
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
2024
Journal Article
Association of antenatal and early childhood air pollution and greenspace exposures with respiratory pathogen upper airway acquisitions and respiratory health outcomes
Takashima, Mari D., Grimwood, Keith, Vilcins, Dwan, Knibbs, Luke D., Sly, Peter D., Lambert, Stephen B. and Ware, Robert S. (2024). Association of antenatal and early childhood air pollution and greenspace exposures with respiratory pathogen upper airway acquisitions and respiratory health outcomes. International Journal of Environmental Health Research, 34 (9), 3147-3160. doi: 10.1080/09603123.2023.2299225
2024
Journal Article
Azithromycin Augments Bacterial Uptake and Anti-Inflammatory Macrophage Polarization in Cystic Fibrosis
Tarique, Abdullah A., Tuladhar, Neeraj, Kelk, Dean, Begum, Nelufa, Lucas, Richard M., Luo, Lin, Stow, Jennifer L., Wainwright, Claire E., Bell, Scott C., Sly, Peter D. and Fantino, Emmanuelle (2024). Azithromycin Augments Bacterial Uptake and Anti-Inflammatory Macrophage Polarization in Cystic Fibrosis. Cells, 13 (2) 166, 1-13. doi: 10.3390/cells13020166
2024
Journal Article
Updates in air pollution: current research and future challenges
Vilcins, Dwan, Christofferson, Rebecca C., Yoon, Jin-Ho, Nazli, Siti Nurshahida, Sly, Peter D., Cormier, Stephania A. and Shen, Guofeng (2024). Updates in air pollution: current research and future challenges. Annals of Global Health, 90 (1) 9, 9. doi: 10.5334/aogh.4363
2024
Journal Article
Emotional symptoms and inflammatory biomarkers in childhood: associations in two Australian birth cohorts
Lange, Katherine, Pham, Cindy, Fedyszyn, Izabela E., Cook, Fallon, Burgner, David P., Olsson, Craig A., Downes, Marnie, Priest, Naomi, Mansell, Toby, Tang, Mimi L.K., Ponsonby, Anne-Louise, Symeonides, Christos, Loughman, Amy, Vuillermin, Peter, Kerr, Jessica A., Gray, Lawrence, Sly, Peter D., Lycett, Kate, Carlin, John B., Saffery, Richard, Wake, Melissa and O'Connor, Meredith (2024). Emotional symptoms and inflammatory biomarkers in childhood: associations in two Australian birth cohorts. Journal of Affective Disorders, 344, 356-364. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.10.042
2024
Journal Article
Microplastics in the Asia-Pacific region in the Plasticene Era: exposures and health risks
Sly, Peter, Nabhani, Khadija Al, Sripada, Kam and Kayama, Fujio (2024). Microplastics in the Asia-Pacific region in the Plasticene Era: exposures and health risks. Annals of Global Health, 90 (1), 8-15. doi: 10.5334/aogh.4326
2023
Journal Article
Sustainable environments for Australian children's and young people's health and wellbeing: our young's welfare is threatened
Sly, Peter D. and Stanley, Fiona J. (2023). Sustainable environments for Australian children's and young people's health and wellbeing: our young's welfare is threatened. Medical Journal of Australia, 219 (S10), S40-S43. doi: 10.5694/mja2.52133
2023
Journal Article
Peripheral airway dysfunction in prematurity‐associated obstructive lung disease identified by oscillometry
Cousins, Michael, Hart, Kylie, Radics, Bence L., Henderson, A John, Hantos, Zoltán, Sly, Peter D. and Kotecha, Sailesh (2023). Peripheral airway dysfunction in prematurity‐associated obstructive lung disease identified by oscillometry. Pediatric Pulmonology, 58 (11), 3279-3292. doi: 10.1002/ppul.26658
2023
Journal Article
Effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on infant lung function, wheeze, and respiratory infections in Australian children
Vilcins, Dwan, Blake, Tamara L., Sly, Peter D., Saffery, Richard, Ponsonby, Anne‐Louise, Burgner, David, Tang, Mimi L. K., Reid, Natasha and Barwon Infant Study Investigator Group (2023). Effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on infant lung function, wheeze, and respiratory infections in Australian children. Alcohol: Clinical and Experimental Research, 47 (12), 2278-2287. doi: 10.1111/acer.15205
2023
Journal Article
Maternal oxidative stress during pregnancy associated with emotional and behavioural problems in early childhood: implications for foetal programming
Pham, Cindy, Thomson, Sarah, Chin, Sung-Tong, Vuillermin, Peter, O’Hely, Martin, Burgner, David, Tanner, Samuel, Saffery, Richard, Mansell, Toby, Bong, Sze, Holmes, Elaine, Sly, Peter D., Gray, Nicola, Ponsonby, Anne-Louise, Carlin, John, Tang, Mimi, Collier, Fiona, Loughman, Amy, Ranganathan, Sarath, Gray, Lawrence and Barwon Infant Study Investigator Group (2023). Maternal oxidative stress during pregnancy associated with emotional and behavioural problems in early childhood: implications for foetal programming. Molecular Psychiatry, 28 (9), 3760-3768. doi: 10.1038/s41380-023-02284-9
2023
Journal Article
