Honorary Emeritus Fellow
MPH PhD
Liz is an epidemiologist specialising in the aetiology and prevention of childhood cancers and other chronic diseases. For over a decade, her research has had a strong focus on identifying genetic, dietary and environmental risk factors for childhood leukaemia and brain tumours.
She joined Telethon Kids Institute in 2001 and established a comprehensive program of research, conducting Australia-wide studies and becoming a key player in the establishment of international consortia. Such international collaborations are crucial because childhood cancers are relatively rare, and difficult to study in relatively small populations. Liz is now an Honorary Emeritus Fellow with the Institute.
Liz’s other research interests include gene-environment interactions, folate metabolism, assisted reproductive technology and the harmful effects of sun exposure, alcohol and mobile phone use. As an epidemiologist, she has a strong interest in research study design and statistical analysis.
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Projects
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Publications
March 2024
Ovulation induction and subfertile untreated conception groups offer improved options for interpreting risks associated with ART
To identify and characterise appropriate comparison groups for population studies of health outcomes in ART-conceived births: ovulation induction (OI), subfertile untreated and fertile natural conceptions. Our secondary objective was to examine whether known risks of pregnancy complications and adverse birth outcomes in ART births are elevated in comparison with subfertile (untreated and OI) conception groups.
Published research Child Disability Assisted Reproductive TechnologiesMay 2022Infant feeding practices and childhood acute leukemia: Findings from the Childhood Cancer & Leukemia International Consortium
Increasing evidence suggests that breastfeeding may protect from childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia and acute myeloid leukemia. However, most studies have limited their analyses to any breastfeeding, and only a few data have examined exclusive breastfeeding, or other exposures such as formula milk.
Children's Cancers Published research Aboriginal Health & Wellbeing Breastfeeding Alcohol and Pregnancy and FASD ResearchMarch 2021Time spent outdoors in childhood is associated with reduced risk of myopia as an adult
Myopia (near-sightedness) is an important public health issue. Spending more time outdoors can prevent myopia but the long-term association between this exposure and myopia has not been well characterised. We investigated the relationship between time spent outdoors in childhood, adolescence and young adulthood and risk of myopia in young adulthood. The Kidskin Young Adult Myopia Study (KYAMS) was a follow-up of the Kidskin Study, a sun exposure-intervention study of 1776 children aged 6-12 years.
Published research Child EpidemiologyMay 2020Re-engaging an inactive cohort of young adults: Evaluating recruitment for the Kidskin Young Adult Myopia Study
We evaluate our ability to recruit participants for the Kidskin Young Adult Myopia Study, a follow-up of the Kidskin Study
Published research Child EpidemiologyMarch 2020Recalling our day in the sun: comparing long-term recall of childhood sun exposure with prospectively collected parent-reported data
Group data from retrospective recall of sun-related behaviours may be of limited value in studying the relationship between sun exposure and health outcomes;
Published research Child EpidemiologyOctober 2019Coffee and tea consumption during pregnancy and risk of childhood acute myeloid leukemia: A Childhood Leukemia International Consortium (CLIC) study
We investigated the potential association of maternal coffee and tea consumption during pregnancy with childhood acute myeloid leukemia risk
Children's Cancers Published research Child EpidemiologyNovember 2018A systematic review of prevention interventions to reduce prenatal alcohol exposure and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder in indigenous communities
There is little evidence that previous interventions aiming to reduce the risk of prenatal alcohol exposure or FASD in Indigenous populations have been effective
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Published research Alcohol and Pregnancy and FASD Research Child EpidemiologyOctober 2018Association between male genital anomalies and adult male reproductive disorders: a population-based data linkage study spanning more than 40 years
We provide new evidence to support current guidelines for orchidopexy before age 18 months to decrease the risk of future testicular cancer and infertility
Published research Alcohol and Pregnancy and FASD Research Genetics and Health Child EpidemiologyOctober 2018Association between male genital anomalies and adult male reproductive disorders: a population-based data linkage study spanning more than 40 years
Undescended testes is associated with an increased risk of testicular cancer and male infertility, and decreased paternity
Published research Alcohol and Pregnancy and FASD Research Genetics and Health Child EpidemiologyJune 2018Living on a farm, contact with farm animals and pets, and childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia
These findings add additional evidence to the hypothesis that regular contact with animals in early childhood is inversely associated with childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Children's Cancers Published research Child EpidemiologyJune 2018Maternal consumption of coffee and tea during pregnancy and risk of childhood ALL: a pooled analysis from the childhood Leukemia International Consortium
Our findings suggest that high coffee intake during pregnancy may increase risk of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Children's Cancers Published research Child EpidemiologyJanuary 2018Investigating the long-term impact of a childhood sun-exposure intervention, with a focus on eye health: protocol for the Kidskin-Young Adult Myopia Study
A follow-up of Kidskin Study participants provides an opportunity to investigate the associations between a childhood sun-exposure intervention and potentially related conditions in adulthood
Published research Human Development and Community Wellbeing Cancer EpidemiologyNovember 2017Early vaccination protects against childhood leukemia: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Growing evidence supports a role for infection in the etiology of ALL and the involvement of immune systems suggests that vaccination may also play a role.
