Understanding changes in chemical exposure through integrative sampling and systematic archiving. Poor data on exposure limits our understanding of the effects of chemical exposure on health. This project will aim to develop population-based exposure monitoring strategies to measure exposure, exposure trends, the success of intervention strategies and associations between exposure and health outcomes.
Assessing the social and environmental determinants of seasonal influenza outbreaks. This project aims to examine the potential social and environmental predictors of seasonal influenza outbreaks across temperate and tropical climates. It will develop a spatiotemporal model to identify where, when and who is most susceptible to changes of risk in influenza epidemic-prone regions of Queensland, Australia and Gansu province and Shanghai City, China. A spatiotemporal predictive model for influenza ....Assessing the social and environmental determinants of seasonal influenza outbreaks. This project aims to examine the potential social and environmental predictors of seasonal influenza outbreaks across temperate and tropical climates. It will develop a spatiotemporal model to identify where, when and who is most susceptible to changes of risk in influenza epidemic-prone regions of Queensland, Australia and Gansu province and Shanghai City, China. A spatiotemporal predictive model for influenza will be useful for the early identification of impending epidemics, which will lead to a more rapid and efficiently targeted response than is possible with the current system, thereby reducing the magnitude and health and economic impact of epidemics.Read moreRead less
Combating the spread of antibiotic resistance in urban water systems. This projects aims to investigate the occurrence, diversity, and transformation of antibiotic resistant genes in the entire urban water cycle. Using the latest metagenomic and analytical tools, this project will enhance our knowledge on fate and transfer mechanisms of antibiotic resistance genes in the urban water cycle. Based on this understanding, an expected outcome of the project is the development of innovative technologi ....Combating the spread of antibiotic resistance in urban water systems. This projects aims to investigate the occurrence, diversity, and transformation of antibiotic resistant genes in the entire urban water cycle. Using the latest metagenomic and analytical tools, this project will enhance our knowledge on fate and transfer mechanisms of antibiotic resistance genes in the urban water cycle. Based on this understanding, an expected outcome of the project is the development of innovative technologies for efficient reduction of antibiotic resistance genes to have future applications for environmental, human health and economic benefits for Australia.Read moreRead less
Generating evidence for nature-based strategies to reduce loneliness. While loneliness and despair are reportedly increasing due to social and economic upheaval caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, governments are investing in urban greening. This project aims to help steer greening strategies to reduce loneliness and despair, to enable recoveries from COVID-19 that are more sustainable, equitable and nourishing. This project will: (1) engage with leading scientists within and outside Australia to f ....Generating evidence for nature-based strategies to reduce loneliness. While loneliness and despair are reportedly increasing due to social and economic upheaval caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, governments are investing in urban greening. This project aims to help steer greening strategies to reduce loneliness and despair, to enable recoveries from COVID-19 that are more sustainable, equitable and nourishing. This project will: (1) engage with leading scientists within and outside Australia to formalise my draft conceptual model of pathways linking urban greening with loneliness and despair; (2) test associations and pathways with multiple sources of nationally representative data; (3) supervise a mixed-methods PhD project; and (4) share findings for building up knowledge capacities and guideline development.Read moreRead less
Urban spaces and active ageing: understanding person-environment interactions to inform activity-friendly community design. The proportion of older adults in urban areas is rapidly growing, leading to increases in health-care costs that are associated with chronic diseases. This can be offset by creating urban environments that support an active lifestyle across mid-to-late adulthood. How urban community designs shape the physical activity of this understudied age group is unclear. Using a suite ....Urban spaces and active ageing: understanding person-environment interactions to inform activity-friendly community design. The proportion of older adults in urban areas is rapidly growing, leading to increases in health-care costs that are associated with chronic diseases. This can be offset by creating urban environments that support an active lifestyle across mid-to-late adulthood. How urban community designs shape the physical activity of this understudied age group is unclear. Using a suite of national and international epidemiological studies, This project aims to identify the optimal mix and spatial distribution of destinations (facilities and places to visit) for active ageing, while taking into account factors that define one’s ability and willingness to visit these destinations. This will inform public policy and activity-friendly community design.Read moreRead less
Food systems, urban health equity and climate stabilisation: the need for a common agenda. This research will help address two great contemporary human struggles - achieving health equity and climate stabilisation. Action concerned with economic and social policy, food systems and urban living will improve Australian and global health, and help reduce social inequity such that communities are better able both to cope with the impacts of climate change and to avert further damage to the global en ....Food systems, urban health equity and climate stabilisation: the need for a common agenda. This research will help address two great contemporary human struggles - achieving health equity and climate stabilisation. Action concerned with economic and social policy, food systems and urban living will improve Australian and global health, and help reduce social inequity such that communities are better able both to cope with the impacts of climate change and to avert further damage to the global environment. Providing an evidence base that demonstrates, for the first time, what can be done in an integrated manner, will help mobilise political and popular support for a radical break with the compartmentalised and short term approach that dominates the political agenda at state, national and global levels.Read moreRead less
Microbial Control in Wastewater Systems Using a Renewable Material. The project aims to address 3 long-standing problems and an emerging problem for wastewater systems by developing a suite of innovative technologies for microbial control. These will use a renewable material from wastewater. The project expects to advance understanding of microbiology to improve processes for removing phosphorus, managing sludge bulking, cleaning membranes, and reducing the spread of antibiotic resistance. Expec ....Microbial Control in Wastewater Systems Using a Renewable Material. The project aims to address 3 long-standing problems and an emerging problem for wastewater systems by developing a suite of innovative technologies for microbial control. These will use a renewable material from wastewater. The project expects to advance understanding of microbiology to improve processes for removing phosphorus, managing sludge bulking, cleaning membranes, and reducing the spread of antibiotic resistance. Expected outcomes include substantial cost reduction, a secure resource future, and elimination of the need to use chemicals that present safety risks to workers and the environment. The project should benefit public health, the environment and the water industry, as well as create commercial opportunities in Australia.Read moreRead less
A novel path to environmental and human health risk assessment of transformation products. Chemical pollution is a threat to our rivers and drinking water supplies. Degradation during water treatment and in the environment may lead to persistent and toxic transformation products. This project will provide a practical and cost-efficient risk assessment strategy for transformation products - to help ensure that our drinking water is safe.
Excessive sitting and population health: strengthening the science and the relevance to policy and practice. The majority of Australian adults spend most of their waking hours sitting; this increases the likelihood of developing diseases of inactivity, including diabetes, heart disease and some cancers. New research will investigate what factors encourage excessive sitting and what the health benefits are for people who deliberately do less sitting.
Differentiation not disintegration: Integrating strategies to improve Occupational Health and Safety in the construction industry. Almost ten percent of all injury and death claims in Australia are attributed to construction, creating a significant social and economic burden. Organisational, technological and cultural fragmentation of the supply chain impedes the integration of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) into construction planning and design. The research will effect critical and susta ....Differentiation not disintegration: Integrating strategies to improve Occupational Health and Safety in the construction industry. Almost ten percent of all injury and death claims in Australia are attributed to construction, creating a significant social and economic burden. Organisational, technological and cultural fragmentation of the supply chain impedes the integration of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) into construction planning and design. The research will effect critical and sustainable improvements in construction OHS, through: (i) the engagement of all industry participants in the OHS improvement effort; (ii) the identification of new technologies which can improve OHS; and (iii) the establishment of a unity of purpose regarding OHS among construction industry stakeholders, contributing significantly to a reduction in the social and economic costs of occupational death, injury and illness.Read moreRead less