Professor Paul Lawton

Honorary research fellow

Qualifications:

PhD, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, 2016; Fellow, Royal Australasian College of Physicians, 2000; Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery, University of Melbourne, 1992

Location:

Darwin – Royal Darwin Hospital

Biography

Professor Paul Lawton is Professor & Director of Renal Medicine with Alfred Health and Monash University. Now an Honorary research fellow at Menzies he is a kidney specialist who has worked as a clinician across the Northern Territory since 1999, including four years as Director of NT Renal Services. 

In his work at the Menzies School of Health Research in Darwin, he addresses questions about the health care and outcomes for First Nations Australians not only in the Northern Territory but also nationally, using larger already existing clinical, registry and administrative datasets, including some data linkage. Where aren’t we doing well for First Nations Australians in the health system, why aren’t we, and how can we do better?

Research Themes
  1. Lawton, P.D., Cunningham, J., Zhao, Y., Gray, N.A., Chatfield, M.D., Baade, P., et al. (2015) Survival of Indigenous Australians on Renal Replacement Therapy: Closing the Gap? Med J Aust. DOI 10.5694/mja14.00664

  2. Zhao, Y., Wright, J., Guthridge, S., Lawton, P. (2013) The relationship between number of primary health care visits and hospitalisations: evidence from linked clinic and hospital data for remote Indigenous Australians. BMC Health Serv Res., 13, 466.

  3. Maple-Brown, L.J., Hughes, J.T., Lawton, P.D., Jones, G.R., Ellis, A.G., Drabsch, K., et al. (2012) Accurate Assessment of Kidney Function in Indigenous Australians: The Estimated GFR Study. Am J Kidney Dis., 60(4), 680-2

  4. Maple-Brown, L.J., Cunningham, J., Hodge, A.M., Weeramanthri, T., Dunbar, T., Lawton PD, et al. (2011) High rates of albuminuria but not of low eGFR in Urban Indigenous Australians: the DRUID Study. BMC Public Health, 11, 346

  5. Rogers, N.M., Lawton, P.D., Jose, M.D. (2009) Indigenous Australians and living kidney donation. N Engl J Med., 361(15), 1513-6.

  6. Gruen, R.L., Elliott, J.H., Nolan, M.L., Lawton, P.D., Parkhill, A., McLaren, C.J., et al. (2008) Sustainability science: an integrated approach for health-programme planning. Lancet, 372(9649), 1579-89.

  7. Rogers, N.M., Lawton, P.D., Jose, M.D. (2006) Kidney transplant outcomes in the indigenous population in the Northern Territory of Australia. Transplantation, 82(7), 882-6.

Click here to view more Paul Lawton publications in PubMed.

  1. ABC | Concerns about drinking water quality in 'almost all' remote NT communities. What can be done about it?

    ABC | Concerns about drinking water quality in 'almost all' remote NT communities. What can be done about it?

    Date

    Laramba resident Stanley Fletcher is worried that long-term exposure to the community's drinking water is making people sick.

  2. The Guardian | 'It makes us sick'

    The Guardian | 'It makes us sick'

    Date

    A remote NT community wants answers about uranium in its water supply.

  3. Study investigating possible link between water quality and kidney disease in remote Northern Territory

    Study investigating possible link between water quality and kidney disease in remote Northern Territory

    Date

    Residents in remote communities say their water supplies are making them sick. Dr Paul Lawton is collecting data about water quality and end-stage kidney disease.

  4. Confronting racism to improve healthcare for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients with kidney disease

    Confronting racism to improve healthcare for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients with kidney disease

    Date

    Action is urgently needed to confront the immense health disparities in kidney disease outcomes suffered by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’

  5. A new action plan to tackle kidney disease

    A new action plan to tackle kidney disease

    Date

    The Government has launched the National Strategic Action Plan for Kidney Disease and awarded $3.5 million in funding to organisations to take immediate action.

  6. Senator reveals personal story of kidney disease

    Senator reveals personal story of kidney disease

    Date

    Nephrologist at the Menzies School of Health Research, Paul Lawton, said his research team had been investigating key causes that dramatically impact upon remote Aboriginal communities.

  7. Sunday Territorian | Gift of life

    Sunday Territorian | Gift of life

    Date

    Senator Malarndirri McCarthy discusses her kidney diseaese and treatment by Dr Paul Lawton

  8. SMH | Hope and healing

    SMH | Hope and healing

    Date

    A new approach to treatment is helping Indigenous Australians fight kidney disease

  9. The Australian | Shortfall in transplants

    The Australian | Shortfall in transplants

    Date

    A recent study in The Medical Journal of Australia found indigenous people on dialysis were “substantially less likely” than other Australians to be placed on the waiting list for a kidney.

