Professor Anders Cervin

Honorary Professor

UQ Centre for Clinical Research
Faculty of Medicine

Overview

Professor Anders Cervin has a longstanding interest in sino-nasal disorders, endoscopic sinus surgery as well as endoscopic anterior skull base surgery. His research interests includes mucociliary function in the upper airways, the role of Nitric Oxide in chronic sinusitis, the use of macrolide antibiotics as a immune modulator in chronic sinusitis and health economic perspectives on sino-nasal disease. Recent research addresses the role of probiotics in airway infection and inflammation. He has authored several book chapters and over 50 peer reviewed articles.

Research Interests

  • Chronic sinusitis
    Alternative treatment with probiotics
  • Otitis Media
    Alternative treatment with probiotics

Research Impacts

Treatment of Chronic Sinusits and Middle Ear Infections (Otitis Media) with Probiotics

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) affects 8-10% of the western population, mainly middle-aged adults in the prime of their working life, and causes a significant reduction in quality of life. Although unproven the mainstay of treatment have been antibiotics, unfortunately with limited long-term success. Another difficult to treat infection, is recurrent middle ear infection, especially prevalent in Indigenous children. Our research group have focused on identifying friendly bacteria in the upper airways of indigenous children as well as adults with chronic sinusitis. The approach is unique as we are targeting what is maintaining health rather than what causes disease. Thus we have identified a number of bacterial strains that have the capability of interfering with the pathogenic bacteria commonn in chronic sinusitis as well as in recurrent ear disease. We are now in the process of setting up clinical trials to test the effect of friendly bacteria on bacterial colonisation in the ears and sinuses. Should it be successful, it would be a paradigm shift in the way we treat upper airway infections and reduce the need for antibiotics and help to reduce antibiotic resistance in the community.

Publications

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Supervision

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Available Projects

  • The overall aim of the project is to improve quality of life in patients suffering from Chronic RhinoSinusitis (CRS). Specifically by manipulating mucosal immunology and reducing the load of microbial pathogens in CRS by topical administration of probiotic bacterial strains. You will work in a stimulating environment in close relationship with patients, ENT surgeons, microbiologists and other researchers. The project have international collaborators in the Netherlands and Sweden. The project is truly translational you will acquire skills in clinical trials (GCP), as well as gaining laboratory experience in microbiology and cytokine analysis.

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Publications

Journal Article

Conference Publication

  • Youssef, D., Vasani, S., Marquess, J. and Cervin, A. (2016). Rising incidence of head and neck mucosal melanoma in Australia. 65th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Australian-Society-of-Otolaryngology-Head-and-Neck-Surgery, Sydney Australia, Mar 07-10, 2015. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press. doi: 10.1017/S0022215116009385

  • Lindberg, S, Carlen, B, Cervin, A, Cramnert, C and Runer, T (1998). Regulation of mucociliary activity in the upper airways by nitric oxide - Clinical implications. International Congress on Cilia, Mucus, and Mucociliary Interactions, in Honor of Professor Alex Silberberg, Jerusalem Israel, Feb 23-27, 1997. MARCEL DEKKER.

Grants (Administered at UQ)

PhD and MPhil Supervision

Current Supervision

  • Master Philosophy — Principal Advisor

    Other advisors:

  • Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor

Possible Research Projects

Note for students: The possible research projects listed on this page may not be comprehensive or up to date. Always feel free to contact the staff for more information, and also with your own research ideas.

  • The overall aim of the project is to improve quality of life in patients suffering from Chronic RhinoSinusitis (CRS). Specifically by manipulating mucosal immunology and reducing the load of microbial pathogens in CRS by topical administration of probiotic bacterial strains. You will work in a stimulating environment in close relationship with patients, ENT surgeons, microbiologists and other researchers. The project have international collaborators in the Netherlands and Sweden. The project is truly translational you will acquire skills in clinical trials (GCP), as well as gaining laboratory experience in microbiology and cytokine analysis.