Dr Claudia Slimings
Areas of expertise
- Epidemiology 111706
- Public Health And Health Services 1117
- Infectious Diseases 110309
- Applied Statistics 010401
- Medicine, Nursing And Health Curriculum And Pedagogy 130209
Research interests
I have 20 years applied epidemiological research experience and have been involved in a range of studies – from understanding the epidemiology of hospital-acquired C.difficile infection; examining life-course influences on adult health, particularly employment characteristics and mental and cardiovascular health, and long term influences of perinatal and early life determinants; to rural health. I have co-authored 35 publications in peer-reviewed journals which have been cited more than 1600 times (h-index 20), and co-edited one book on spatial and social disparities in health.
A full list of publications can be viewed from the following site:
https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=35273906000
Biography
Proud recipient of the ANU Medical School Director's Excellence in Teaching Award 2019
Claudia Slimings (formerly Thomas) is an experienced epidemiologist, health researcher and educator with a demonstrated history of working in higher education. She is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
Claudia originally trained as a microbiologist and epidemiologist, receiving a PhD in Population Health from the University of Western Australia in 2003 on the epidemiology of hospital-associated Clostridium difficile infection.
She then held post-doctoral academic positions in the UK, at Queen Mary University of London and the UCL Institute of Child Health where she undertook research into life-course and socio-economic determinants of health using data from the British Household Panel Survey, and the 1946 and 1958 British Birth Cohorts, obtaining a Mid-Career Fellowship from the Economic & Social Research Council in 2007.
She joined St George's Hospital Medical School, University of London, as Lecturer in Epidemiology in 2009 where she contributed to the teaching and research programme of the Division of Population Health and received formal training in Medical Education. She returned to Australia in 2012 working in various roles at the University of Western Australia and Telethon Kids Institute before joining ANU Medical School in 2017.
Fun fact: I was the 100,000th Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
Researcher's projects
Current projects
Slimings C. The impact of COVID-19 on rural communities: a systematic scoping review. Open Science Framework registration: https://osf.io/7jz62
Slimings C & Riley TV. Antibiotics and hospital-associated Clostridium difficile infection: systematic review update 2020. PROSPERO registration CRD42020181817.
Slimings C, Bowles D & Hussain R. Development and evaluation of climate change and health learning resources in medical education.
Lal A, Slimings C. To what extent is environmental and climate change embedded in public health and medical curricula?
Pre-prints and in press
Zhang X, Slimings C. Does food-related cultural capital contribute to diet inequality in rural Australia? A pilot cross-sectional study. doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.10.22.20218040
Forcadela V, Bagheri N, Slimings C. The prevalence of psychological distress and relationships with social fragmentation and isolation: a geospatial study and survey in rural Australia. medRxiv 2020.11.12.20230771; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.11.12.20230771
Slimings C, Moore M. Geographic variation in health system performance in rural areas of New South Wales, Australia. Australian Journal of Rural Health 2020. In press.
Current grant funding
2019 ANU Global Research Partnership Scheme ($25000). Indonesia-ANU Rural Health Initiative. M. Moore, A. Sawitri, A. Sari, A. Wirawan, A. Astuti, S. Nyoman, C. Philips, C. Slimings, S. Hall, S. Bain-Donohue
2019 ANU Vice-Chancellor's Linkage for Learning and Teaching Grant ($15040). Adaptive doctors: preparing tomorrow's doctors for practice in a world destabilising by declining planetary health. C. Slimings, D. Bowles, R. Hussain.
Previous grant funding
2019 CHM Dean's Strategic Funding Initiative ($10000). Health Policy: the nuts and bolts of policy development. R. Hussain, C. Slimings, D. Bowles (ANUMS), B. Polkinghorne (RSPH)
2018 ANU Medical School Teaching & Learning Enhancement ($4000). Make Population Health Fun! Enhancing Population Health Phase 1 Curriculum with online resources. R. Hussain, C. Slimings.
Medical Research Council, GDP400k. UK (2011-2013)
Novel cardiovascular risk markers: associations with early outcomes and life course determinants in the National Survey of Health and Development (1946 British Birth Cohort). Whincup P (PI), Deanfield J, Hardy R, Hughes A, Kuh D, Sattar N, Thomas C.
