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Environmental Influences on Immune Disorders

1. Multiple Sclerosis

A major focus for this stream is the Ausimmune Study, a multicentre case control study examining environmental influences on the onset of first episodes of demyelination and possible progression to multiple sclerosis. The study is underway in Australia from 1 Nov 2003 to 31 Dec 2008.

The investigator team includes Prof Tony McMichael, A/Prof Keith Dear and Dr Robyn Lucas . Background papers and papers arising from the Ausimmune Study are available at individual researchers' webpages.

2. Asthma

We are examining environmental influences on the timing of recurrent asthma attacks:

• relationships between asthma and climate variability in Australia , especially with regard to the El Niño phenomenon, and implications for climate change (Dr Hilary Bambrick, Dr Mark Clements and external collaborators).
• associations between childhood asthma and returning to school (Dr Hilary Bambrick)
• seasonality in childhood asthma hospitalisations (Dr Hilary Bambrick, Dr Rennie D'Souza)

3. Type 1 diabetes

We (Prof Tony McMichael, Dr Robyn Lucas, Dr Hilary Bambrick) are currently developing a portfolio of work examining the role of environmental factors in the onset of type 1 diabetes in children, including:

• analyses of data from the National Diabetes Register (maintained by AHIW) in relation to variation in environmental factors such as temperature, precipitation, latitude and ultraviolet radiation in Australia
• analysis of global type 1 diabetes incidence data in relation to geographical variation in environmental factors
• a proposed large multicentre case control study similar to the Ausimmune Study examining causes of type 1 diabetes onset in Australia and New Zealand

4. Other vitamin D studies

The importance of vitamin D and sun exposure to health is a “hot topic” worldwide. Researchers at NCEPH (Dr Robyn Lucas, Prof Tony McMichael) are actively involved in research in this area and in providing input to policy development to promote appropriate UVR exposure for Australians.