Dwan is an environmental epidemiologist, with a particular interest in children's environmental health. Her current research explores the following:
Dwan has a background in public health and nutrition. She is a founder and co-host of the R Peer Group at UQ/QIMR
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
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
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
A big-data food-chain approach to the epidemiology of zoonotic foodborne illness in QLD
Doctor Philosophy
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.
Exposure to environmental hazards and lung outcomes in children.
Due to current funding and immigration restrictions we are only able to accept domestic students.
Exposure to environmental factors in early life has been associated with poorer respiratory health for children. Air pollutants can negatively affect respiratory health, and there is increasing evidence that environmental chemicals may also have deleterious effects on child health.
This project aims to use existing data to explore the association of indoor and ambient air pollutants at home with children’s lung function in longitudinal cohort studies of Australian children, and to examine the role of modifying/mediating factors. Air quality and environmental chemicals present in the home environment, as assessed in surveys, will be examined for association with lung function, wheeze and allergic disease.
This project would suit a Honours or Masters student. Some knowledge of statistics is essential.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
A big-data food-chain approach to the epidemiology of zoonotic foodborne illness in QLD
Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Note for students: The possible research projects listed on this page may not be comprehensive or up to date. Always feel free to contact the staff for more information, and also with your own research ideas.
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.
Exposure to environmental hazards and lung outcomes in children.
Due to current funding and immigration restrictions we are only able to accept domestic students.
Exposure to environmental factors in early life has been associated with poorer respiratory health for children. Air pollutants can negatively affect respiratory health, and there is increasing evidence that environmental chemicals may also have deleterious effects on child health.
This project aims to use existing data to explore the association of indoor and ambient air pollutants at home with children’s lung function in longitudinal cohort studies of Australian children, and to examine the role of modifying/mediating factors. Air quality and environmental chemicals present in the home environment, as assessed in surveys, will be examined for association with lung function, wheeze and allergic disease.
This project would suit a Honours or Masters student. Some knowledge of statistics is essential.