  10. The Wire | Kidney bias: Indigenous Australians missing out on transplants

    The Wire | Kidney bias: Indigenous Australians missing out on transplants

    Date

    Menzies has released a study highlighting the life-saving surgery many are missing out on and co-author Dr Paul Lawton spoke about some of the key findings.

  11. National Indigenous Times | Indigenous patients in need of new kidneys aren’t getting a fair go

    National Indigenous Times | Indigenous patients in need of new kidneys aren’t getting a fair go

    Date

    Indigenous patients with kidney disease are missing out on transplants because they are not being put on waiting lists for the potentially life-saving surgery, new research has found.

  12. Health system struggling with organ donation success

    Health system struggling with organ donation success

    Date

    Researchers from the University of Adelaide, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Menzies School of Health Research and Australia and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant Registry found the disparity had barely changed over time.

  13. National review to investigate low Indigenous kidney transplant rates

    National review to investigate low Indigenous kidney transplant rates

    Date

    One of the members of the panel will be Dr Jaqui Hughes, Australia’s only Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nephrologist, based at the Royal Darwin Hospital and at the Menzies School of Health Research, who said the news of the inquiry was “really welcome”.

  14. Feds unveil review of kidney process | NT News

    Feds unveil review of kidney process | NT News

    Date

    The Federal Government is poised to announce an inquiry into indigenous access to kidney transplants.

  15. Budget 2018: Aboriginal patients convinced the Government to help them get home

    Budget 2018: Aboriginal patients convinced the Government to help them get home

    Date

    On her island home, far away from talk of tax cuts and budget wins and losses, Jacqueline Amagula got the news she has been waiting and fighting for.

  16. Roundtable Towards Roadmap For Renal Health - Media Release

    Roundtable Towards Roadmap For Renal Health - Media Release

    Date

    A renal roundtable convened by Indigenous Health Minister Ken Wyatt AM in Darwin began charting the roadmap this week.

  17. ABC | Opinion: Not all doctors agree my patient deserved his kidney transplant.

    ABC | Opinion: Not all doctors agree my patient deserved his kidney transplant.

    Date

    Just before Christmas 2016, a 68-year-old man received a kidney transplant, one of 1,091 Australians that year.

  18. Indigenous Australians far less likely to get a kidney transplant

    Indigenous Australians far less likely to get a kidney transplant

    Date

    One in four Indigenous Australians will develop kidney disease, but new figures show that they are far less likely to be able to access a kidney transplant.

  19. Racist’ heath system failing NT Indigenous kidney patients

    Racist’ heath system failing NT Indigenous kidney patients

    Date

    Menzies School of Health Research senior fellow and Dr G Yunupingu’s doctor Paul Lawton said while a non-indigenous kidney patient living in Darwin was as or more likely to receive a transplant as someone living in Sydney or Melbourne, that was not the case for Aboriginal people.

  20. Indigenous patients left feeling ’isolated’

    Indigenous patients left feeling ’isolated’

    Date

    AN INDIGENOUS dialysis patient being away from home and families is no good. That’s one of the messages from indigenous kidney patients calling for equitable care in a new report from Menzies School of Health Research.

  21. Remote kidney patients face homelessness

    Remote kidney patients face homelessness

    Date

    Patients and their support networks have called for equal health care closer to their homes in a new report released by the Menzies School of Health Research in the Northern Territory.

  22. Indigenous Australians travelling 1000 kilometres for kidney dialysis: report

    Indigenous Australians travelling 1000 kilometres for kidney dialysis: report

    Date

    In a new Menzies School of Health Research report, patients and carers from across northern and central Australia called on state, territory and federal government health ministers to overhaul the system to provide more holistic care.

  23. Indigenous kidney patients call for equitable care in new report

    Indigenous kidney patients call for equitable care in new report

    Date

    Indigenous people with kidney disease living in remote and rural Australia as well as their support networks have made a resounding call for equitable health care closer to home in a report released today by Menzies School of Health Research.

  24. Lucky Luke - The Darwin poet whose muse is a dialysis machine

    Lucky Luke - The Darwin poet whose muse is a dialysis machine

    Date

    In the Northern Territory in the 1990s, an Indigenous person was estimated to be 15 to 30 times more likely to have kidney failure than a non-Indigenous person. It was this disparity that compelled Paul Lawton, a kidney specialist, to move to Darwin from Melbourne.

  25. Kimberley patients forced to travel thousands of kilometres for essential dialysis training

    Kimberley patients forced to travel thousands of kilometres for essential dialysis training

    Date

    A kidney health forum held in Darwin last week tabled the concerns of remote dialysis patients from Western Australia and the Northern Territory.

  26. ABC Online | Indigenous dialysis patients pushing for grassroots community health services

    ABC Online | Indigenous dialysis patients pushing for grassroots community health services

    Date

    Aboriginal dialysis patients say too many people are dying a lonely death away from their families, because they cannot be treated at home. In remote parts of Australia, patients whose kidneys are failing often have to leave their home communities to seek dialysis treatments in larger cities and towns.