European and multi-ancestry genome-wide association meta-analysis of atopic dermatitis highlights importance of systemic immune regulation
Budu-Aggrey, Ashley, Kilanowski, Anna, Sobczyk, Maria K, 23andMe Research Team, Shringarpure, Suyash S, Mitchell, Ruth, Reis, Kadri, Reigo, Anu, Estonian Biobank Research Team, Mägi, Reedik, Nelis, Mari, Tanaka, Nao, Brumpton, Ben M, Thomas, Laurent F, Sole-Navais, Pol, Flatley, Christopher, Espuela-Ortiz, Antonio, Herrera-Luis, Esther, Lominchar, Jesus V T, Bork-Jensen, Jette, Marenholz, Ingo, Arnau-Soler, Aleix, Jeong, Ayoung, Fawcett, Katherine A, Baurecht, Hansjorg, Rodriguez, Elke, Alves, Alexessander Couto, Kumar, Ashish, Sleiman, Patrick M ... Paternoster, Lavinia (2023). European and multi-ancestry genome-wide association meta-analysis of atopic dermatitis highlights importance of systemic immune regulation. Nature Communications, 14 (1) 6172, 6172. doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-41180-2
2023
Conference Publication
Environmentally persistent free radicals in household dust: longitudinal and seasonal trends
Vilcins, Dwan, Lee, Wen Ray, Cormier, Stephania, Lomnicki, Slawo and Sly, Peter David (2023). Environmentally persistent free radicals in household dust: longitudinal and seasonal trends. ISEE 2023: 35th Annual Conference of the International Society of Environmental Epidemiology, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, 17-21 September 2023. Research Triangle Park, NC United States: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. doi: 10.1289/isee.2023.op-345
2023
Conference Publication
Free radicals by-products of air pollution in Australian households
Lee, Wen Ray, Sly, Peter David, Lomnicki, Slawo, Cormier, Stephania and Vilcins, Dwan (2023). Free radicals by-products of air pollution in Australian households. ISEE 2023: 35th Annual Conference of the International Society of Environmental Epidemiology, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, 17-21 September 2023. Research Triangle Park, NC United States: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. doi: 10.1289/isee.2023.pk-036
2023
Conference Publication
A pilot study to determine the impact of prescribed burns on indoor air quality and associated health impacts for residents
Vilcins, Dwan, Lee, Wen Ray, Cormier, Stephania, Lomnicki, Slawo and Sly, Peter David (2023). A pilot study to determine the impact of prescribed burns on indoor air quality and associated health impacts for residents. ISEE 2023: 35th Annual Conference of the International Society of Environmental Epidemiology, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, 17-21 September 2023. Research Triangle Park, NC United States: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. doi: 10.1289/isee.2023.op-344
2023
Conference Publication
Trace metal concentrations, geoaccumulation index and risk assessment from soil of electronic waste (e-waste) exposed and non-exposed area, Bangladesh
Parvez, Sarker Masud, Hasan, Shaikh Sharif, Moniruzzaman, Mohammad, Jahan, Farjana, Rahman, Mahbubur, Aich, Nirupam, Islam, Zahir, Raqib, Rubhana, Knibbs, Luke D and Sly, Peter D (2023). Trace metal concentrations, geoaccumulation index and risk assessment from soil of electronic waste (e-waste) exposed and non-exposed area, Bangladesh. ISEE 2023: 35th Annual Conference of the International Society of Environmental Epidemiology, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, 17-21 September 2023. Research Triangle Park, NC United States: Environmental Health Perspectives. doi: 10.1289/isee.2023.mp-028
2023
Conference Publication
Lower tidal breathing lung function at 6 weeks of age, higher maternal BMI in pregnancy and larger sibship size are associated with viral bronchiolitis hospitalisations
Sena, Carla Rebeca Da Silva, Andrade, Ediane De Queiroz, Belinelo, Patricia De Gouveia, Murphy, Vanessa E., Robinson, Paul D., Gibson, Peter G., Sly, Peter D., Karmaus, Wilfried, Collison, Adam and Mattes, Joerg (2023). Lower tidal breathing lung function at 6 weeks of age, higher maternal BMI in pregnancy and larger sibship size are associated with viral bronchiolitis hospitalisations. Annual congress of the European-Respiratory-Society (ERS), Milan Ia, Sep 09-13, 2023. SHEFFIELD: EUROPEAN RESPIRATORY SOC JOURNALS LTD. doi: 10.1183/13993003.congress-2023.OA1546
2023
Conference Publication
Allergic sensitisation, respiratory tract infections and subsequent preschool lung function: evidence from an Australian birth cohort study
Du Berry, Cassidy, Mainzer, Rheanna, Gray, Lawrence, King, Louise, Sly, Peter, Vuillermin, Peter and Ranganathan, Sarath (2023). Allergic sensitisation, respiratory tract infections and subsequent preschool lung function: evidence from an Australian birth cohort study. Annual congress of the European-Respiratory-Society (ERS), Milan, Italy, 9-13 September 2023. Sheffield, United Kingdom: European Respiratory Society. doi: 10.1183/13993003.congress-2023.pa1630
