Associate Professor Cindy Thamrin
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Associate Professor Cindy Thamrin

BSc/BE PhD (UWA)
Associate Professor
Medicine, Central Clinical School
Woolcock Institute of Medical Research
Phone
+61 2 9114 0440
Fax
+61 2 9114 0011
Associate Professor Cindy Thamrin

A/Prof. Cindy Thamrin is currently a Principal Research Scientist at the Australian Department of Health and Aged Care. She is an Adjunct Associate Professor at the School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney.

A/Prof. Thamrin has a dual background in respiratory physiology and electronic engineering. She was a Research Leader at the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research (where she is now an Honorary Affiliate), where she led the Airway Physiology Group together with Prof. Greg King. She received her PhD in 2006 at the University of Western Australia, where she investigated high frequency respiratory mechanics measured using the forced oscillation technique (FOT), and changes with lung volume could be used to provide insight into chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

A/Prof. Thamrin was postdoctoral fellow at the Children’s University Hospital of Bern, Switzerland. During this time, she became interested in novel methods of analysing respiratory data, and their potential in clinical phenotyping, monitoring, and prediction of future outcomes in airways diseases.

Her work has been recognised by multiple awards including the John Read Prize for Physiology Research by the Thoracic Society of Australia and NZ (TSANZ), and the prestigious Ann Woolcock Award from the American Thoracic Society (ATS) for outstanding contributions and future promise in asthma research. She has previously secured funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), TSANZ, European Respiratory Society and the Swiss National Science Foundation. She was an NHMRC Career Development Fellow (Level 1).

A/Prof. Thamrin's current research interests are in advanced lung function tests particularly to measure small airway dysfunction, home telemonitoring of lung function using such tests, and novel analyses of respiratory data for clinical prediction and management of airways diseases such as asthma and COPD.

A/Prof. Thamrin's teaching interests are driven by her interdiscliplinary research, where she frequently serves as an interface between scientists, clinicians and engineers. Between 2009-2010, she initiated, coordinated and taught a semester course on electrical engineering concepts for Master of Biomedical Engineering students with medical/biological backgrounds at the University of Bern, Switzerland. She has supervised/co-supervised undergraduate and postgraduate students from a wide range of backgrounds, including clinicians and engineers.

Role of home telemonitoring of lung function using the forced oscillation technique in assessing and predicting asthma control in severe asthma

Prediction of clinical outcomes from home telemonitoring of lung function using the forced oscillation technique in COPD

Exacerbation phenotypes determined from telemonitoring of lung function and symptoms in paediatric asthma

Novel metrics to quantify patterns of medication use in asthma

2018–2020 American Thoracic Society (Program Committee Chair-Elect and Executive Committee Member, Respiratory Structure and Function Assembly)

2012–2017 American Thoracic Society (Program Committee member, Respiratory Structure and Function Assembly)

2006–present European Respiratory Society (member)

2002–present The Thoracic Society of Australia & New Zealand (member)

2013 American Thoracic Society Ann Woolcock Young Investigator Award

2007 Swiss Paediatric Society research meeting/Nestlé Research Award

2007 Pilger Paediatric Respiratory Research Award

2006 Telethon Institute for Child Health Research/Perron Award for Meritorious PhD Performance

2005 Thoracic Society of Australia & New Zealand/Australian Lung Foundation John Read Prize for Physiological Research

Healthy Ageing, Lifespan

Publications

Journals

  • Milne, S., Tonga, K., Eddy, R., Thompson, B., Thamrin, C., King, G. (2024). New physiological measurements in COPD. ERS Monograph, 2024 (103), 185-203. [More Information]
  • Prisk, G., Rutting, S., Bozier, J., Thamrin, C., Robinson, P., Thompson, B. (2023). Assessing the calculation of conductive and acinar ventilatory heterogeneity indices Scond and Sacin from multiple-breath washout data. Journal of Applied Physiology, 134(4), 879-886. [More Information]
  • Bates, J., Milne, S., Handley, B., Rutting, S., Chapman, D., King, G., Farah, C., Robinson, P., Thamrin, C. (2023). Model analysis of multiple breath nitrogen washout data: robustness to variations in breathing pattern. Journal of clinical monitoring and computing, 37(2), 409-420. [More Information]

Conferences

  • Prinable, J., Jones, P., Thamrin, C., McEwan, A. (2018). Using a recurrent neural network to derive tidal volume from a photoplethsmograph. IEEE Life Sciences Conference: Multi-society perspectives on personalized healthcare and wearables 2017, Piscataway, NJ: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). [More Information]
  • Prinable, J., Jones, P., Thamrin, C., McEwan, A. (2017). A novel hardware implementation for detecting respiration rate using photoplethysmography. 39th Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (EMBS), Piscataway: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). [More Information]
  • Huvanandana, J., Thamrin, C., Tracy, M., McEwan, A. (2016). Logistic regression models for predicting intraventricular haemorrhage in preterm infants using respiratory and blood pressure signals. 3rd International Conference on Biomedical Engineering (BME-HUST 2016), : International Astronautical Federation, IAF.

