Overview
Background
Professor Peter Sly is the Director, Children's Health and Environment Program. Professor Sly is a NHMRC Leadership Fellow (L3) and an emeritus paediatric respiratory physician with extensive research experience in respiratory physiology, developmental immunology and children's environmental health. Professor Sly’s research aims to understand the mechanisms underlying chronic childhood lung diseases in order to improve clinical management and to delay or prevent their onset, with consequent reductions in adult lung diseases. A combination of basic science, longitudinal cohort studies and translation of research findings into clinical practice, including clinical trials, are included in three main areas: asthma, cystic fibrosis and children’s environmental health
Professor Sly is an advisor to the World Health Organisation Department of Public Health, Environmental and Social Determinants of Disease and currently serves on International Advisory Boards and committees, including: WHO network of Collaborating Centres in Children’s Environmental Health; Canadian Healthy Infant Longitudinal Development (CHILD) Study, Canada; the Infant Lung Health Study, Paarl, South Africa; and A SHARED Future: Achieving Strength, Health, and Autonomy, through Renewable Energy Development for the Future.
Availability
- Professor Peter Sly is:
- Not available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery and Medical Science, University of Melbourne
- Doctoral Diploma of Medicine, University of Melbourne
- Doctoral Diploma of Science (Advanced), University of Western Australia
Research interests
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Asthma
Understanding mechanisms that underlie risks for developing asthma in susceptible children
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Cystic Fibrosis
Understanding the mechanisms underlying the development of lung disease early in life and why and how this progresses
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Impact of environmental exposures in early life
Improving methods of assessing environmental exposures during fetal development and in early postnatal life. Improving methods for assessing the effects of early life environmental exposures and understanding how these increase long-tern risk of chronic disease.
Research impacts
CI Sly’s research program changed thinking on how chronic respiratory disease develops; highlighting the impact of early life exposures increasing disease risk and showing early detection is the key to its reduction, developing tools for assessing early respiratory disease, revealing mechanisms underpinning disease onset and progression, and outlined intervention pathways to improve health outcomes. The paradigm-shifting Australian Respiratory Early Surveillance Team for Cystic Fibrosis CF (AREST CF), demonstrated infants can have significant lung disease with no clinical symptoms; defined risk factors for persistent bronchiectasis at 3 months of age; developing tools to assess early lung disease on chest CT scans showing early bronchiectasis was persistent and progressive; and resulted in the 1st clinical trial of primary prevention of bronchiectasis in infants with CF. Research and advocacy with the WHO led to the WHO program on e-Waste and contributions to WHO policy and Lancet commissions on Pollution and Health and Child Wellbeing. CI Sly has an established track record investigating infection and inflammation, and the underlying mechanisms of airway disease. He was one of the key persons in establishing and managing longitudinal birth cohorts to identify risk factors underlying the development of asthma. He also has a long track record in respiratory physiology and in developing and implementing new measurements of lung function. He has contributed to consensus statements in the area of standardization of lung function testing for infants and young children and has had substantial involvement in clinical trials, both investigator-initiated and pharma trials.
