CHEP Research

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common inherited disease affecting the developed world—and it’s a cause close to our hearts at the Children's Health and Environment Program (CHEP).

This year, we’re taking on the 5km Gold Coast Marathon (2026 ASICS Gold Coast Marathon) to raise funds for the Cure4 Cystic Fibrosis Foundation 💪.

🎯 Our goal: $1,000
Every donation—big or small—helps support vital research and make a real difference.

👉 Donate via the link here:
https://goldcoastmarathon26.grassrootz.com/cure4-cystic-fibrosis-foundation/chep

Thank you for helping us make an impact 🙏


3 m

CHEP in 2026 ASICS Gold Coast Marathon Hi everyone, This year, our team at UQ's Children’s Health and Environment Program (CHEP) is taking on the 5km event at the Gold Coast Marathon to raise funds for the Cure4 Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Cystic fibrosis is an area we care deeply about in our research, so this is a cause that feels cl...

Congratulations to our colleagues Dr Ayaho Yamamoto, who has received the Cure4CF Foundation Career Development Award by the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand Ltd (TSANZ). 🎉 TSANZ - Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand

We are very proud of your achievement. 💯

Excited to share the latest Future Healthy Countdown 2030 supplement published in the Medical Journal of Australia!

This year’s edition explores how learning and employment pathways shape children and young people’s health and wellbeing — and features the first Countdown Progress Report, showing that progress has stalled or gone backwards on many measures.

The good news? Policy solutions are within reach and strongly supported by Australians.

📖Read the supplement here: https://www.mja.com.au/journal/2025/223/9/supplement

📖Read Future Healthy Countdown 2030 Progress Report here: https://www.mja.com.au/journal/2025/223/9/first-future-healthy-countdown-2030-progress-report-tracking-australian-children

Celebrate a decade of transformative child health research 👏 👏 👏

Last week, our team celebrated with the rest of the CHRC, the centre's 10-year anniversary. As we reflect on a decade of discovery, collaboration and community impact, we look forward with excitement to the opportunities and progress that lie ahead!

On Day 1 of the event, energy levels soared during the 3-Minutes Thesis-style Student/EMCR/MCR session where our brilliant team members shared their research work:
- Thomas Boissiere-O'Neill: Maternal Phthalate Mixtures and the Gut Microbiome during Late Gestation
- Yu-Hsuan Ho: Oxidative Stress and bushfire smoke exposure: mechanisms of epithelial susceptibility
- Hasna Hena Sara: Impact of Bushfire Smoke on Indoor Air Quality
Well done team!!!! 🎉 🎉

On Day 2 of the event, Profs Peter Sly and Paul Robinson, shared their partnership and journey on building the CHEP Team as well as their insights while speaking as part of the Clinician-to-Researcher Panel. 📌 Lots of knowledge and wisdom shared!

Cannot wait to go on the journey with the centre for the next 10 years!

🚨Now Hiring - Postdoctoral Position, Louisiana State University🚨

Our colleague and PBC Chairperson, Professor Stephania Cormier, is excited to announce an available postdoctoral position in her lab. Please see the detailed description below:

A postdoc position is available immediately in my laboratory at Pennington Biomedical Research Center / Louisiana State University. Research in my group focuses on understanding how early life exposures (i.e., allergens, pollutants, and respiratory viruses) lead to predisposition, development of, or exacerbation of respiratory disease in adults.

Our work is highly translational and collaborative with immediate relevance to human diseases, such as shock and acute respiratory distress syndrome. We leverage samples from critically ill children to identify molecular targets to investigate in vitro and in vivo. Open projects involve investigating the mechanisms of interferons in the development of humoral immune responses.

We are seeking self-motivated applicants with competence in standard immunology and molecular biology techniques and human cell culture. As a core member of the lab, you will be expected to work at the bench, interpret data, and troubleshoot experiments independently. Due to the translational aspect of our research, a drive for an independent investigation, creativity, and excellent communication skills are required.

Interested applicants, please send your CV/biosketch, brief statement of research interest/experience and contact information for 2 or 3 references to me at [email protected].

Don't miss out on this exciting opportunity to advance your career!

We are proud to share that three of our CHEP team members presented today at the CHRC Seminar Series, highlighting the impact of their research across respiratory, allergic disease and environmental health.

🔬 Dr Tamara Blake presented on Advances in Early Lung Disease Detection

🌿 Mr Thomas Boissiere-O’Neill presented on the Impact of Plasticisers on Asthma and Allergic Diseases: Combining Information for Evidence Generation

🔥🧠 Miss Emily Vivian presented on the Impacts of Bushfire Smoke on the Human Brain: A Study on Vulnerable Populations in Australia

Thank you, Tamara, Thomas and Emily, for sharing your research and for proudly representing our team at this seminar!

Interested in understanding how bushfire smoke affects the air quality in your home and your health? 🔥🔥🔥

Researchers from The University of Queensland are looking for study participants. If interested, you're encouraged to register for the study soon.

This study will examine how smoke enters your home, and whether it causes adverse health effects short-term. We will visit your home and install air quality monitors, collect samples of household dust and urine and measure lung function.

You can register your interest in this study here: https://ems.gs/3Rrk0jqeRph

The CHEP Team is proud to celebrate the International Day of Women and Girls in Science! 🔬🧪🌟

2025 marks the 10th Anniversary of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science (IDWGS).

We recognise and celebrate the incredible contributions of women and girls in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

From groundbreaking discoveries to life-changing innovations, women in science continue to shape our world, driving progress and inspiring future generations.

We in the CHEP Team celebrate the amazing women who have paved the way and the emerging talents who will lead us into the future.

Let’s continue to create a world where every girl sees herself as a scientist, an innovator, and a leader. 🚀💡

👩‍🔬💙

Upcoming Seminar at UQ CHRC!

Colleagues from Hokkaido University’s Centre for Environmental and Health Sciences are visiting Brisbane and will join us at UQ Children’s Health Research Centre (CHRC) on Thursday, 13 February 2025.

Join us for a short seminar (2.5 hrs) showcasing key research from both Centres. Don’t miss this opportunity for insightful discussions!

📍 Location: Meeting Room L5 Seminar Room 003, Centre for Children's Health Research Building, 62 Graham Street South Brisbane Q 4101
📅 Date: Thursday, 13 February 2025
⏲️ 10:30am - 1pm
Zoom available: https://uqz.zoom.us/j/89791057982

Hope to see you there! 🌿

🌠 Cheers to an Incredible Year! 🌠

Our team came together last week for a festive End of Year lunch, celebrating everything we’ve achieved together. 🥂✨

From our CHEP family to yours, we wish you a joyful Christmas season and an amazing year ahead!