Congratulations to Prof Anne Holland on becoming Head of Respiratory Research@Alfred!

Professor Anne Holland, centre front row, with her group.

It is with great pleasure that we announce the appointment, after a highly competitive selection process, of  Professor Anne Holland, BAppSci (Physio), PhD, FThorSoc, to the position of Head of Respiratory Research@Alfred (formerly Allergy, Immunology and Respiratory Medicine, known as AIRMed), The Department of Immunology & Pathology, The Central Clinical School, Monash University (joint appointment with Alfred Health).

This is a key academic leadership position for both Monash and Alfred Health, in one of the major fields of academic and clinical strength of the Alfred Research Alliance Precinct. In this role Professor Holland will be responsible for academic leadership and ongoing strategic development of the University Respiratory Research@Alfred section, and academic Respiratory Medicine across Alfred Health and the Central Clinical School, Monash University. She will take over the role from Professor Robyn O'Hehir AO, who is stepping down after a long, distinguished career as Head of AIRMed. Professor O'Hehir will continue to actively lead her world-leading research program in allergy and immunology. Anne and the Director of Respiratory Medicine (presently Professor Trevor Williams) at Alfred health will work collaboratively to facilitate high quality research across respiratory medicine.

Professor Holland is currently Professor of Physiotherapy and NHMRC Leadership Fellow (2021-2025) with a joint appointment between Monash University and Alfred Health. She graduated with a Bachelor Applied Science (Physiotherapy) with Distinction from the University of Sydney, 1994, and with a PhD from the University of Melbourne in 2004. She was first appointed to Alfred Health in 1999 as a Senior Physiotherapist, Adult Cystic Fibrosis Service, and a joint academic appointment first at the University of Melbourne (2002-5) and then subsequently La Trobe University in 2005, where she was promoted to Associate Professor of Physiotherapy in 2006. In 2019 she was recruited to Monash University to the position of Professor of Physiotherapy in the AIRMed section of the Department of Immunology and Pathology, The Central Clinical School.

Professor Holland (pictured left, in clinic) is a most outstanding academic physiotherapist, who leads an internationally renowned research program investigating non-pharmacological treatments for chronic lung disease, including novel models of pulmonary rehabilitation and the use of new technologies. This includes having led 27 randomised controlled trials of non-pharmacological interventions to completion. 

One such example is her development of a novel home-based rehabilitation model to improve access to best care for people with chronic lung disease, which was recently included in NHMRC’s '10 of the Best’ showcase of projects that support improvement in human health. She has published 319 papers in peer reviewed journals that have been cited more than 15,274 times (H index 59). Her research has changed practice, being cited in 27 clinical guidelines and position papers on pulmonary rehabilitation, pulmonary fibrosis, COPD, skeletal muscle dysfunction, oxygen therapy & respiratory management, from eminent bodies including the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) and thoracic societies in the UK, USA, Europe, Asia and Australia/New Zealand.

Professor Holland has been highly successful in obtaining competitive research grants, totalling $23.7 million from the NHMRC and other Australia granting bodies, as well as internationally from the USA, United Kingdom, Brazil and Norway.

Professor Holland’s outstanding career contributions to respiratory medicine were recently recognised by award of the Society Medal from the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand (TSANZ). The Society Medal is TSANZ’s highest award, and Professor Holland is the first allied health professional to receive this award since its inception in 1992.

In 2016 she received the American Thoracic Society (ATS) Pulmonary Rehabilitation Award, in recognition of her contribution to the science and practice of pulmonary rehabilitation globally. She has been a Board Director of The Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand (2015-2019), and was a Board Director of The American Thoracic Society, 2019-2021.

One of the key roles of the Head of Respiratory Research@Alfred is to mentor and support clinician-researcher training and career development. Professor Holland has an exceptional record of developing pathways for academic clinician-researchers, having in 15 years as a joint University-Alfred Health appointee successfully trained 43 clinician-researchers across multiple disciplines. This includes supervising to completion 16 PhD students, 8 Masters students and 10 Honours students, and currently supervising 6 PhD students and 5 Masters students.

Please join with us in congratulating Anne on her appointment, and wish her the best in the role.

Professor Terence O’Brien                                  Professor David Tarlinton
Head, Central Clinical School                             Head, Department of Immunology & Pathology

Dr Lee Hamley                                                    Professor Trevor Williams
Executive Director Medical Services                  Program Director, Alfred Heart & Lung
& Chief Medical Officer
Alfred Health