Works
Search Professor Peter Sly’s works on UQ eSpace
2026
Journal Article
Occupational exposure and respiratory health effects among electronic waste (e-waste) recycling workers in Bangladesh
Parvez, Sarker Masud, Hasan, Sheikh Sharif, Huda, M. Mamun, Jahan, Farjana, Rahman, Mahbubur, Hares, Abul, Islam, Zahir, Fujimura, Masatake, Raqib, Rubhana, Aich, Nirupam, Knibbs, Luke D. and Sly, Peter D. (2026). Occupational exposure and respiratory health effects among electronic waste (e-waste) recycling workers in Bangladesh. International Journal of Environmental Health Research. doi: 10.1080/09603123.2026.2663953
2026
Journal Article
Oxidative stress as a pathway linking maternal phthalate and bisphenol exposure to childhood allergy and lung function: mediation and interaction analyses
Boissiere-O'Neill, Thomas, Lazarevic, Nina, Ponsonby, Anne-Louise, Sly, Peter D., Chen, Aimin, Blake, Tamara L., Berry, Cassidy Du, King, Louise, Pham, Cindy, Tanner, Samuel, Thomson, Sarah and Vilcins, Dwan (2026). Oxidative stress as a pathway linking maternal phthalate and bisphenol exposure to childhood allergy and lung function: mediation and interaction analyses. Environmental Research, 302 124607. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2026.124607
2026
Journal Article
A composite epigenetic biomarker of FOXP3 / TIGIT correlates with regulatory T cell numbers in cord blood and is associated with subsequent food allergy
Nguyen, Viet Hong, O'Hely, Martin, Collier, Fiona, Sominsky, Luba, Dhar, Poshmaal, Molloy, John, Ponsonby, Anne‐Louise, Tang, Mimi L. K., Sly, Peter, Saffery, Richard, Novakovic, Boris, Vuillermin, Peter and the BIS Investigator Group (2026). A composite epigenetic biomarker of FOXP3 / TIGIT correlates with regulatory T cell numbers in cord blood and is associated with subsequent food allergy. Clinical and Experimental Allergy, 56 (4) cea.70172, 391-401. doi: 10.1111/cea.70172
2026
Journal Article
Prenatal phthalate mixture exposure increases early childhood internalising problems via maternal oxidative stress
Thomson, Sarah, Drummond, Katherine, O’Hely, Martin, Boissiere-O’Neill, Thomas, Symeonides, Christos, Burgner, David, Mansell, Toby, Saffery, Richard, Vuillermin, Peter J., Sly, Peter D. and Ponsonby, Anne-Louise (2026). Prenatal phthalate mixture exposure increases early childhood internalising problems via maternal oxidative stress. Environment International 110237, 110237. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2026.110237
2026
Journal Article
Spatio-temporal distribution and environmental correlates of trihalomethane concentrations in public drinking water supplies in Queensland, Australia: A data linkage study
Kanmiki, Edmund Wedam, Hasan, Md Mehedi, Huda, M. Mamun, Choi, Phil, Fatima, Yaqoot, Boyle, Fran, Thomas, Kevin, Sly, Peter, Callaway, Leonie, Soares-Magalhaes, Ricardo and Mamun, Abdullah A. (2026). Spatio-temporal distribution and environmental correlates of trihalomethane concentrations in public drinking water supplies in Queensland, Australia: A data linkage study. International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health, 273 114760, 1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2026.114760
2026
Journal Article
A Phase 1 Prognostic Trial for Predicting Paediatric Allergy Using the Placenta at Birth
Clifton, Vicki L., Saif, Zarqa, Balbon, Ana Patricia, Afnan, Muhammad, Tai, Andrew, Kumar, Sailesh, Davies, Janet M., Sly, Peter D., Peake, Jane, Saffery, Richard, Vuillermin, Peter J. and Cox, Brian (2026). A Phase 1 Prognostic Trial for Predicting Paediatric Allergy Using the Placenta at Birth. Clinical and Experimental Allergy cea.70272. doi: 10.1111/cea.70272
2026
Conference Publication
COMPARATIVE VIROME PROFILING IN PAEDIATRIC CYSTIC FIBROSIS LUNG SAMPLES USING TWO SEQUENCING APPROACHES
Conradie, Talya, Saladie, Montserrat, Payne, Matthew, Landwehr, Katherine, Furfaro, Lucy, Varhasselt, Valerie, Hancock, David G., Sly, Peter, Stick, Stephen M., O'gara, Fergal, Caparros-Martin, Jose and Agudelo-Romero, Patricia (2026). COMPARATIVE VIROME PROFILING IN PAEDIATRIC CYSTIC FIBROSIS LUNG SAMPLES USING TWO SEQUENCING APPROACHES. TSANZSRS Annual Scientific Meeting 2026, Perth, WA, Australia, 27 - 31 March 2026. Richmond, VIC, Australia: John Wiley & Sons. doi: 10.1111/imj.70364
2026
Conference Publication
CURRENT ASTHMA PREVALENCE AND INHALER USE AMONGST 11-15 YEARS OLDS IN THE BARWON REGION: A COHORT STUDY