2024

  • Milne, S., Tonga, K., Eddy, R., Thompson, B., Thamrin, C., King, G. (2024). New physiological measurements in COPD. ERS Monograph, 2024 (103), 185-203. [More Information]

2023

  • Prisk, G., Rutting, S., Bozier, J., Thamrin, C., Robinson, P., Thompson, B. (2023). Assessing the calculation of conductive and acinar ventilatory heterogeneity indices Scond and Sacin from multiple-breath washout data. Journal of Applied Physiology, 134(4), 879-886. [More Information]
  • Bates, J., Milne, S., Handley, B., Rutting, S., Chapman, D., King, G., Farah, C., Robinson, P., Thamrin, C. (2023). Model analysis of multiple breath nitrogen washout data: robustness to variations in breathing pattern. Journal of clinical monitoring and computing, 37(2), 409-420. [More Information]

2022

  • Kaminsky, D., Simpson, S., Berger, K., Calverley, P., de Melo, P., Dandurand, R., Dellaca, R., Farah, C., Farré, R., Hall, G., King, G., Thamrin, C., et al (2022). Clinical significance and applications of oscillometry. European Respiratory Review, 31(163), 210208-1-210208-19. [More Information]
  • Rutting, S., Thamrin, C., Cross, T., King, G., Tonga, K. (2022). Fixed Airflow Obstruction in Asthma: A Problem of the Whole Lung Not of Just the Airways. Frontiers in Physiology, 13. [More Information]
  • Huvanandana, J., Nguyen, C., Foster, J., Frey, U., Reddel, H., Thamrin, C. (2022). Novel Methods of Measuring Adherence Patterns Reveal Adherence Phenotypes with Distinct Asthma Outcomes. Annals of the American Thoracic Society, 19(6), 933-942. [More Information]

2021

  • Chapman, D., Badal, T., King, G., Thamrin, C. (2021). Caution in Interpretation of Abnormal Carbon Monoxide Diffusion Capacity in COVID-19 Patients. European Respiratory Journal, 57(1), 2003263-1-2003263-2. [More Information]
  • Handley, B., Jeagal, E., Schoeffel, R., Badal, T., Chapman, D., Farrow, C., King, G., Robinson, P., Milne, S., Thamrin, C. (2021). Controlled versus free breathing for multiple breath nitrogen washout in healthy adults. ERJ Open Research, 7(1), 435-2020. [More Information]
  • Handley, B., Bozier, J., Jeagal, E., Rutting, S., Schoeffel, R., Robinson, P., King, G., Milne, S., Thamrin, C. (2021). Controlled versus free breathing for multiple-breath nitrogen washout in asthma. ERJ Open Research, 7(4), 00487-2021. [More Information]

2020

  • Acheson, L., Rogers, P., Thamrin, C., Peters, M., Farah, C., Seccombe, L. (2020). Acute cardiopulmonary responses during expert trumpet performance. Respiratory Physiology and Neurobiology, 281, 103493. [More Information]
  • Cottee, A., Seccombe, L., Thamrin, C., King, G., Peters, M., Farah, C. (2020). Bronchodilator Response Assessed by the Forced Oscillation Technique Identifies Poor Asthma Control With Greater Sensitivity Than Spirometry. Chest, 157(6), 1435-1441. [More Information]
  • Zimmermann, S., Huvanandana, J., Nguyen, C., Bertolin, A., Watts, J., Gobbi, A., Farah, C., Peters, M., Dellaca, R., King, G., Thamrin, C. (2020). Day-to-day variability of forced oscillatory mechanics for early detection of acute exacerbations in COPD. European Respiratory Journal, 56(3), 1901739. [More Information]