Published research Cancer EpidemiologyJanuary 2016A variant at 9p21.3 functionally implicates CDKN2B in paediatric B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukaemia aetiology
Discover and replicate a locus indexed by rs77728904 at 9p21.3 associated with BCP-ALL susceptibility
Published research Cancer EpidemiologyDecember 2015Home pesticide exposures and risk of childhood leukemia: Findings from the childhood leukemia international consortium
In this investigation, the authors found an association between home pesticide exposure before birth and during a child's early years and acute lymphoblastic...
Children's Cancers Published research Cancer EpidemiologyOctober 2015Linked data research: a valuable tool in the ART field
This letter to the editor endorses data linkage studies and cites their potential value over other types of epidemiological studies within the field of...
Published research Academic Biostatistics Alcohol and Pregnancy and FASD Research Assisted Reproductive Technologies Cancer EpidemiologySeptember 2015Home paint exposures and risk of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia: findings from the Childhood Leukemia International Consortium
This paper demonstrated that home paint exposure shortly before conception, during pregnancy, and/or after birth appeared to increase the risk of childhood ALL.
Children's Cancers Published research Cancer EpidemiologyJuly 2015Blood micronutrients and DNA damage in children
This is the first study to examine the associations between a range of blood micronutrient levels and DNA damage in healthy children.
Published research Academic Biostatistics Nutrition Cancer EpidemiologyApril 2015Risk of cancer among children with birth defects: A novel approach
This novel approach aimed to prevent inflated hazard ratios arising from reverse causation, and allow identification of associations beyond those already...
Children's Cancers Published research Academic Biostatistics Alcohol and Pregnancy and FASD Research Cancer EpidemiologyMarch 2015Folate pathway gene polymorphisms and risk of childhood brain tumors: Results from an Australian case-control study
Recent research suggests that maternal folic acid supplementation is associated with a reduced risk of childhood brain tumors (CBT); polymorphisms in folate...
Children's Cancers Published research Academic Biostatistics Alcohol and Pregnancy and FASD Research Brain Tumour Research Cancer EpidemiologyMarch 2015Childhood folate, B6, B12, and food group intake and the risk of childhood brain tumors: results from an Australian case–control study
In this case-control study of CBT, the possible associations of childhood intake of dietary and supplemental folate, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 with the...
Published research Academic Biostatistics Nutrition Alcohol and Pregnancy and FASD Research Cancer EpidemiologyJanuary 2015Breastfeeding and nutrition to 2 years of age and risk of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia and brain tumors
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia and childhood brain tumors are 2 of the most common forms of childhood cancer, but little is known of their etiology.
Children's Cancers Published research Breastfeeding Cancer EpidemiologyJanuary 2015Vehicle refuelling, use of domestic wood heaters and the risk of childhood brain tumours: Results from an Australian case-control study
The aetiology of childhood brain tumours (CBT) is largely unknown.
Children's Cancers Published research Cancer EpidemiologyJanuary 2015Birthweight and childhood cancer: Preliminary findings from the international childhood cancer cohort consortium (I4C)
Background Evidence relating childhood cancer to high birthweight is derived primarily from registry and case-control studies.
Children's Cancers Published research Cancer EpidemiologyJanuary 2015Childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia and indicators of early immune stimulation: a Childhood Leukemia International Consortium study
The associations between childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and several proxies of early stimulation of the immune system, that is, day-care center...
Children's Cancers Published research Breastfeeding Cancer EpidemiologyJanuary 2015Folate pathway gene polymorphisms, maternal folic acid use, and risk of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia
Several studies suggest that maternal folic acid supplementation before or during pregnancy protects against childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL).
