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.
Works
Search Professor Peter Sly’s works on UQ eSpace
2025
Journal Article
A pathway-based genetic score for inflammation: an indicator of vulnerability to phthalate-induced adverse neurodevelopment outcomes
Elagali, Ahmed, Eisner, Alex, Tanner, Samuel, Drummond, Katherine, Symeonides, Christos, Love, Chloe, Tang, Mimi LK., Mansell, Toby, Burgner, David, Collier, Fiona, Sly, Peter D., O'Hely, Martin, Dunlop, Sarah, Vuillermin, Peter and Ponsonby, Anne-Louise (2025). A pathway-based genetic score for inflammation: an indicator of vulnerability to phthalate-induced adverse neurodevelopment outcomes. International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health, 264 114514, 114514. doi: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2024.114514
2025
Journal Article
Assessing the impact of individual exposure to air pollution via biomarkers in sputum of children in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Le Tran, Linh, Le Pham, An, Duc Do, Minh, Nguyen, Quynh Nhat, Ngo, Hieu K.T., Le, Hong H.T.C., Nguyen, Vinh Nhu, Phung, Dung, Sly, Peter D. and Thai, Phong K. (2025). Assessing the impact of individual exposure to air pollution via biomarkers in sputum of children in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Environmental Pollution, 367 125544, 125544. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.125544
2024
Journal Article
Health risk assessment of humans exposed to soil and dust trace elements from e-waste sites in Bangladesh
Parvez, Sarker Masud, Hasan, Shaikh Sharif, Moniruzzaman, Mohammad, Hares, Abul, Jahan, Farjana, Rahman, Mahbubur, Aich, Nirupam, Islam, Nafisa, Parvin, Afroza, Islam, Zahir, Raqib, Rubhana, Knibbs, Luke D. and Sly, Peter D. (2024). Health risk assessment of humans exposed to soil and dust trace elements from e-waste sites in Bangladesh. Journal of Environmental Exposure Assessment, 3 (4) 27. doi: 10.20517/jeea.2024.39
2024
Journal Article
Hematological, cardiovascular and oxidative DNA damage markers associated with heavy metal exposure in electronic waste (e-waste) workers of Bangladesh
Parvez, Sarker Masud, Huda, M Mamun, Rahman, Mahbubur, Jahan, Farjana, Fujimura, Masatake, Hasan, Shaikh Sharif, Aich, Nirupam, Hares, Abul, Islam, Zahir, Raqib, Rubhana, Knibbs, Luke D and Sly, Peter D (2024). Hematological, cardiovascular and oxidative DNA damage markers associated with heavy metal exposure in electronic waste (e-waste) workers of Bangladesh. Toxicology, 509 153978, 153978. doi: 10.1016/j.tox.2024.153978
2024
Journal Article
The Future Healthy Countdown 2030 consensus statement: core policy actions and measures to achieve improvements in the health and wellbeing of children, young people and future generations
Lycett, Kate, Lane, Hannah, Frykberg, Georgie, Maury, Susan, Wallace, Carolyn, Taafua, Luisa, Morris, Bernie, Hollonds, Anne, Sahlberg, Pasi, Kapeke, Kevin, Brown, Ngiare, Cory, Jordan, Sly, Peter D, Olsson, Craig A, Stanley, Fiona J, Price, Anna M H, Saw, Planning, Muse, Khalid, Azzopardi, Peter S, Sawyer, Susan M, Glauert, Rebecca, Reeves, Marketa, Dundas, Roslyn, Demaio, Sandro, Calder, Rosemary and Goldfeld, Sharon R (2024). The Future Healthy Countdown 2030 consensus statement: core policy actions and measures to achieve improvements in the health and wellbeing of children, young people and future generations. Medical Journal of Australia, 221 (S10), S6-S17. doi: 10.5694/mja2.52494
2024
Journal Article
Intra-breath respiratory mechanics of prematurity-associated lung disease phenotypes in school-aged children
Cousins, Michael, Hart, Kylie, Radics, Bence, Henderson, A. John, Hantos, Zoltán, Sly, Peter D. and Kotecha, Sailesh (2024). Intra-breath respiratory mechanics of prematurity-associated lung disease phenotypes in school-aged children. ERJ Open Research, 00840-2024. doi: 10.1183/23120541.00840-2024
2024
Journal Article
Design characteristics of integrated surveillance of antimicrobial resistance at the human, animal, and environment interfaces
Hau, Erda Eni Rame, Sly, Peter D., Mikkelsen, Deirdre, Taneja, Neelam, Penjor, Kinley, Ryu, Sukhyun, Donner, Erica, Mollinger, Joanne, Ferreira, Jorge Pinto, Schipp, Mark and Soares Magalhaes, Ricardo J. (2024). Design characteristics of integrated surveillance of antimicrobial resistance at the human, animal, and environment interfaces. CABI Reviews, 19 (1). doi: 10.1079/cabireviews.2024.0047
2024
Journal Article
Socioeconomic adversity, maternal nutrition, and the prenatal programming of offspring cognition and language at two years of age through maternal inflammation
Gogos, Andrea, Thomson, Sarah, Drummond, Katherine, Holland, Lada, O'Hely, Martin, Dawson, Samantha, Marx, Wolfgang, Mansell, Toby, Burgner, David, Saffery, Richard, Sly, Peter, Collier, Fiona, Tang, Mimi LK, Symeonides, Christos, Vuillermin, Peter and Ponsonby, Anne-Louise (2024). Socioeconomic adversity, maternal nutrition, and the prenatal programming of offspring cognition and language at two years of age through maternal inflammation. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 122, 471-482. doi: 10.1016/j.bbi.2024.08.033
2024
Journal Article