2019

  • Huvanandana, J., Thamrin, C., McEwan, A., Hinder, M., Tracy, M. (2019). Cardiovascular impact of intravenous caffeine in preterm infants. Acta Paediatrica: Nurturing the Child, 108(3), 423-429. [More Information]
  • Zimmermann, S., Tonga, K., Thamrin, C. (2019). Dismantling airway disease with the use of new pulmonary function indices. European Respiratory Review, 28(151), 1-9. [More Information]
  • Nilsen, K., Thien, F., Thamrin, C., Ellis, M., Prisk, G., King, G., Thompson, B. (2019). Early onset of airway de-recruitment assessed using the forced oscillation technique in subjects with asthma. Journal of Applied Physiology, 126(5), 1399-1408. [More Information]

2018

  • Milne, S., Hammans, C., Watson, S., Farah, C., Thamrin, C., King, G. (2018). Bronchodilator Responses in Respiratory Impedance, Hyperinflation and Gas Trapping in COPD. COPD: Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, 15(4), 341-349. [More Information]
  • Zimmermann, S., Watts, J., Bertolin, A., Jetmalani, K., King, G., Thamrin, C. (2018). Discrepancy between in vivo and in vitro comparisons of forced oscillation devices. Journal of clinical monitoring and computing, 32(3), 509-512. [More Information]
  • Jetmalani, K., Thamrin, C., Farah, C., Bertolin, A., Chapman, D., Berend, N., Salome, C., King, G. (2018). Peripheral airway dysfunction and relationship with symptoms in smokers with preserved spirometry. Respirology, 23(5), 512-518. [More Information]

2017

  • Prinable, J., Jones, P., Thamrin, C., McEwan, A. (2017). A novel hardware implementation for detecting respiration rate using photoplethysmography. 39th Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (EMBS), Piscataway: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). [More Information]
  • Huvanandana, J., Thamrin, C., Tracy, M., Hinder, M., Nguyen, C., McEwan, A. (2017). Advanced analyses of physiological signals in the neonatal intensive care unit. Physiological Measurement, 38(10), R253-R279. [More Information]
  • Pham, T., Leong, P., Robinson, P., Gutzler, T., Jee, A., King, G., Thamrin, C. (2017). Automated Quality Control of Forced Oscillation Measurements: Respiratory Artifact Detection with Advanced Feature Extraction. Journal of Applied Physiology, 123(4), 781-789. [More Information]

2016

  • Jetmalani, K., Chapman, D., Thamrin, C., Farah, C., Berend, N., Salome, C., King, G. (2016). Bronchodilator responsiveness of peripheral airways in smokers with normal spirometry. Respirology, 21(7), 1270-1276. [More Information]
  • King, G., Thamrin, C. (2016). Complex lung function in severe asthma: Seeing is believing. European Respiratory Journal, 48(2), 294-296. [More Information]
  • Neumann, R., Pillow, J., Thamrin, C., Frey, U., Schulzke, S. (2016). Influence of Respiratory Dead Space on Lung Clearance Index in Preterm Infants. Respiratory Physiology and Neurobiology, 223, 43-48. [More Information]

2015

  • Petrus, N., Thamrin, C., Fuchs, O., Frey, U. (2015). Accuracy of tidal breathing measurement of floright compared to an ultrasonic flowmeter in infants. Pediatric Pulmonology, 50(4), 380-388. [More Information]
  • Neumann, R., Pillow, J., Thamrin, C., Larcombe, A., Hall, G., Schulzke, S. (2015). Influence of Gestational Age on Dead Space and Alveolar Ventilation in Preterm Infants Ventilated with Volume Guarantee. Neonatology, 107(1), 43-49. [More Information]

2014

  • Timmins, S., Diba, C., Schoeffel, R., Salome, C., King, G., Thamrin, C. (2014). Changes in oscillatory impedance and nitrogen washout with combination fluticasone/salmeterol therapy in COPD. Respiratory Medicine, 108(2), 344-350. [More Information]

2013

  • Singer, F., Stern, G., Thamrin, C., Abbas, C., Casaulta, C., Frey, U., Latzin, P. (2013). A new double-tracer gas single-breath washout to assess early cystic fibrosis lung disease. European Respiratory Journal, 41(2), 339-345. [More Information]
  • Robinson, P., Latzin, P., Verbanck, S., Hall, G., Horsley, A., Gappa, M., Thamrin, C., Arets, H., Aurora, P., Fuchs, S., King, G., et al (2013). Consensus statement for inert gas washout measurement using multiple- and single- breath tests. European Respiratory Journal, 41(3), 507-522. [More Information]
  • Timmins, S., Coatsworth, N., Palnitkar, G., Thamrin, C., Farrow, C., Schoeffel, R., Berend, N., Diba, C., Salome, C., King, G. (2013). Day-to-day variability of oscillatory impedance and spirometry in asthma and COPD. Respiratory Physiology and Neurobiology, 185(2), 416-424. [More Information]