Published research Academic Biostatistics Nutrition Alcohol and Pregnancy and FASD Research Cancer Epidemiology Genetics and HealthJanuary 2015Plasma micronutrient levels and telomere length in children
Telomeres are long hexamer (TTAGGG) repeats at the ends of chromosomes, and contribute to maintenance of chromosomal stability.
Published research Academic Biostatistics Nutrition Cancer EpidemiologyNovember 2014Maternal supplementation with folic acid and other vitamins and risk of leukemia in offspring: a childhood leukemia international consortium study
Our results suggest that maternal prenatal use of vitamins and folic acid reduces the risk of both ALL and AML
Children's Cancers Published research Cancer EpidemiologyOctober 2014Paternal intake of folate and vitamins B6 and B12 before conception and risk of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Higher levels of paternal dietary vitamin B12 were appeared to be associated with an increased risk of childhood ALL, with those in the highest tertile of...
Children's Cancers Published research Child EpidemiologyOctober 2014Confirmation of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia Variants, ARID5B and IKZF1, and interaction with parental environmental exposures
The polygenic nature of childhood ALL predisposition together with the timing of environmental triggers may hold vital clues for disease etiology.
Children's Cancers Published research Academic Biostatistics Cancer Epidemiology Genetics and HealthSeptember 2014The MOBI-Kids Study Protocol: Exposure to Electromagnetic Fields from Wireless Telecommunication Technologies and Possible Association with Brain Tumor Risk
The rapid increase in mobile phone use in young people has generated concern about possible health effects of exposure to radiofrequency (RF) and extremely...
Children's Cancers Published research Cancer EpidemiologyAugust 2014Parental occupational paint exposure and risk of childhood leukemia in the offspring: findings from the Childhood Leukemia International Consortium
Using individual data from fathers of 8,185 cases and 14,210 controls, the pooled OR for paternal exposure around conception and risk of acute lymphoblastic...
Children's Cancers Published research Cancer EpidemiologyJuly 2014Maternal consumption of coffee and tea during pregnancy and risk of childhood brain tumors: results from an Australian case-control study
The aim of this analysis was to investigate whether maternal coffee or tea consumption during pregnancy was associated with the risk of CBT.
Children's Cancers Published research Nutrition Cancer EpidemiologyJune 2014Childhood brain tumours: Associations with parental occupational exposure to solvents
Paternal exposure to solvents in the year before conception was associated with an increased CBT risk. This increased risk appeared to be mainly attributable...
Children's Cancers Published research Cancer EpidemiologyJune 2014Erratum to: Exposure to household painting and floor treatments, and parental occupational paint exposure and risk of childhood brain tumors
This paper corrects an error in data reported in a previous publication.
Children's Cancers Published research Academic Biostatistics Cancer EpidemiologyJune 2014Ultraviolet radiation exposure and serum vitamin D levels in young children
This paper examined the link between UV exposure and vitamin D production in young children to determine how long it takes for sun exposure to affect serum...
Published research Academic Biostatistics Nutrition Vitamin D and Sunlight Cancer EpidemiologyJune 2014Maternal Dietary Intake of Folate and Vitamins B6 and B12 During Pregnancy and Risk of Childhood Brain Tumors
This Australia-wide study examines whether maternal intake of folate and vitamins B6 and B12 during pregnancy is associated with development of brain tumors...
Published research Academic Biostatistics Nutrition Alcohol and Pregnancy and FASD Research Cancer EpidemiologyMarch 2014Parental occupational pesticide exposure and the risk of childhood leukemia in the offspring: Findings from the childhood leukemia international consortium
Maternal occupational pesticide exposure during pregnancy and/or paternal occupational pesticide exposure around conception have been suggested to increase...
Children's Cancers Published research Cancer EpidemiologyJanuary 2014Childhood and parental diagnostic radiological procedures and risk of childhood brain tumors
We found no evidence of positive associations between risk of childhood brain tumours overall and childhood or parental pre-pregnancy radiological procedures.
Children's Cancers Published research Cancer EpidemiologyDecember 2013Exposure to household painting and floor treatments, and parental occupational paint exposure and risk of childhood brain tumors
This study investigated whether household exposure to paints and floor treatments and parental occupational painting were associated with CBT risk...