  27. NT News - Kidney research wins prize

    NT News - Kidney research wins prize

    Date

    NT NEWS reports Professor Alan Cass, wins the prestigious Kidney Health Australia Clinical Science Award.

  28. Professor Alan Cass, wins clinical science award

    Professor Alan Cass, wins clinical science award

    Date

    Kidney specialist and Director of Menzies School of Health Research (Menzies), Professor Alan Cass, was presented with the prestigious Kidney Health Australia Clinical Science Award tonight at the 53rd Annual Scientific Meeting of the Australian and New Zealand Society of Nephrology (ANZSN ASM) conference dinner.

  29. Indigenous voices to be heard

    Indigenous voices to be heard

    Date

    Indigenous people with end-stage kidney disease from across northern and central Australia will be sharing their stories at an upcoming kidney conference in the hope of effecting change.

  30. ABC Radio National - 'tsunami' of kidney disease

    ABC Radio National - 'tsunami' of kidney disease

    Date

    At the Garma Festival in the Northern Territory, RN Drive's Patricia Karvelas sat down with two experts in the field. Melanie Rarrtjiwuy Herdman Representing the CEO of Miwatj Health Dr Paul Lawton Kidney specialist from the Menzies School of Health Research who treated Dr G. Yunupingu

  31. Australian Financial Review - Dr Paul Lawton at Garma

    Australian Financial Review - Dr Paul Lawton at Garma

    Date

    The loss of Dr G Yunupingu to kidney disease has shone a light on the "largely preventable" renal health nightmare afflicting remote communities, his doctor says.

  32. Weekend Australian | Legacy of Dr G Yunupingu

    Weekend Australian | Legacy of Dr G Yunupingu

    Date

    Weekend Australian | Legacy of Dr G Yunupingu - Dr Paul Lawtton

  33. Dr G Yunupingu chose to leave dialysis knowing he would die, doctor says

    Dr G Yunupingu chose to leave dialysis knowing he would die, doctor says

    Date

    Late Arnhem Land musician Dr G Yunupingu chose to end his dialysis treatment knowing the dire consequences that would follow, his doctor has told the ABC.

  34. Who'd wanna listen to me? The humble genius of Dr. G. Yunupingu

    Who'd wanna listen to me? The humble genius of Dr. G. Yunupingu

    Date

    The sad passing of Dr G Yunupingu with Mark Grose from the record label Skinnyfish and Dr Paul Lawton.

  35. No long term benefits for NT Government alcohol rehab program

    No long term benefits for NT Government alcohol rehab program

    Date

    NT Government's forced alcohol rehab program found to be expensive, with no long-term health impacts. The evaluation of the program, conducted by PwC's Indigenous Consulting and the Menzies School of Health Research.

  36. Addressing racism in Australia's health system.

    Addressing racism in Australia's health system.

    Date

    Menzies research fellow, Dr Paul Lawton features on Radio Nationals Life Matters discussing research which shows Indigenous Australians experience discrimination in a range of ways when navigating the health system.

  37. NHMRC fellow shapshot: Dr Paul Lawton

    NHMRC fellow shapshot: Dr Paul Lawton

    Date

    Menzies research fellow, Dr Paul Lawton was recently awarded an Early Career Fellowship as part of the National Health and Medical Research Council’s (NHMRC) yearly multi-million dollar funding round. Paul’s fellowship provides support for his...

  38. Top End health service delaying need for dialysis treatment amid soaring demand

    Top End health service delaying need for dialysis treatment amid soaring demand

    Date

    A kidney health program at a Top End health service is making inroads in the battle against dramatically rising numbers of patients with dialysis-dependency and renal failure.

  39. 'Institutionalised racism' reason for fewer Indigenous kidney transplants

    'Institutionalised racism' reason for fewer Indigenous kidney transplants

    Date

    Institutionalised discrimination against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians may be behind a widening gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous patients receiving kidney transplants, a kidney specialist and researcher has claimed.

  40. Dialysis urged for remote communities

    Dialysis urged for remote communities

    Date

    For Yalmay Yunupingu, moving to Darwin for five years so her husband, the Yothu Yindi frontman and renowned Yolngu leader Dr Yunupingu, could receive dialysis for his end-stage kidney disease was a nightmare.

  41. MJA Insight: 'Let’s end kidney care disparity'

    MJA Insight: 'Let’s end kidney care disparity'

    Date

    Redoubling efforts to prevent Indigenous Australians developing end-stage kidney disease is crucial given the social and practical difficulties of delivering complex care such as dialysis and transplantation in remote Australia, Dr Paul Lawton has warned.

  42. Study reveals new ground made in fight against kidney disease

    Study reveals new ground made in fight against kidney disease

    Date

    New research has revealed an improvement in life expectancy for those suffering from end-stage kidney disease.