Economic and Social Research Council, GDP98k, UK (2007-2009)
Mid-Career Fellowship under the initiative Understanding Population Trends and Processes (UPTAP). Project title: How does employment affect cardiovascular risk? A life-course approach in the 1958 cohort.
Available student projects
PhD opportunities
Retinopathy of prematurity in the Asia Pacific Region: burden, risk factors and outcomes
Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a leading cause of blindness in premature and low birth weight infants, characterised by abnormal retinal vascular development at the boundary of the vascular and avascular peripheral retina.
This project will focus on gaining a greater understanding of the epidemiology of ROP in the Asia Pacific region. The student will develop skills in conducting a systematic review of the evidence base, and secondary data analysis of existing data held in national and international neonatal registers and databases.
This project would be suitable for a student wishing to undertake a PhD in epidemiology or public health. Some experience with research methods and data analysis would be an advantage.
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MChD projects 2021-22
Two main methodological areas of projects are available for supervision:
1. Systematic reviews (see examples below)
2. Secondary data analysis using Australian National Health Survey data.
I am happy to work with students to develop a research question within these two domains.
I am also happy to co-supervise projects where epidemiological and/or statistical guidance is needed.
Examples of potential Covid-19 systematic review projects include:
- effects of lockdown on various health outcomes, such as mental health, domestic violence, food security;
- impact and changes to healthcare during the pandemic, such as diabetes care, antenatal care, ophthalmology etc.; hospital admission trends for specific conditions.
- access to healthcare in rural areas during the pandemic;
- nosocomial transmission of SARS-CoV-2;
- risk of healthcare-associated infections in Covid-19 patients.
Current student projects
MChD projects 2020-21
Developing a causal framework for Covid-19 infection: a systematic review of epidemiological studies.
Student: Olivia Dill
The AirBnB effect: a systematic review of the impact of short-term rental properties on the social determinants of health
Student: Nour Al-Akra
The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on hospital-acquired infection rates: systematic review
Student: Hareesha Rangarajan
Past student projects
MChD projects Completed 2020:
A comparative analysis of the provision of mental health care in rural areas using a systems perspective.
Project location: Rural Clinical School (Dr Claudia Slimings) and Centre for Mental Health Research (Prof. Luis Salvador-Carulla; Dr Nasser Bagheri)
Student: Cian Brinkman (MChD)
The prevalence of mental health disorders in rural SE NSW and associations with neighbourhood-level social fragmentation.
Project location: Rural Clinical School (Dr Claudia Slimings) and Centre for Mental Health Research (Dr. Nasser Bagheri; Prof. Luis Salvador-Carulla).
Student: Victor Forcadela (MChD)
Social relationships, food-related cultural capital and healthy food consumption in rural Australia
Project location: Rural Clinical School (Dr Claudia Slimings)
Student: Michelle Zhang (MChD)
Publications
- Burgis-Kasthala, S, Slimings, C, Smith, M et al. 2019, 'Social and community networks influence dietary attitudes in regional New South Wales, Australia', Rural and Remote Health, vol. 19, no. 305.
- Selvey, L, Slimings, C, Adams, E et al. 2018, 'Incidence and predictors of HIV, chlamydia and gonorrhoea among men who have sex with men attending a peer-based clinic', Sexual Health, vol. 15, no. 5, pp. 451-459.
- Selvey, LA, Lim, W, Boan, P, Swaminathan, R, Slimings C et al 2017, 'Cytomegalovirus viraemia and mortality in renal transplant recipients in the era of antiviral prophylaxis. Lessons from the western Australian experience', BMC Infectious Diseases, vol. 17, no. 501.
- Selvey, L, Slimings, C, Joske, D et al 2016, 'Clostridium difficile infections amongst patients with haematological malignancies: a data linkage study', PLOS ONE (Public Library of Science), vol. 11, no. 6.
- Murray, E, Jones, R, Thomas, C et al 2016, 'Life Course Socioeconomic Position:Associations with Cardiac Structure and Function at Age 60-64 Years in the 1946 British Birth Cohort', PLOS ONE (Public Library of Science), vol. 11, no. 3.
