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The Centre conducts research into the patterns, causes and prevention of illness in populations. Our aim is to identify and understand the social, behavioural, environmental and genetic influences on health and to translate this understanding into effective health and social policy. Questions of sustainable development and population health are also addressed. Our research programs fall into five Research Themes :

Biosecurity and Infectious Diseases
Epidemiological aspects of biosecurity and the control of infectious diseases are studied, including research into surveillance systems, outbreaks of emerging infections, tuberculosis, foodborne diseases, factors associated with transmission of infectious diseases and the assessment of control policy.

Environment, Climate and Health
Environmental factors affect health at several scales. We study the impacts of urban air pollution, environmental (especially UV radiation) influences on immune disorders, interlinked environmental, climatic and social influences on infectious disease emergence and spread, and health risks due to global climate change.

Population Health in the Asia-Pacific Region
The Asia-Pacific Region, with its mosaic of cultures, races, languages and economic systems, is the most dynamic section of the globe. Our research addresses its health challenges in the areas of health transition, maternal and child health, sexual health, quality of life and reproduction and family formation.

Social Determinants and Lifecourse Health
Several of the most important elements shaping patterns of health and illness arise from people's social or economic location, or life stage. Our research focuses on significant precursors (such as paid work or food systems) of health, and also on important health outcomes (such as mental health or obesity).

New Developments in Population Health Research Methods
In addressing a wide range of population health problems we often need to use methods that are interdisciplinary and innovative. As a result we extend current boundaries of quantitative and qualitative research methods, and are developing integration and implementation sciences.

Our web pages on epidemiology, biostatistics, sociology/anthropology, demography and integrative research explain how these disciplines and skills are used in our work.