I have a long standing interest in the epidemiology of Clostridium difficile infection. I also conduct social epidemiological research, with a specific interest in the social and environmental determinants of health over the life-course. 

I am skilled in epidemiological research design, quantitative data analysis, analysis of linked data and systematic reviews. 

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

Recent publications

Burgis-Kasthala S, Slimings C, Smith M, Elmitt N. Moore M. Social and community networks influence dietary attitudes in regional New South Wales, Australia. Rural and Remote Health 2019; 19: 5328. https://doi.org/10.22605/RRH5328.

Selected publications - C.difficile epidemiology

Slimings C, Riley TV. Antibiotics and hospital-acquired Clostridium difficile infection: systematic review update. J Antimicrob Chemo 2014; 69(4):881-91. doi:10.1093/jac/dkt477. (IF: 5.113, cited by 220)

Thomas C, Stevenson M, Riley TV. Antibiotics and hospital-acquired Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhoea: a systematic review. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2003 Jun;51(6):1339-50. (IF: 5.113, cited by 221)

Slimings C, Armstrong P, Beckingham W, Bull A, Cope C, Hall L, Kennedy K, Marquess J, McCann R, Menzies A, Mitchell BG, Richards M, Smollen P, Tracey L, Wilkinson IJ, Wilson F, Worth L, Riley TV. Increasing incidence of Clostridium difficile infection, Australia, 2011-2012. MJA 2014; 200:272-276. doi: 10.5694/mja13.11153. (IF: 5.438, cited by 64)

Thomas C, Stevenson M, Williamson DJ, Riley TV. Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea: epidemiological data from Western Australia associated with a modified antibiotic policy. Clin Infect Dis. 2002 Dec 15;35(12):1457-62. (IF 9.055, cited by 50)

Selvey LA, Slimings C, Joske DJ, Riley TV. Clostridium difficile infections amongst patients with haematological malignancies: a data linkage study. PLoS One. 2016 Jun 17;11(6):e0157839. (IF 2.776, cited by 10)

Selected publications - life-course epidemiology and social determinants of health

Thomas C, Hyppönen E, Power C. Obesity and type 2 diabetes risk in mid-adult life: the role of childhood adversity. Pediatrics. 2008 May;121(5):e1240-9. (IF: 5.401, cited by 205)

Thomas C, Benzeval M, Stansfeld SA. Employment transitions and mental health: an analysis from the British household panel survey. J Epidemiol Community Health. 2005 Mar;59(3):243-9. (IF: 3.872, cited by 143)

Power C, Thomas C. Changes in BMI, duration of overweight and obesity, and glucose metabolism: 45 years of follow-up of a birth cohort. Diabetes Care. 2011 Sep;34(9):1986-91. (IF: 15.27, cited by 45)

Thomas C, Power C. Shift work and risk factors for cardiovascular disease: a study at age 45 years in the 1958 British birth cohort. Eur J Epidemiol. 2010 May;25(5):305-14. (IF 6.529, cited by 55)

Power C. Thomas C. Li L. Hertzman C. Childhood psychosocial adversity and adult cortisol patterns at age 45. British Journal of Psychology. 2012;201(3):199-206. (IF 3.308, cited by 32)

Silverwood R, Pierce M, Thomas C, Ferro C, Sattar N, Whincup P, Savage C, Kuh D, Nitsch D. Association between younger age when first overweight and increased risk for CKD. J Am Soc Nephrology. 2013;24(5):813-821. DOI:10.1681/ASN.2012070675 (IF 8.457, cited by 31)

Slimings C, Einarsdóttir K, Srinivasjois R, Leonard H. Hospital admissions and gestational age at birth: 18 years of follow up in Western Australia. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol. 2014 Nov;28(6):536-44. (IF:2.681, cited by 10)

Current grant funding

2020 ANU College of Health and Medicine Bushfire Response ($37,792). A pilot surveillance system to inform decision-making for the delivery of primary health services during the current and future bushfire crisis, 2020. S. Davis, E. Walker, S. Hall, C. Law, M. Moore, M. Sheel, R. Andrews, P. Burns, K. Douglas, T. Housen, R. Lucas, S. Nyoman, S. Bain-Donohue, M. Patel, C. Philips, B. Polkinghorne, C. Slimings

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.

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.

Previous grant funding

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.

 

I have two projects available for a MChD research project commencing 2020.

Developing a causal framework for Covid-19 infection: a systematic review of epidemiological studies.

The AirBnB effect: a systematic review of the impact of short-term rental properties on the social determinants of health

Please see the research project site on Wattle for further details, or email me for an outline.

I can only offer systematic review projects at this time. If you are interested in undertaking a systematic review on a topic of your choosing I very happy to assist you with supervision.

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)