Prof Francis Thien, MBBS, FRACP, PhD
Principal Investigator
Professor Francis Thien is a specialist in respiratory medicine and allergy. He has been the Director of the Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine at Eastern Health since 2008, and the lead investigator in respiratory trials within Monash University Eastern Health Clinical School. His main specialty interests are allergic rhinitis, asthma, food and drug allergy, COPD, and interstitial lung disease. His work commitments include clinical service provision, health service management, undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, and clinical research. He has research interests in severe asthma, COPD and interstitial lung diseases, and is an invited speaker in international conferences on these topics. He has received National Health and Medical Research Council research grants in excess of AUD3.76 million and coauthored over 180 papers.
A/Prof Jason Fok, MBBS, FRACP, PhD
Principal Investigator
Associate Professor Jason Fok is an immunologist and allergist at Eastern Health and Monash Health. His clinical and research interests include urticaria, angioedema (including hereditary, acquired, and drug-induced), drug and food allergies, anaphylaxis, and mastocytosis. He has published widely in international peer-reviewed journals and is a regular invited speaker at global dermatology and immunology conferences. He serves on taskforces and working groups for international societies, leads multiple clinical trials, and is actively involved in teaching medical students and physician trainees in allergy, immunology, and internal medicine.
A/Prof Alan Young, MBBS, FRACP, PhD
Sub Investigator
Associate Professor Alan Young is an accredited respiratory and sleep medicine specialist. He has been the Director of Sleep Services at Eastern Health since 2011 and is an Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor at Monash University. He is the past President of the Australasian Sleep Association (2019-2021) and now sits on the Education Committee. He has worked in respiratory trials, within Monash University Eastern Health Clinical School, for over 10 years.
Dr Callum Tarleton
Sub Investigator
Dr Callum Tarleton commenced his research fellowship for our respiratory team in 2026. He has a keen interest in research and, having completed his basic training, plans to begin his advanced training in respiratory medicine over the next couple of years. Callum has experience working throughout many of Victoria’s public health services including The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Monash Health, Grampians Health and now at Eastern Health both in a clinical and research capacity. He loves building relationships with his patients and can often be found passionately discussing results of recent sporting events with them or adding to his ever-expanding list of desired travel destinations after hearing about their past adventures.
Emma Jackson
Respiratory Team Leader
Emma Jackson is a highly experienced research nurse with over 28 years in the medical field, bringing extensive clinical knowledge and leadership to her role. For the past four years, she has led the respiratory research clinical trials unit at Box Hill, playing a key role in advancing care for patients with complex respiratory conditions. Known for her compassionate and kind approach, Emma is deeply committed to improving patients’ quality of life through access to innovative, evidence-based clinical trials. Her dedication to both patient care and research excellence makes her an invaluable leader of our team.
Emily Bevans
Clinical Trial Coordinator
Emily Bevans is a registered nurse with 15 years experience. Specialising in critical care by obtaining her Masters during her time at Knox Private Hospital, she enhanced those skills within the Austin Hospital Emergency Department and as a Triage Practitioner with Ambulance Victoria. Emily now coordinates PPF and COPD clinical trials within our team. She is passionate about building strong, empathetic, professional relationships with her patients.
Claire Buchanan
Clinical Trial Coordinator
Claire Buchanan is a registered nurse who began her career in 2012 at The Royal Children’s Hospital and Murdoch Children’s Research Institute. For the past six years, she has coordinated clinical trials at ECRU, supporting patients with severe asthma, IPF, and chronic spontaneous urticaria. She is known for her calm, patient-centred approach and commitment to improving outcomes through research.
Katherine Menzies
Clinical Trial Coordinator
Kath Menzies is a registered nurse with over 24 years of clinical expertise, including specialised emergency nursing at Eastern Health. Now a Clinical Trial Coordinator, she applies her extensive knowledge to support patients with AATD emphysema and those involved in cough reduction studies for IPF. Kath is known for her professionalism, attention to detail, and compassionate patient care.
Julia Lee
Clinical Trial Coordinator
Julia Lee is a registered nurse with over 20 years of experience in rehabilitation and geriatric care at the Peter James Centre and Angliss Hospital. Since joining the respiratory clinical trials team in 2023, she has supported patients with IPF and Hereditary Angioedema. Julia is known for her calm, empathetic approach and commitment to patient-centred care.
Jayme Scheele
Research Officer
Jayme Scheele is a research professional with a Master of Public Health and a background in Biomedical Science. Since 2023, she has worked as a Research Officer at the Eastern Clinical Research Unit, where she leads the coordination of the Australasian Severe Asthma Registry, the Australasian Interstitial Lung Disease Registry, and the Interstitial and Australian Lung Screening Trial.
Joseph Lubman
Research Officer
Joseph Lubman has extensive experience supporting clinical trials across neurology, haematology, oncology, and gastroenterology. He has worked at the Eastern Clinical Research Unit since 2021, contributing to trial coordination, administration, and compliance within a multidisciplinary research environment. Joseph is currently completing a Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Arts at Monash University. He is committed to high-quality research processes and supporting the delivery of ethical, well-conducted clinical trials.