Overview
Background
Dwan is an environmental epidemiologist, with a particular interest in children's environmental health. Her current research explores the following:
- Environmentally persistent free radicals, air pollution, and children's lung outcomes
- Maternal exposure to green space, ambient temperature and air pollution and the association with neonatal and child outcomes
- The knowledge of GPs and naturopaths on environmental health issues for preconception care
- Exposures to phthalates and allergic disease
Dwan has a background in public health and nutrition. She is a founder and co-host of the R Peer Group at UQ/QIMR
Availability
- Dr Dwan Vilcins is:
- Available for supervision
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Masters (Coursework) of Public Health, The University of Queensland
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Research interests
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Environmental exposures and child health
Understanding the links between exposure to environmental hazards—such as air pollution, endocrine disrupting chemicals and environmentally persistent free radicals— and the health of children.
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Green space
The role green space plays in the health and development of children
Works
Search Professor Dwan Vilcins’s works on UQ eSpace
2021
Journal Article
Climate impacts on air quality and child health and wellbeing: implications for Oceania
Sly, Peter D. and Vilcins, Dwan (2021). Climate impacts on air quality and child health and wellbeing: implications for Oceania. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 57 (11), 1805-1810. doi: 10.1111/jpc.15650
2021
Journal Article
The association of ambient temperature with extremely preterm births
Vilcins, Dwan, Baker, Peter, Jagals, Paul and Sly, Peter D. (2021). The association of ambient temperature with extremely preterm births. Maternal and Child Health Journal, 25 (10), 1638-1645. doi: 10.1007/s10995-021-03203-6
2021
Journal Article
Environmental and sociodemographic risk factors associated with environmentally transmitted zoonoses hospitalisations in Queensland, Australia
Cortes-Ramirez, J., Vilcins, D., Jagals, P. and Soares Magalhaes, R. J. (2021). Environmental and sociodemographic risk factors associated with environmentally transmitted zoonoses hospitalisations in Queensland, Australia. One Health, 12 100206, 100206. doi: 10.1016/j.onehlt.2020.100206
2021
Journal Article
Early life origins of chronic non-communicable diseases: towards the future
Vilcins, Dwan and Sly, Peter D. (2021). Early life origins of chronic non-communicable diseases: towards the future. Paediatric Respiratory Reviews, 40, 1-2. doi: 10.1016/j.prrv.2021.06.001
2021
Journal Article
Early environmental exposures and life-long risk of chronic non-respiratory disease
Vilcins, Dwan, Cortes-Ramirez, Javier, Currie, Danielle and Preston, Paige (2021). Early environmental exposures and life-long risk of chronic non-respiratory disease. Paediatric Respiratory Reviews, 40, 33-38. doi: 10.1016/j.prrv.2021.05.004
2020
Journal Article
The association of fractional cover, foliage projective cover and biodiversity with birthweight
Vilcins, Dwan, Scarth, Peter, Sly, Peter D., Jagals, Paul, Knibbs, Luke and Baker, Peter (2020). The association of fractional cover, foliage projective cover and biodiversity with birthweight. Science of The Total Environment, 763 143051, 143051. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143051
2020
Journal Article
The effect of hawthorn (Crataegus spp.) on blood pressure: A systematic review
Cloud, Alexa, Vilcins, Dwan and McEwen, Bradley (2020). The effect of hawthorn (Crataegus spp.) on blood pressure: A systematic review. Advances in Integrative Medicine, 7 (3), 167-175. doi: 10.1016/j.aimed.2019.09.002
2020
Conference Publication
Environmental hazards in the preconception period
Vilcins, D (2020). Environmental hazards in the preconception period. 6th World Congress on Public Health 2020 Public Health for the future of humanity: analysis, advocacy and action, Online, 12 – 16 October 2020. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/eurpub/ckaa165.854
2020
Journal Article
Association of maternal and social characteristics with age-standardised birthweight
Vilcins, Dwan, Baker, Peter, Jagals, Paul and Sly, Peter D. (2020). Association of maternal and social characteristics with age-standardised birthweight. Journal of Public Health, 30 (2), 373-383. doi: 10.1007/s10389-020-01292-1
2020
Other Outputs
Novel green space measures and birthweight in Queensland, Australia
Vilcins, Dwan (2020). Novel green space measures and birthweight in Queensland, Australia. PhD Thesis, School of Medicine, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/uql.2020.239
2019
Conference Publication
Managing the challenges and opportunities of planetary health: critical considerations for traditional, complementary and integrative medicine
Mcintyre, Erica and Vilcins, Dwan (2019). Managing the challenges and opportunities of planetary health: critical considerations for traditional, complementary and integrative medicine. 14th International Congress on Complementary Research, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 7-10 May 2019. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.aimed.2019.03.090
2018
Journal Article
Environmental risk factors associated with child stunting: a systematic review of the literature
Vilcins, Dwan, Sly, Peter D. and Jagals, Paul (2018). Environmental risk factors associated with child stunting: a systematic review of the literature. Annals of Global Health, 84 (4), 551-562. doi: 10.29024/aogh.2361
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Dwan Vilcins is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Available projects
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Green space, nature contact and children's health.
Urban green space is perhaps the best example of an environmental factor that may act as a public health good. Research has identified health benefits associated with green space, such as improvement in mental wellbeing, reduction in cortisol, an increase in physical activity, improved neighbourhood cohesion, and exposure to beneficial microbiota. Green space may play a role in ameliorating hazardous environmental exposures, such as air pollution and temperature extremes. Much of the work on green space is in its infancy, and more knowledge is needed on potential mechanisms and specific effects in children.
This PhD project will use data from a longitudinal cohort of Australian children and explore the association between green space near the residence and nature contact activities with a range of child health outcomes such as physical health, neurodevelopment, and mental wellbeing. Causal mediation analysis will be performed to better test and understand the potential underlying mechanisms that could influence health after nature exposure.
This project would suit a PhD student with skills in statistics, epidemiology and/or public health. Experience with data analysis is desired.
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Maternal exposure to phthalates and allergic disease in children
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Peter Sly
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Doctor Philosophy
Biodiversity and Immune Health
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Dung Phung, Dr Darsy Darssan, Associate Professor Nicholas Osborne
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Doctor Philosophy
Circadian rhythm function, sleep, body composition, and metabolic health in early survivors of childhood brain tumours
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Honey Heussler
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Doctor Philosophy
A big-data approach to the epidemiology of foodborne and enteric zoonoses in Queensland
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Colleen Lau, Professor Ricardo Soares Magalhaes
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Doctor Philosophy
The effects of maternal exposure to heatwaves on adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes in Queensland, Australia.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Darsy Darssan, Dr Dung Phung
Media
Enquiries
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