Dr Desalegn Markos Shifti (PhD, MSc, BSc) is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Child Health Research Centre (CHRC) at the University of Queensland. He is currently engaged in the comprehensive investigation of the prevalence, natural history, causes and consequences of allergic diseases.

Desalegn obtained his PhD in Clinical Epidemiology and Medical Statistics from the University of Newcastle, Australia, in 2022. Before pursuing his PhD, Desalegn worked as an Assistant Professor, Lecturer, and Graduate Assistant at various universities in Ethiopia, where he held both academic and research roles.

Desalegn has authored and co-authored several peer-reviewed research articles published in high-impact journals, such as the Lancet, JAMA Paediatrics, JAMA Oncology, and the International Journal of Public Health. He has expertise in several epidemiological and statistical skills, including generalised linear modelling, multilevel modelling, causal inferences for observational studies, mediation analysis, socio-economic assessment, geospatial analysis, big data analysis, systematic review, meta-analysis, and network meta-analysis.

Desalegn collaborates widely with public and clinical health researchers within Australia, low and middle-income countries, and internationally, across epidemiological studies. Key areas of interest and collaboration include allergies, maternal and child health, Indigenous health and well-being, reproductive health, health services research, chronic disease, and public health.

Associate Professor Rachel Peters is head of the epidemiology stream of the Population Allergy research group at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute. She leads a research program using large, longitudinal, population-based studies to understand the causes and consequences of childhood food allergy.

She is principal investigator of the longitudinal HealthNuts study, which has followed a cohort of over 5,000 children from infancy to adolescence. HealthNuts aims to describe the natural history of food allergy and understand the adverse consequences of food allergy on children’s future health. She also leads the first follow-up of the EarlyNuts study, which aims to understand the impact of changing infant feeding guidelines for food allergy prevention, on the prevalence of food allergy and other health outcomes. Associate Professor Peters is custodian of the SchoolNuts study which examined food allergy and other allergic diseases in 10-14 students. Together these cohorts total over 17,000 participants.

Collectively, her research program aims to identify risk factors and biomarkers of food allergy persistence and resolution, understand why adolescents are at high risk of recurrent and severe food-induced allergic reactions, quantify the adverse consequences of infant food allergy on children’s future health, particularly lung and psychosocial health and measure the impact of food allergy prevention strategies on children’s health. Associate Professor Peters also leads or co-leads several projects aiming to improve the diagnosis of food allergy, understand the immune mechanisms underpinning the natural resolution of food allergy, and collaborate on randomised control trials (RCTs) on the prevention and treatment of food allergy.

Dr Susan Hawes grew up on the Gold Coast. After qualifying as a pharmacist in 2003 at the University of Queensland, she completed her medical degree at Griffith University in 2009.

During the early phase of her medical career, Dr Hawes dedicated herself to service at the Gold Coast Hospital. Following this, she embarked on a comprehensive surgical training program, gaining invaluable experience across various regions of Queensland, ultimately culminating in the successful completion of her surgical training in 2020.

Dr Hawes’ passion for breast surgery led her to pursue Fellowships at esteemed institutions. In 2021, she completed her first year of breast fellowship training at Calvary Hospital in Canberra, followed by her second year of breast fellowship training at the Comprehensive Cancer Centre Chris O’Brien Lifehouse in Sydney in 2023, made possible through her association with BreastSurgANZ. In her pursuit of excellence, Dr Hawes also obtained a graduate certificate in breast surgery from the distinguished University of Sydney in the same year.

Beyond her clinical acumen, Dr Hawes is a dedicated advocate for research, innovation, and education in her field. She has had the privilege of presenting her work at prominent conferences during her career. Driven by her commitment to the well-being of women facing both benign and malignant breast conditions, she maintains a strong interest in general surgery.

In addition to her professional commitments, Dr Susan Hawes finds immense fulfilment in her role as a devoted mother to two young daughters.