University of Tasmania, Australia

Childhood determinants of adult health study

‘I’m an epidemiologist and I am doing research into the causes of common preventable diseases. I always had in mind that if the right opportunity came up to do research in Tasmania, that was good research and internationally significant, then I would be very interested in that opportunity. We’re doing a study called the childhood determinants of adult health study. To look at how childhood factors influence their risk of diseases particularly heart disease and diabetes later in life. Our study is one of only 4 worldwide that has a similar range of measures and that is large with such a long period of follow up. One of the things that makes this work rewarding is that we are looking at risk factors that affect many many people in the population and there is an opportunity to make a difference to people’s health.’