The hospitalisation risk of chronic circulatory and respiratory diseases associated with coal mining in the general population in Queensland, Australia
Cortes-Ramirez, J., Mengersen, K., Morawska, L., Sly, P., Jagals, P. and Wraith, D. (2024). The hospitalisation risk of chronic circulatory and respiratory diseases associated with coal mining in the general population in Queensland, Australia. Science of the Total Environment, 949 174989, 174989. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174989
2024
Journal Article
A near-complete genome of the uncultured <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> phage COMBAT-CF_PAR1 isolated from the lungs of an infant with cystic fibrosis
Agudelo-Romero, Patricia, Caparros-Martin, Jose A., Sharma, Abhinav, Saladié, Montserrat, Sly, Peter D., Stick, Stephen M., O´Gara, Fergal and COMBAT study group (2024). A near-complete genome of the uncultured Staphylococcus aureus phage COMBAT-CF_PAR1 isolated from the lungs of an infant with cystic fibrosis. Microbiology Resource Announcements, 13 (12) e01047-24, e0104724. doi: 10.1128/mra.01047-24
2024
Journal Article
Mental health, behaviour and sleep quality in children 6–11 years before and after elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor initiation
Douglas, Tonia, Deery, Maddison, Kimball, Hayley, Cobham, Vanessa E., Panochini, Sophia, Robinson, Paul D., Wainwright, Claire E., Sly, Peter D. and Blake, Tamara (2024). Mental health, behaviour and sleep quality in children 6–11 years before and after elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor initiation. Journal of Cystic Fibrosis. doi: 10.1016/j.jcf.2024.10.002
2024
Journal Article
Understanding the role of innate immune training in prevention of respiratory infections
Sly, Peter D. (2024). Understanding the role of innate immune training in prevention of respiratory infections. Pediatric Pulmonology. doi: 10.1002/ppul.27278
2024
Journal Article
Viral: Bacterial interactions in childhood asthma
Sly, Peter D. (2024). Viral: Bacterial interactions in childhood asthma. Pediatric Pulmonology. doi: 10.1002/ppul.27280
2024
Journal Article
Reply to Myers and Rosser: A comment about studying the health effects of smoke produced by prescribed fire
Vilcins, Dwan, Lee, Wen R, Blake, Tamara L., Wu, Wenbo, Cormier, Stephania and Sly, Peter D. (2024). Reply to Myers and Rosser: A comment about studying the health effects of smoke produced by prescribed fire. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 210 (11), 1384-1385. doi: 10.1164/rccm.202408-1614le
2024
Journal Article
Indoor air pollution and its impact on the lungs
Sly, Peter D. (2024). Indoor air pollution and its impact on the lungs. Pediatric Pulmonology. doi: 10.1002/ppul.27281
2024
Journal Article
Oximetry and carbon dioxide screening for ventilatory requirements in children with spinal muscular atrophy type 1-3
Chacko, Archana, Sly, Peter D., Ware, Robert S., Young, Emily, Robinson, Jacob, Williams, Gordon and Gauld, Leanne M. (2024). Oximetry and carbon dioxide screening for ventilatory requirements in children with spinal muscular atrophy type 1-3. Sleep Medicine, 122, 208-212. doi: 10.1016/j.sleep.2024.08.022
2024
Conference Publication
Late Breaking Abstract - Differences in remodelling and autophagy-related biomarkers at birth from offspring of asthmatic and healthy mothers are associated with subsequent infant lung function and bronchiolitis hospitalisation in infancy
da Silva Sena, Carla Rebeca, Martins Costa Gomes, Gabriela, Gorlanova, Olga, Künstle, Noëmi, Rüttimann, Céline, Schulzke, Sven, Steinberg, Ruth, De Queiroz Andrade, Ediane, De Gouveia Belinelo, Patricia, Wyler, Florian, Müller, Loretta, Yammine, Sophie, Robinson, Paul D, Sly, Peter D, Murphy, Vanessa, Gibson, Peter, Latzin, Philipp, Mattes, Joerg, Collison, Adam and Frey, Urs (2024). Late Breaking Abstract - Differences in remodelling and autophagy-related biomarkers at birth from offspring of asthmatic and healthy mothers are associated with subsequent infant lung function and bronchiolitis hospitalisation in infancy. European-Respiratory-Society Congress (ERS), Vienna Austria, Sep 07-11, 2024. SHEFFIELD: European Respiratory Society. doi: 10.1183/13993003.congress-2024.pa1402
2024
Conference Publication
Quantitative start of test criteria for spirometry in preschool children
Busi, Luciano Enrique and Sly, Peter David (2024). Quantitative start of test criteria for spirometry in preschool children. European Respiratory Society. doi: 10.1183/13993003.congress-2024.pa1461
2024
Conference Publication
Late Breaking Abstract - Machine learning algorithms to predict bronchiolitis hospitalisations in the first year of life
Mattes, Joerg, Martins Costa Gomes, Gabriela, Da Silva Sena, Carla Rebecca, Riveros, Carlos, Szwec, Stuart, Robinson, Paul D, Sly, Peter D, Murphy, Vanessa E, Gibson, Peter G and Collison, Adam (2024). Late Breaking Abstract - Machine learning algorithms to predict bronchiolitis hospitalisations in the first year of life. European-Respiratory-Society Congress (ERS), Vienna Austria, Sep 07-11, 2024. SHEFFIELD: European Respiratory Society. doi: 10.1183/13993003.congress-2024.pa1403
2024
