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Exercise as an immunomodulatory intervention and adjuvant to vaccination in people with COPD

20142024

Research activity per year

Personal profile

Biography

Arwel Jones is a Research Fellow within the Respiratory Research@Alfred section of the Department of Immunology and Pathology in the School of Translational Medicine.

Arwel is best known for his research into the mechanisms and interventions for respiratory infections and lung disease, including randomised controlled trials on the effects of exercise on the immune system or lung disease and systematic reviews to evaluate existing treatments for lung disease.

He has made an impact in three distinct, but strongly linked areas, which are:

  • exercise treatments to reduce hospitalisations in COPD;

  • reducing physical inactivity in chronic lung disease;

  • prevention of respiratory infections in endurance athletes.

Arwel's work has been recognised through funding from lung charities, conference awards from international respiratory societies and publications in leading respiratory and exercise science journals.

Arwel has recently been awarded a Lung Foundation Australia Boehringer Ingelheim Fellowship (2022-2024) entitled EXercise for Exacerbations and Rhinovirus Treatment (EXERT). This project, via a randomised waitlist controlled trial and mouse models, will determine whether exercise has anti-viral and anti-inflammatory effects in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Arwel also has the role of Trial Coordinator for the HomeBase 2 trial funded by the Medical Research Future Fund (2019-2024) and led by Professor Anne Holland. This a cluster randomised trial evaluating the implementation of choice (home or centre-based) of pulmonary rehabilitation programs on hospitalisation in COPD.

Internal positions:

  • Deputy Chair of the School of Translational Medicine Community and Researcher Engagement (CaRE) program
  • Community Engagement Coordinator for the School of Translational Medicine Allied Health Translational Research Network

Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

  • SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being

Education/Academic qualification

Sports Science, PhD, Effects of bovine colostrum on immune responses to prolonged exercise and upper respiratory illness in active males , Prifysgol Aberystwyth (Aberystwyth University)

Fellow, Higher Education Academy

PGCTHE, Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching in Higher Education

Biology and Sports Science, BSc (Hons)

External positions

Honorary Lecturer, University of Newcastle

May 2022 → …

Clinical Care and Resources sub-committee, Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand Limited

Apr 2022 → …

ERS Clinical Practice Guidelines Methodology Network, European Respiratory Society (ERS)

Mar 2022 → …

Convenor for COPD Special Interest Group, Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand Limited

Mar 2022 → …

Research Sub-Committee, Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand Limited

Nov 2021 → …

Honorary Researcher, Alfred Hospital

Jun 2021 → …

Affiliated Research Fellow - Centre for Research Excellence in Treatable Traits, Centre for Research Excellence in Treatable Traits (CRETT)

Jun 2021 → …

Co-Lead of Guideline subgroup of the Vaccines & Immunization Working Group, American Thoracic Society

May 2021 → …

Convenor for Evidence-Based Medicine & Practice Special Interest Group, Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand Limited

May 2021 → …

Research area keywords

  • COPD
  • exercise physiology
  • exercise immunology
  • physical activity
  • pulmonary rehabilitation
  • respiratory diseases
  • respiratory illness
  • Systematic Review

Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years

Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or