Morgan, Rachel J., O'Hely, Martin, Forrester, Mike, Sly, Peter, Ranganathan, Sarath, Robinson, Paul and Vuillermin, Peter (2026). CURRENT ASTHMA PREVALENCE AND INHALER USE AMONGST 11-15 YEARS OLDS IN THE BARWON REGION: A COHORT STUDY. TSANZSRS Annual Scientific Meeting 2026, Perth, WA, Australia, 27 - 31 March 2026. Richmond, VIC, Australia: John Wiley & Son. doi: 10.1111/imj.70364
2026
Journal Article
Preschool wheeze profiles and early life associations: an Australian prebirth cohort
Morgan, Rachel J., Dai, Xin, Lodge, Caroline J., O'Hely, Martin, Ranganathan, Sarath, Sly, Peter D., Ponsonby, Anne‐Louise, Mansell, Toby, Burgner, David, Phipps, Simon, Vuillermin, Peter and the BIS Investigator Group (2026). Preschool wheeze profiles and early life associations: an Australian prebirth cohort. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health. doi: 10.1111/jpc.70315
2026
Journal Article
A screening test to identify individual susceptibility to oxidant‐induced respiratory epithelial injury
Yamamoto, Ayaho, Sly, Peter D., Dyer, Brett P., Fantino, Emmanuelle and Robinson, Paul D. (2026). A screening test to identify individual susceptibility to oxidant‐induced respiratory epithelial injury. The FASEB Journal, 40 (2) e71419, e71419. doi: 10.1096/fj.202502785rr
2026
Journal Article
Phthalates, bisphenols, and childhood allergic phenotypes: findings from two birth cohort studies
Boissiere-O'Neill, Thomas, Lazarevic, Nina, Ponsonby, Anne-Louise, Sly, Peter D., Chen, Aimin, Blake, Tamara L., Brook, Jeffrey R., Du Berry, Cassidy, King, Louise, Mandhane, Piushkumar J., Moraes, Theo J., Simons, Elinor, Subbarao, Padmaja, Vilcins, Dwan, Subbarao, Padmaja, Simons, Elinor, Moraes, Theo J., Turvey, Stuart E., Mandhane, Piushkumar J., Azad, Meghan B., Vuillermin, Peter, Ponsonby, Anne-Louise, Tang, Mimi L.K., Collier, Fiona, Sly, Peter D., Harrison, Leonard, Saffery, Richard, Ranganathan, Sarath, Burgner, David ... O’Hely, Martin (2026). Phthalates, bisphenols, and childhood allergic phenotypes: findings from two birth cohort studies. Environmental Pollution, 389 127401, 1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2025.127401
2026
Journal Article
Prenatal and birth factors associated with child autism diagnosis: a birth cohort perspective
Holland, Lada, Drummond, Katherine, Thomson, Sarah, Sominsky, Luba, Marx, Wolfgang, Love, Chloe, Dawson, Samantha L., Harrison, Leonard C., Saffery, Richard, Symeonides, Christos, Tang, Mimi L. K., Burgner, David, Sly, Peter D., Vuillermin, Peter, Ponsonby, Anne-Louise, Mansell, Toby, Ranganathan, Sarath and O'Hely, Martin (2026). Prenatal and birth factors associated with child autism diagnosis: a birth cohort perspective. Pediatric Research PMID 100714, 1-14. doi: 10.1038/s41390-025-04747-x
2026
Journal Article
Progression of structural lung disease and lung function in adolescents with cystic fibrosis
Chen, Yuxin, Caudri, Daan, Andrinopoulou, Eleni-Rosalina, Byrnes, Catherine A., Cheney, Joyce, Cooper, Peter J., Grimwood, Keith, Massie, John, Robertson, Colin F., Sly, Peter D., Vidmar, Suzanna, Wainwright, Claire E., Tiddens, Harm A.W.M. and on behalf of Australasian Cystic Fibrosis Bronchoalveolar Lavage (ACFBAL) and Follow-up of the ACFBAL (CF-FAB) study groups (2026). Progression of structural lung disease and lung function in adolescents with cystic fibrosis. Journal of Cystic Fibrosis, 25 (1), 78-85. doi: 10.1016/j.jcf.2025.11.009
2026
Journal Article
Household dust as a reservoir for environmentally persistent free radicals: a longitudinal study
Vilcins, Dwan, Dangal, Prakash, Lomnicki, Slawomir, Cormier, Stephania A., Lee, Wen Ray and Sly, Peter D. (2026). Household dust as a reservoir for environmentally persistent free radicals: a longitudinal study. International Journal of Environmental Health Research, 36 (1), 122-133. doi: 10.1080/09603123.2025.2495202
2026
Journal Article
As the twig is bent, so the tree grows: the importance of early life influences on lung growth and respiratory health
Blake, Tamara, Vilcins, Dwan and Sly, Peter D. (2026). As the twig is bent, so the tree grows: the importance of early life influences on lung growth and respiratory health. Translational Pediatrics, 15 (1), 1-4. doi: 10.21037/tp-2025-aw-742
2026
Journal Article
Modifiable Factors Impacting Risk of Allergic Rhinitis in Young Children: A Prospective Cohort Study
Zheng, Angela, Murphy, Vanessa E., Jensen, Megan E., Mattes, Joerg, Collison, Adam, Robinson, Paul D., Sly, Peter D., Gibson, Peter G., Martins Costa Gomes, Gabriela, Almqvist, Catarina and Brew, Bronwyn K. (2026). Modifiable Factors Impacting Risk of Allergic Rhinitis in Young Children: A Prospective Cohort Study. International Journal of Pediatrics, 2026 (1) 9033696. doi: 10.1155/ijpe/9033696