Children's Cancers Published research Academic Biostatistics Cancer EpidemiologyNovember 2013Rule-based exposure assessment versus case-by-case expert assessment using the same information in a community-based study
Expert assessment is often used to assess lifetime occupational exposures, but these assessments generally lack transparency and are very time-consuming.
Published research Cancer EpidemiologyJuly 2013Exposure to pesticides and the risk of childhood brain tumors
This Australian case-control study of CBT investigated whether exposures to pesticides before pregnancy, during pregnancy and during childhood, were...
Children's Cancers Published research Academic Biostatistics Cancer EpidemiologyJuly 2013Assisted reproductive technology and birth defects: A systematic review and meta-analysis
It has been 10 years since we carried out a systematic search of the literature on birth defect risk in infants born following assisted reproductive...
Published research Academic Biostatistics Alcohol and Pregnancy and FASD Research Assisted Reproductive Technologies Cancer EpidemiologyJune 2013Parental occupational exposure to engine exhausts and childhood brain tumors
Increased risks were observed for maternal exposure to diesel exhaust any time before the child's birth and paternal exposure around the time of the child's...
Children's Cancers Published research Academic Biostatistics Cancer EpidemiologyJune 2013Fetal growth and childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia: Findings from the childhood leukemia international consortium
The evidence that accelerated fetal growth is associated with a modest increased risk of childhood ALL is strong and consistent with known biological...
Children's Cancers Published research Cancer EpidemiologyJune 2013Familial aggregation of childhood and adult cancer in the Utah genealogy
We explored familial aggregation of cancer in a population-based case-control study using genealogical record linkage and designed to overcome limitations of...
Children's Cancers Published research Cancer EpidemiologyJune 2013The Childhood Leukemia International Consortium
The Childhood Leukemia International Consortium (CLIC) was established in 2007 to promote investigations of rarer exposures, gene-environment interactions...
Children's Cancers Published research Cancer EpidemiologyMay 2013Participation in paediatric cancer studies: Timing and approach to recruitment
In this sub-study, we aimed to investigate factors that may have influenced study participation and completeness of survey completion.
Children's Cancers Published research Cancer EpidemiologyJanuary 2013Parental alcohol consumption and risk of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia and brain tumors
Childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common childhood malignancy and brain tumors (CBTs) are the leading cause of cancer death in...
Children's Cancers Published research Academic Biostatistics Alcohol and Pregnancy and FASD Research Cancer EpidemiologyJanuary 2013Factors relating to pregnancy and birth and the risk of childhood brain tumors: Results from an Australian case-control study
Childhood brain tumors (CBT) are the leading cause of cancer death in children, yet their causes are largely known. This study investigated the association...
Children's Cancers Published research Alcohol and Pregnancy and FASD Research Cancer EpidemiologyJanuary 2013Parental smoking and risk of childhood brain tumors
Childhood brain tumors (CBT) are the leading cause of cancer death in children, yet their etiology remains largely unknown.
Children's Cancers Published research Academic Biostatistics Cancer EpidemiologyDecember 2012Genetic polymorphisms and childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia: GWAS of the ESCALE study (SFCE)
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) accounts for approximately 80% of the acute leukemia (AL) overall cases per year in France. We report the results of a...
Children's Cancers Published research Cancer EpidemiologyNovember 2012Maternal Use of Folic Acid and Other Supplements and Risk of Childhood Brain Tumors
Interest in a possible protective effect of maternal vitamin use before or during pregnancy against childhood brain tumors (CBT) and other childhood cancers...
Children's Cancers Published research Academic Biostatistics Alcohol and Pregnancy and FASD Research Brain Tumour Research Cancer EpidemiologySeptember 2012Statistical adjustment of genotyping error in a case-control study of childhood leukaemia
Genotyping has become more cost-effective and less invasive with the use of buccal cell...
Children's Cancers Published research Academic Biostatistics Cancer Epidemiology Genetics and HealthJune 2012Risk of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia following parental occupational exposure to pesticides
Risk of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia following parental occupational exposure to pesticides.
Children's Cancers Published research Cancer EpidemiologyJune 2012Parental occupational exposure to engine exhausts and childhood brain tumors
Childhood brain tumors (CBT) are the leading cause of cancer death in children; their risk factors are still largely unknown.
Children's Cancers Published research Academic Biostatistics Cancer EpidemiologyMay 2012Participation in population-based case-control studies: Does the observed decline vary by socio-economic status?
An Australian study of childhood leukaemia (Aus-ALL) previously reported that control participation was positively associated with socio-economic status...
