My research interests include social deteminants of health, life-course epidemiology, health systems and policy research. 

Claudia Slimings (formerly Thomas) is an experienced epidemiologist, health researcher and educator with a demonstrated history of working in higher education. Skilled in epidemiology, research design, analysis, teaching, and Population Health and is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

Clauida 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.

Current projects

A systematic review of health policy research in Australian rural settings.
Propero ID: CRD42019125131
https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=125131

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.

Key Publications

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. Epub 08/12/2013.

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.

Jones R, Hardy R, Sattar N, Deanfield JE, Hughes A, Kuh D, Murray ET, Whincup PH, Thomas C; NSHD Scientific and Data Collection Teams. Novel coronary heart disease risk factors at 60-64 years and life course socioeconomic position: the 1946 British birth cohort. Atherosclerosis. 2015 Jan;238(1):70-6.

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.

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

Thomas C, Nightingale CM, Donin AS, Rudnicka AR, Owen CG, Cook DG, Whincup PH. Ethnic and socioeconomic influences on childhood blood pressure: The Child Heart and Health Study in England (CHASE). J Hypertension. 2012; 30(11): 2090-7

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

Thomas C, Nightingale CM, Donin AS, Rudnicka AR, Owen CG, Sattar N, Cook DG, Whincup PH. 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. 2012;7(3):e32619.

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.

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.

Thomas C, Power C. Do early life exposures explain associations in mid-adulthood between workplace factors and risk factors for cardiovascular disease? Int J Epidemiol. 2010 Jun;39(3):812-24.

Thomas C, Hertzman C, Power C. Night work, long working hours, psychosocial work stress and cortisol secretion in mid-life: evidence from a British birth cohort. Occup Environ Med. 2009 Dec;66(12):824-31.

Thomas C, Benzeval M, Stansfeld S. Psychological distress after employment transitions: the role of subjective financial position as a mediator. J Epidemiol Community Health. 2007 Jan;61(1):48-52.

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

Current 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.

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.

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)