2026
Journal Article
Markers in infants of mothers with asthma and associations with respiratory outcomes
Sena, Carla Rebeca Da Silva, Gomes, Gabriela Martins Costa, Kunstle, Noemi, Gorlanova, Olga, Marten, Andrea, Schulzke, Sven, Wyler, Florian, Murphy, Vanessa E., Robinson, Paul D., Sly, Peter D., Usemann, Jakob, Stoecklin, Benjamin, Steinberg, Ruth, Yammine, Sophie, Mueller, Loretta, Latzin, Philipp, Sinues, Pablo, Gibson, Peter G., Mattes, Joerg, Collison, Adam, Frey, Urs and BILD and BLT Study Groups (2026). Markers in infants of mothers with asthma and associations with respiratory outcomes. Allergy, 81 (1), 145-156. doi: 10.1111/all.70044
2025
Journal Article
Maternal prenatal urinary metabolites associate with infant food allergy
Dawson, Samantha L., Collier, Fiona, O'Hely, Martin, Holmes, Elaine, Holland, Lada, Morgan, Rachel, Lodge, Samantha, Gray, Nicola, Phipps, Simon, Burgner, David, Mansell, Toby, Molloy, John, Marx, Wolfgang, Ponsonby, Anne‐Louise, Vuillermin, Peter, the Barwon Infant Study Investigator group and Sly, Peter D. (2025). Maternal prenatal urinary metabolites associate with infant food allergy. Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, 36 (12) e70252. doi: 10.1111/pai.70252
2025
Journal Article
Allergic sensitization, respiratory infections, and subsequent lung function in preschool children
Mainzer, Rheanna M., Berry, Cassidy Du, Gray, Lawrence E. K., Morgan, Rachel J., King, Louise, Tang, Mimi L. K., Burgner, David, Saffery, Richard, Ponsonby, Anne-louise, Mansell, Toby, Sly, Peter D. (Barwon Infant Study Investigator Group), Vuillermin, Peter J., Ranganathan, Sarath and Barwon Infant Study Investigator Group (2025). Allergic sensitization, respiratory infections, and subsequent lung function in preschool children. Pediatric Pulmonology, 60 (11) e71387, 1-10. doi: 10.1002/ppul.71387
2025
Journal Article
The CURE Asthma roadmap
Anderson, Gary P, Flynn, Anthony, Bardin, Phil G, Blakey, John D, Dharmage, Shyamali C, Foster, Paul, Gibson, Peter G, Jaffe, Adam, James, Alan, Jenkins, Christine R, Sivamalai, Sundram, Sly, Peter D, Marks, Guy B, McDonald, Vanessa M and Wetttenhall, Judy (2025). The CURE Asthma roadmap. Medical Journal of Australia, 223 (S10), S9-S15. doi: 10.5694/mja2.70094
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Peter Sly is:
- Not available for supervision
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
The Respiratory effects of Paediatric Spinal Muscular Atrophy
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Hon Assoc Professor Zephanie Tyack
-
Doctor Philosophy
Impacts of early-life phthalate and bisphenol exposure on childhood asthma, allergy, and lung function
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Dwan Vilcins
-
Doctor Philosophy
Defining the utility of intrabreath oscillometry in preschool wheezing
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Honorary Professor Zoltan Hantos, Dr Tamara Blake
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Doctor Philosophy
Improving detection of pulmonary graft-vs-host disease (pGVHD) post haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT)
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Tamara Blake, Professor Paul Robinson
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Doctor Philosophy
Providing evidence to guide public health messages during bushfire smoke events
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Dwan Vilcins
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Doctor Philosophy
Investigations into the importance of antimicrobial residues in the surveillance of antimicrobial resistance in peri-urban dairy farms of Nepal
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Deirdre Mikkelsen, Professor Ricardo Soares Magalhaes
Completed supervision
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2025
Doctor Philosophy
Characterizing the Environmental Burden and Health Impact of Electronic Waste (e-waste) in Bangladesh
Principal Advisor
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Traffic-related air pollution: impact on respiratory health and attitudes to self-protective behaviours amongst urban Vietnamese children
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Phong Thai, Associate Professor Dung Phung
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
Enteropathogen infection and Household Factors Associated with Linear Child Growth in Bangladesh
Principal Advisor
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
Novel green space measures and birthweight in Queensland, Australia
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Hon Assoc Professor Peter Baker