- Eyre, D, Tracey, L, Elliott, B, Slimings, C et al 2015, 'Emergence and spread of predominantly community-onset Clostridium difficile PCR ribotype 244 infection in Australia, 2010 to 2012', Eurosurveillance (Online Edition), vol. 20, no. 10.
- Jones, R, Hardy, R, Sattar, N et al. 2015, 'Novel coronary heart disease risk factors at 60-64 years and life course socioeconomic position: The 1946 British birth cohort', Atherosclerosis, vol. 238, no. 1, pp. 70-76.
- Srinivasjois, R, Slimings, C, Einarsdottir, K et al. 2015, 'Association of Gestational Age at Birth with Reasons for Subsequent Hospitalisation: 18 Years of Follow-Up in a Western Australian Population Study', PLOS ONE (Public Library of Science), vol. 10, no. 6.
- Slimings, C, Armstrong, P, Beckingham, W et al 2014, 'Increasing incidence of Clostridium difficile infection, Australia, 2011-2012', Medical Journal of Australia, vol. 200, no. 5, pp. 272-276.
- Slimings, C & Riley, T 2014, 'Antibiotics and hospital-acquired Clostridium difficile infection: update of systematic review and meta-analysis', Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, vol. 69, no. 4, pp. 881-891.
- Slimings, C, Einarsdottir, K, Srinivasjois, R et al 2014, 'Hospital Admissions and Gestational Age at Birth: 18 Years of Follow Up in Western Australia', Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology, vol. 28, no. 6, pp. 536-544.
- Denholm, R, Power, C, Thomas, C et al. 2013, 'Child Maltreatment and Household Dysfunction in a British Birth Cohort', Child Abuse Review, vol. 22, no. 5, pp. 340-353.
- Silverwood, R, Pierce, M, Hardy, R, Thomas, C et al. 2013, 'Early-Life Overweight Trajectory and CKD in the 1946 British Birth Cohort Study', American Journal of Kidney Diseases, vol. 62, no. 2, pp. 276-284.
- Silverwood, R, Pierce, M, Thomas, C et al. 2013, 'Association between Younger Age When First Overweight and Increased Risk for CKD', Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, vol. 24, no. 5, pp. 813-821.
- Power, C, Thomas, C, Li, L et al. 2012, 'Childhood psychosocial adversity and adult cortisol patterns', British Journal of Psychiatry, vol. 201, no. 3, pp. 199-206.
- Thomas, C, Nightingale, C, Donin, A et al. 2012, 'Ethnic and Socioeconomic Influences on Childhood Blood Pressure: The Child Heart and Health Study in England (CHASE)', Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, vol. 66, pp. 11-12.
- Thomas, C, Nightingale, C, Donin, A et al. 2012, 'Socio-Economic Position and Type 2 Diabetes Risk Factors: Patterns in UK Children of South Asian, Black African-Caribbean and White European Origin', PLOS ONE (Public Library of Science), vol. 7, no. 3, pp. 1-11.
- Power, C & Thomas, C 2011, 'Changes in BMI, Duration of Overweight and Obesity, and Glucose Metabolism: 45 Years of Follow-up of a Birth Cohort', Diabetes Care, vol. 34, no. 9, pp. 1986-1991.
- Power, C, Atherton, K & Thomas, C 2010, 'Maternal smoking in pregnancy, adult adiposity and other risk factors for cardiovascular disease', Atherosclerosis, vol. 211, pp. 643-648.
- Thomas, C & Power, C 2010, 'Do early life exposures explain associations in mid-adulthood between workplace factors and risk factors for cardiovascular disease?', International Journal of Epidemiology, vol. 39, pp. 812-824.
- Thomas, C & Power, C 2010, 'Shift work and risk factors for cardiovascular disease: a study at age 45 years in the 1958 British birth cohort', European Journal of Epidemiology, vol. 25, pp. 305-314.
Projects and Grants
Grants information is drawn from ARIES. To add or update Projects or Grants information please contact your College Research Office.
- An evaluation of the impact of the role of rural GP VMOs on quality of care (Secondary Investigator)
