Dr Sheikh Mohammad Alif

The role of occupational exposure on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in middle-aged adults

The role of occupational exposure on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in middle-aged adults

S.Alif photo

Dr Sheikh Mohammad Alif

Supervisors names:  A/Prof Melanie Matheson (Principal supervisor), Prof Shyamali Dharmage, Dr Geza Benke, and Dr Martine Dennekamp

I am an International scholarship holder PhD candidate of Allergy and Lung Health Unit (ALHU), Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics (CEB). I completed my Master of Public Health (MPH, Epidemiology) and Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) from my home country, Bangladesh. Before commencing my PhD, I held academic (MPH program) and research positions in Bangladesh. I have also practiced clinical dentistry in Bangladesh.

My PhD research focused on the role of occupational exposure on Chronic Respiratory Diseases (CRDs) including Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), chronic bronchitis and lung function in a middle-aged population. Understanding how different occupational exposures contribute to the overall risk of COPD in the general population is essential to a greater understanding of the etiology and in identifying high-risk groups. However, there is limited evidence on the causal role of certain common occupational exposures; such as exposure to pesticides and solvents in the general population.

Therefore, the aim of my doctoral work was to investigate the role of occupational exposure to CRDs in middle-aged adults using data from world’s longest-running population-based respiratory cohort study, known as Tasmanian Longitudinal Health Study (TAHS).

PhD scholarship and finding body: Melbourne International Research Scholarship (MIRS) and Melbourne International Fee Remission Scholarship (MIFRS, funded by the University of Melbourne and Tasmanian Longitudinal Health Study (TAHS)