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
Evaluating the Effects of Atmospheric Environment on Children's Health in Hanoi, Vietnam
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jochen Mueller, Associate Professor Phong Thai, Associate Professor Dung Phung
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
Incorporating Epidemiological Studies into Integrated Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Coal Mining
Principal Advisor
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2018
Doctor Philosophy
Improving the clinical utility of the Forced Oscillation Technique in preschool-aged children
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Honorary Professor Zoltan Hantos
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2018
Doctor Philosophy
Assessing Exposure of Young Australian Children to Toxicants in the Home Environment using a Web-Based Questionnaire
Principal Advisor
-
2025
Doctor Philosophy
Mitigating the health impacts of air pollution in Australia: From research to policy.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Brian Head, Associate Professor Nina Lansbury
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2025
Doctor Philosophy
Epidemiological investigations into avian influenza virus environmental contamination in live bird markets of Dhaka's metropolitan area, Bangladesh
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Ricardo Soares Magalhaes
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Trajectories of asthma symptom and their associations with family, neighbourhood, and psychosocial environmental factors among children in Australia
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Abdullah Mamun
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Children's Environmental Health in Least Developed Countries: a modelling approach to support policy decisions
Associate Advisor
-
2022
Master Philosophy
Investigating the molecular mechanisms of macrophage polarisation
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Abdullah Tarique
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-
2021
Doctor Philosophy
Assessing Early-life Human Exposure to Selected Pesticides Using Urinary Biomarkers
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jochen Mueller
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
Statistical methods for analysing the health effects of prenatal exposure to mixtures of correlated endocrine-disrupting chemicals
Associate Advisor
-
2020
Doctor Philosophy
Early Life Predictors of Peak Lung function at 21 years Findings from a Longitudinal Cohort Study
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Abdullah Mamun
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
Establishing a wound healing model in well differentiated cultures of primary human nasal epithelial cells
Associate Advisor
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2017
Doctor Philosophy
Assessing body burden of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in infants/toddlers through analysis of faeces
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jochen Mueller
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-
2016
Doctor Philosophy
The antiviral defects of the airway epithelium associated with wheeze and atopy in children and asthma in adults
Associate Advisor
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2016
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding the cellular and molecular processes that link RAGE gene-deletion with the development of pneumovirus-induced bronchiolitis and paucigranulocytic asthma
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Honorary Professor John Upham
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2015
Doctor Philosophy
Immunomodulation of allergic airway inflammation by mesenchymal stem cells
Associate Advisor
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2014
Doctor Philosophy
Acute lower respiratory infections in infants in the tropics: Environmental drivers of seasonal epidemics
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Gail Williams
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2014
Doctor Philosophy
Assessing environmental exposures in Australian children. A case study of bisphenol A
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jochen Mueller
Media
Enquiries
Contact Professor Peter Sly directly for media enquiries about:
- Child health
- Children and environment
- Cystic fibrosis
- Paediatric asthma
- Respiratory physiology
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