2023
Journal Article
Association of rhinovirus and potentially pathogenic bacterial detections in the first 3 months of life with subsequent wheezing in childhood
Takashima, Mari D., Grimwood, Keith, Sly, Peter D., Lambert, Stephen B. and Ware, Robert S. (2023). Association of rhinovirus and potentially pathogenic bacterial detections in the first 3 months of life with subsequent wheezing in childhood. Pediatric Pulmonology, 58 (12), 3428-3436. doi: 10.1002/ppul.26667
2023
Journal Article
Gut microbiota maturity mediates the protective effect of siblings on food allergy
Gao, Yuan, Stokholm, Jakob, O’Hely, Martin, Ponsonby, Anne-Louise, Tang, Mimi LK., Ranganathan, Sarath, Saffery, Richard, Harrison, Leonard C., Collier, Fiona, Gray, Lawrence, Burgner, David, Molloy, John, Sly, Peter D., Brix, Susanne, Frøkiær, Hanne and Vuillermin, Peter (2023). Gut microbiota maturity mediates the protective effect of siblings on food allergy. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 152 (3), 667-675. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2023.02.034
2023
Journal Article
Wearing masks as a protective measure for children against traffic-related air pollution: a comparison of perceptions between school children and their caregivers in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Le, Hong H. T. C., Vien, Nguyen Truong, Dang, Tran Ngoc, Ware, Robert S., Phung, Dung, Thai, Phong K., Ranganathan, Sarath, Vinh, Nguyen Nhu, Dung, Phan Hoang Thuy, Thanh, Huynh Ngoc, Dung, Truong Thi Thuy, Hien, To Thi, Sly, Peter D. and Le An, Pham (2023). Wearing masks as a protective measure for children against traffic-related air pollution: a comparison of perceptions between school children and their caregivers in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Tropical Medicine and International Health, 28 (9), 753-762. doi: 10.1111/tmi.13923
2023
Journal Article
Adverse childhood experiences, the risk of pregnancy complications and adverse pregnancy outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Mamun, Abdullah, Biswas, Tuhin, Scott, James, Sly, Peter D., McIntyre, H. David, Thorpe, Karen, Boyle, Frances M., Dekker, Marloes N., Doi, Suhail, Mitchell, Murray, McNeil, Keith, Kothari, Alka, Hardiman, Leah and Callaway, Leonie Kaye (2023). Adverse childhood experiences, the risk of pregnancy complications and adverse pregnancy outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Open, 13 (8) e063826, e063826. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-063826
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
Role of airway obstruction in the development of asthma
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Tamara Blake
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Doctor Philosophy
Respiratory Guidelines for the Management of Paediatric Neuromuscular Disease
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Zephanie Tyack
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Doctor Philosophy
Maternal exposure to phthalates and allergic disease in children
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Dwan Vilcins
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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, Dr Nicholas Clark, 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
-
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
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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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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
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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: Dr Nicholas Clark, Professor Ricardo Soares Magalhaes
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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
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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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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
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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2020
Doctor Philosophy
Statistical methods for analysing the health effects of prenatal exposure to mixtures of correlated endocrine-disrupting chemicals
Associate Advisor
-
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
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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-
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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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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