2011

  • Thamrin, C., Nydegger, R., Stern, G., Chanez, P., Wenzel, S., Watt, R., FitzPatrick, S., Taylor, D., Frey, U. (2011). Associations between fluctuations in lung function and asthma control in two populations with differing asthma severity. Thorax, 66(12), 1036-1042. [More Information]
  • Stern, G., de Jongste, J., van der Velk, R., Baraldi, E., Carraro, S., Thamrin, C., Frey, U. (2011). Fluctuation phenotyping based on daily fraction of exhaled nitric oxide values in asthmatic children. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 128(2), 293-300. [More Information]
  • Fuchs, O., Latzin, P., Thamrin, C., Stern, G., Frischknecht, P., Singer, F., Kieninger, E., Proietti, E., Riedel, T., Frey, U. (2011). Normative data for lung function and exhaled nitric oxide in unsedated healthy infants. European Respiratory Journal, 37(5), 1208-1216. [More Information]

2010

  • Thamrin, C., Stern, G., Frey, U. (2010). Fractals for physicians. Paediatric Respiratory Reviews, 11(2), 123-131. [More Information]
  • Thamrin, C., Stern, G. (2010). New methods: what do they tell us? Fluctuation analysis of lung function. European Respiratory Monograph, 47(0), 310-324. [More Information]
  • Hutten, G., van Eykern, L., Latzin, P., Thamrin, C., van Aalderen, W., Frey, U. (2010). Respiratory muscle activity related to flow and lung volume in preterm infants compared with term infants. Pediatric Research: international journal of human developmental biology, 68(4), 339-343. [More Information]

2009

  • Thamrin, C., Stern, G., Strippoli, M., Kuehni, C., Suki, B., Taylor, D., Frey, U. (2009). Fluctuation analysis of lung function as a predictor of long-term response to beta2-agonists. European Respiratory Journal, 33(3), 486-493. [More Information]
  • Latzin, P., Roth, S., Thamrin, C., Hutten, G., Pramana, I., Kuehni, C., Casaulta, C., Nelle, M., Riedel, T., Frey, U. (2009). Lung volume, breathing pattern and ventilation inhomogeneity in preterm and term infants. PloS One, 4(2), e4635-e4635. [More Information]
  • Thamrin, C., Albu, G., Sly, P., Hantos, Z. (2009). Negative impact of the noseclip on high-frequency respiratory impedance measurements. Respiratory Physiology and Neurobiology, 165(1), 115-118. [More Information]

2008

  • Thamrin, C., Frey, U. (2008). Effect of bacterial filter on measurement of interrupter resistance in preschool and school-aged children. Pediatric Pulmonology, 43(8), 781-787. [More Information]
  • Thamrin, C., Finucane, K., Singh, B., Hantos, Z., Sly, P. (2008). Volume dependence of high-frequency respiratory mechanics in healthy adults. Annals of Biomedical Engineering, 36(1), 162-170. [More Information]

2007

  • Thamrin, C., Gangell, C., Udomittipong, K., Kusel, M., Patterson, H., Fukushima, T., Schultz, A., Hall, G., Stick, S., Sly, P. (2007). Assessment of bronchodilator responsiveness in preschool children using forced oscillations. Thorax, 62(9), 814-819. [More Information]
  • Thamrin, C., Latzin, P., Sauteur, L., Riedel, T., Hall, G., Frey, U. (2007). Deadspace estimation from CO2 versus molar mass measurements in infants. Pediatric Pulmonology, 42(10), 920-927. [More Information]

Selected Grants

2015

  • Telemonitoring of lung function variability in asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Thamrin C, National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)/Career Development Fellowships

2014

  • EXHALYZER D Pulmonary Function Testing system with Nitrogen Washout FRC from ECO MEDICS , King G, Thamrin C, Robinson P, Farah C, Corte P, National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)/Equipment Grant

Patents

2014 Sly, Peter, Hantos Zoltan and Thamrin, Cindy. A method of measuring an acoustic impedance of a respiratory system and diagnosing a respiratory disease or disorder or monitoring treatment of same (WO 2006130922 A1).

In the media

New soundwave device could revolutionise asthma treatment (National Nine News, 15 May 2018)https://www.9news.com.au/national/2018/05/15/18/36/asthma-treatment-medical-breakthrough-soundwave-device

Home monitoring offers new hope for lung disease sufferers (Channel 7 News, 16 May 2015)https://au.news.yahoo.com/nsw/a/27990764/home-monitoring-offers-new-hope-for-lung-disease-sufferers/