Associate Professor Lucy Burr
Australian bronchiectasis research has been recognised on the international stage, with respiratory physician and researcher Associate Professor Lucy Burr receiving one of the field’s leading honours for work spanning antibiotic stewardship, clinical trials and collaborative research.
Associate Professor Burr received the Tobias Welte Award at the World Bronchiectasis Conference 2026. The award recognises outstanding mid-career clinicians and researchers who have made sustained contributions to bronchiectasis care, research, leadership and mentorship.
Her work has reflected the changing face of bronchiectasis research, from improving established treatments to helping evaluate the next generation of therapies.
“Receiving the Tobias Welte Award is a tremendous honour, particularly given Professor Welte’s contribution to respiratory medicine and the calibre of researchers working in this field internationally,” Professor Burr told the limbic.
“While it is a personal recognition, it really reflects the efforts of the many colleagues, collaborators, trainees and patients I have had the privilege to work with over the years”.
Associate Professor Burr’s earlier research examined how long-term macrolide therapy influences airway infection, inflammation and antimicrobial resistance, contributing to a better understanding of how the treatment can be used safely and effectively in clinical practice.
More recently, she has led clinical trials giving patients access to emerging therapies years before they become widely available while using real-world registry data to strengthen the evidence underpinning patient care.
As chair of the Australasian Bronchiectasis Consortium, Associate Professor Burr has also helped build research capacity across Australia and New Zealand, strengthening collaboration between clinicians and researchers and supporting the translation of evidence into practice.
“Australian researchers have played an important role in advancing our understanding of bronchiectasis, establishing international collaborations and leading clinical studies that have helped shape practice worldwide. It is wonderful to see that work recognised on the international stage,” Professor Burr said.
She said it’s an exciting time for the field.
“The field has changed enormously over the past decade, with bronchiectasis now recognised as a major chronic respiratory disease in its own right. Looking ahead, I believe the greatest opportunities lie in precision medicine approaches that allow us to better understand the different biological drivers of disease and tailor treatments accordingly.”
Associate Professor Burr also received the inaugural Professor Christine Jenkins AM Woman of Influence in Lung Health Award in 2024, recognising her contributions to lung health research, clinical care, mentorship and leadership.