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Environmental Health Environmental Health ResearchResearch

Tom Jeavons Tom Jeavons School of Applied Sciences School of Applied Sciences and Engineeringand Engineering

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Environmental Health Environmental Health ResearchResearch Is the area of public health research Is the area of public health research

that looks at environmental factors that that looks at environmental factors that influence health and disease – influence health and disease – interdisciplinary studiesinterdisciplinary studies

The air environment is a particular The air environment is a particular focus of Applied Sciences - ranging from focus of Applied Sciences - ranging from particulates and chemical emissions in particulates and chemical emissions in outdoor air to bioaerosols in indoor airoutdoor air to bioaerosols in indoor air

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Area of ResearchArea of Research

Fungal aerosols Fungal aerosols in indoor air in indoor air

Asthma and its Asthma and its relationship to relationship to indoor fungal indoor fungal exposureexposure

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Current ResearchCurrent Research

Who with?Who with? Epidemiological studies with Assoc. Prof. Epidemiological studies with Assoc. Prof.

Michael Abramson, at Monash’s Dept. of Michael Abramson, at Monash’s Dept. of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine (DEPM)(DEPM)

Fungal beta-glucan and bacterial Fungal beta-glucan and bacterial endotoxin analysis with Dr. Jeroen Douwes, endotoxin analysis with Dr. Jeroen Douwes, Centre for Public Health Research, Massey Centre for Public Health Research, Massey University, Wellington, NZUniversity, Wellington, NZ

Personal nasal sampling with Assoc. Prof. Personal nasal sampling with Assoc. Prof. Euan Tovey (Woolcock Institute of Medical Euan Tovey (Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, University of Sydney) Research, University of Sydney)

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What is happening What is happening now?now? Personal air sampling - nasal sampler Personal air sampling - nasal sampler

trapping studies trapping studies Studies on the association between Studies on the association between

the presence of fungi in the nose, the presence of fungi in the nose, levels of fungal contamination of the levels of fungal contamination of the bedroom environment, and asthma bedroom environment, and asthma

Asthma intervention studies – effect of Asthma intervention studies – effect of dehumidification/cleaning on asthma dehumidification/cleaning on asthma severityseverity

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What’s aheadWhat’s ahead

Personal exposure of cancer Personal exposure of cancer patients to fungi in the hospital patients to fungi in the hospital and in the home environmentand in the home environment

Other collaborations?Other collaborations?

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Conservation Biology Conservation Biology ResearchResearch

Dr. Wayne Sturrock Dr. Wayne Sturrock School of Applied Sciences School of Applied Sciences and Engineeringand Engineering

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Area of ResearchArea of Research

Reproductive Reproductive cycles of cycles of endangered endangered species e.g. species e.g. SquirrelSquirrel gliderglider

Gene storageGene storage Pharmacological Pharmacological

techniques in the techniques in the collection of collection of reproductive reproductive materialmaterial

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Current ResearchCurrent Research

Who with?Who with? Collaborative research with Collaborative research with

Monash Institute of Reproduction Monash Institute of Reproduction and Development (MIRD)and Development (MIRD)

Pearcedale Conservation Park Pearcedale Conservation Park (Moonlight Sanctuary)(Moonlight Sanctuary)

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What is happening What is happening now?now? Investigating the Investigating the estrous cycles of the estrous cycles of the

squirrel glider squirrel glider (Petaurus norfolcensis)(Petaurus norfolcensis) Techniques on collecting semen Techniques on collecting semen

samples from endangered species samples from endangered species (eg. (eg. Black Rhino)….DANGEROUS WORK!Black Rhino)….DANGEROUS WORK!

Storage procedures of reproductive Storage procedures of reproductive material (eg. testes, ovaries, embryos material (eg. testes, ovaries, embryos and cell lines [fibroblasts])and cell lines [fibroblasts])

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The futureThe future

To be able to understand the To be able to understand the reproductive cycles of reproductive cycles of endangered animals and, endangered animals and,

By using IVF technology, increase By using IVF technology, increase their numbers to a point where their numbers to a point where they can be re-introduced back they can be re-introduced back into their natural habitat into their natural habitat

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