Children's Cancers Published research Academic Biostatistics Cancer EpidemiologyFebruary 2012Parental occupational exposure to engine exhausts and childhood brain tumors
Parental occupational exposure to engine exhausts and childhood brain tumors.
Children's Cancers Published research Academic Biostatistics Cancer EpidemiologyJanuary 2012Parental prenatal smoking and risk of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia
The association between parental smoking and risk of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) was investigated
Children's Cancers Published research Academic Biostatistics Cancer EpidemiologyJanuary 2012Maternal dietary intake of folate and vitamins b6 and B12 during pregnancy and the risk of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Maternal dietary intake of folate and vitamins b6 and B12 during pregnancy and the risk of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
Children's Cancers Published research Academic Biostatistics Nutrition Cancer EpidemiologyDecember 2011Parental prenatal smoking and risk of childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
The association between parental smoking and risk of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) was investigated in an Australian population-based...
Children's Cancers Published research Academic Biostatistics Child EpidemiologyNovember 2011Parental occupational exposure to exhausts, solvents, glues and paints, and risk of childhood leukemia
It is unknown whether parental occupational exposure to chemicals before during and after pregnancy increases the risk of acute lymphoblastic...
Children's Cancers Published research Cancer EpidemiologyOctober 2011Participation in population-based case-control studies: does the observed decline vary by socio-economic status?
Participation in population-based case-control studies: does the observed decline vary by socio-economic status?
Children's Cancers Published research Academic Biostatistics Cancer EpidemiologyOctober 2011Exposure to professional pest control treatments and the risk of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Previous studies suggest that exposure to pesticides increases the risk of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Children's Cancers Published research Academic Biostatistics Cancer EpidemiologySeptember 2011ART, birth defects and subfertility-what should prospective patients be told?
Clinicians who counsel prospective ART patients about birth defect risk should provide information about the overall risk of having a child with a birth defect
Published research Academic Biostatistics Alcohol and Pregnancy and FASD Research Assisted Reproductive Technologies Cancer EpidemiologyMay 2011Western Australian children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia are taller at diagnosis than unaffected children of the same age and sex
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the commonest childhood malignancy in Australian children
Children's Cancers Published research Academic Biostatistics Leukaemia Translational ResearchFebruary 2011Maternal consumption of coffee and tea during pregnancy and risk of childhood ALL: results from an Australian case-control study
To investigate whether maternal coffee and/or tea consumption during the last 6 months of pregnancy was associated with risk of childhood ALL.
Children's Cancers Published research Academic Biostatistics Alcohol and Pregnancy and FASD Research Cancer EpidemiologyJanuary 2011Risk of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia following parental occupational exposure to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields
Risk of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia following parental occupational exposure to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields British Journal..
Children's Cancers Published research Cancer EpidemiologyJanuary 2011Maternal consumption of coffee and tea during pregnancy and risk of childhood ALL: Results from an Australian case-control study
The objective of this study was to investigate whether maternal coffee and/or tea consumption during the last 6 months of pregnancy was associated with risk...
Children's Cancers Published research Academic Biostatistics Nutrition Alcohol and Pregnancy and FASD Research Cancer EpidemiologyNovember 2010Exposure to diagnostic radiological procedures and the risk of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Diagnostic irradiation of the mother during pregnancy increases the risk of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Children's Cancers Published research Academic Biostatistics Child EpidemiologyJune 2010Maternal folate and other vitamin supplementation during pregnancy and risk of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in the offspring
The Australian Study of Causes of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in Children (Aus-ALL) was designed to test the hypothesis, raised by a previous Western Australia
Children's Cancers Published research Academic Biostatistics Cancer EpidemiologyMay 2010Representativeness of child controls recruited by random digit dialling
Recruiting control subjects who are representative of the population from which the cases are drawn is a challenge in case-control studies
Published research Academic Biostatistics Alcohol and Pregnancy and FASD Research Child EpidemiologyJanuary 2010Detecting genotyping error using measures of degree of Hardy-Weinberg disequilibrium - art. no. 5
Tests for Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) have been used to detect genotyping error, but those tests have low power unless the sample size is very large.
Published research Academic Biostatistics Cancer EpidemiologyApril 2009Fetal growth and risk of childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
The relation between intrauterine growth and risk of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia was investigated in an Australian population-based case-control...
Children's Cancers Published research Academic Biostatistics Cancer Epidemiology