Conference Publication
Asthma management in pregnancy and infant respiratory outcomes
Brew Haasdyk, Bronwyn, Gibson, Peter, Collison, Adam, Robinson, Paul, Sly, Peter, Jensen, Megan, Robijn, Annelies, Mattes, Joerg and Murphy, Vanessa (2024). Asthma management in pregnancy and infant respiratory outcomes. European-Respiratory-Society Congress (ERS), Vienna Austria, Sep 07-11, 2024. SHEFFIELD: European Respiratory Society. doi: 10.1183/13993003.congress-2024.oa2896
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Peter Sly is:
- Not available for supervision
Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
Role of airway obstruction in the development of asthma
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Tamara Blake
-
Doctor Philosophy
Characterising the Environmental Burden of E-waste and its Impacts on Children¿s and Women's Health
Principal Advisor
-
Doctor Philosophy
Maternal exposure to phthalates and allergic disease in children
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Dwan Vilcins
-
Doctor Philosophy
Respiratory Guidelines for the Management of Paediatric Neuromuscular Disease
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Zephanie Tyack
-
Doctor Philosophy
Epidemiological investigations into avian influenza virus environmental contamination in live bird markets of Dhaka¿s metropolitan area, Bangladesh
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Nicholas Clark, Professor Ricardo Soares Magalhaes
-
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
-
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
-
Doctor Philosophy
Providing evidence to guide public health messages during bushfire smoke events
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Dwan Vilcins
-
Doctor Philosophy
Evaluation of Integrated Surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistance in South and South East Asian Countries
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Deirdre Mikkelsen, Dr Nicholas Clark, Professor Ricardo Soares Magalhaes
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Doctor Philosophy
Epidemiological investigations into avian influenza virus environmental contamination in live bird markets of Dhaka¿s metropolitan area, Bangladesh
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Nicholas Clark, Professor Ricardo Soares Magalhaes
Completed supervision
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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
Novel green space measures and birthweight in Queensland, Australia
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Paul Jagals, Dr Peter Baker
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
Enteropathogen infection and Household Factors Associated with Linear Child Growth in Bangladesh
Principal Advisor
-
2019
Doctor Philosophy
Incorporating Epidemiological Studies into Integrated Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Coal Mining
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Paul Jagals
-
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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2018
Doctor Philosophy
Assessing Exposure of Young Australian Children to Toxicants in the Home Environment using a Web-Based Questionnaire
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Paul Jagals
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2018
Doctor Philosophy
Improving the clinical utility of the Forced Oscillation Technique in preschool-aged children
Principal Advisor
-
2023
Doctor Philosophy
Children's Environmental Health in Least Developed Countries: a modelling approach to support policy decisions
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Paul Jagals
-
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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2022
Master Philosophy
Investigating the molecular mechanisms of macrophage polarisation
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Abdullah Tarique, Dr Emmanuelle Fantino
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
The airway epithelium: oxidative stress and environment
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Emmanuelle Fantino
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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
-
2020
Doctor Philosophy
Statistical methods for analysing the health effects of prenatal exposure to mixtures of correlated endocrine-disrupting chemicals
Associate Advisor
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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
Other advisors: Dr Emmanuelle Fantino
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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
Macrophage polarization and function in cystic fibrosis
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Emmanuelle Fantino
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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
Other advisors: Dr Emmanuelle Fantino
-
2015
Doctor Philosophy
Immunomodulation of allergic airway inflammation by mesenchymal stem cells
Associate Advisor
-
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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