ISAAC International Data Centre 2009

Professor Innes Asher

Roles:

• Chairperson of the ISAAC Steering Committee
• Chairperson of the ISAAC Executive
• ISAAC Steering Committee
• Director, ISAAC International Data Centre
• National Coordinator for New Zealand
• Phase One Principal Investigator for Auckland

Professor Asher is head of the Department of Paediatrics: Child and Youth Health at the University of Auckland and a Consultant Paediatrician at the Starship Children's Hospital, Auckland.

Professor Asher's current research interests include asthma epidemiology, bronchiectasis, inhaler devices and poverty and child health.

In Memoriam of Tadd Clayton

19 August 1965 - 11 February 2015

It is with great sadness that I am letting you know that Tadd Clayton, ISAAC Data Manager, died on 11 February 2015, from a malignant brain tumour diagnosed in January 2013. He handled his illness with great courage and equanimity and was surrounded by close friends and family in his last weeks and days. His optimistic attitude meant he lived life to the full as long as this was possible. He is survived by his wife Miriam.

Tadd joined the ISAAC Programme in 1993, when only 4 centres from 2 countries were involved. Although an international study was envisaged, no one had anticipated the extraordinary growth of ISAAC which is captured in the ISAAC story. By 2011 when he stepped down from ISAAC there were 306 centres in 105 countries involved. Tadd was one of the many who gave the whole research programme great strength. Indeed having the same Data Manager throughout, and having Tadd in the role were key success factors for ISAAC.

Tadd came to us with an MSc in Environmental Science, and quickly developed the processes for data management required of ISAAC as it expanded like wildfire. This resulted in him communicating with more than 250 principal investigators in centres more than 100 countries. He developed processes for data checks and data analyses under the direction of the ISAAC Steering Committee.

Tadd was integrally involved in all of the worldwide publications for ISAAC Phase One and Phase Three, and several other related publications. He prepared the tables, plots and world maps illustrating the worldwide data for the major papers. He was in the writing group for 26 papers including 1 where he was lead author. In addition he was in the study group of 43 papers – in total 69 listed on the ISAAC website. His expertise has enhanced the preparation of these manuscripts, contributing significantly to their successful publication. After he finished working with ISAAC in 2012 he moved to the School of Population Health, University of Auckland and worked with the Division of Biostatistics for two years.

Tadd will have a lasting legacy through ISAAC. His expertise, skills, intelligence, tolerance, kindnesses and loyalty will be remembered, and he will be missed.

Innes Asher

ISAAC Chair

Mr Eamon Ellwood

Roles:

• ISAAC International Data Centre

Mr Ellwood is the Web Master and Information Technologist at the ISAAC International Data Centre. He is responsible for upgrading and maintaining the ISAAC website, and maintaining the ISAAC publications database.

Mrs Philippa Ellwood

Roles:

• ISAAC Steering Committee
• ISAAC International Data Centre

Mrs Ellwood is the Senior Project Manager at the ISAAC International Data Centre and is responsible for international and national coordination of Phase One and Phase Three.

Professor Ed Mitchell

Roles:

• ISAAC Steering Committee
• ISAAC International Data Centre

Ed Mitchell is Professor of Child Health Research at the University of Auckland, New Zealand.

Professor Mitchell's research interests include the epidemiology of asthma, sudden infant death syndrome and low birthweight.

Mr Alistair Stewart

Roles:

• ISAAC Steering Committee
• ISAAC International Data Centre

Alistair Stewart is a biostatistician in the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences at the University of Auckland with a position of Senior Research Fellow.

Mr Stewart provides a biostatistical consulting service to researchers in the Faculty and beyond and by doing so is involved in a wide range of research projects. His interests are in the application of statistical methods to data arising from epidemiological and other studies.