supported by the NHMRC Project grant scheme.  C/Prof James has published over 160 journal articles, book chapters and editorials.