Associate Professor Luke Knibbs
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Associate Professor Luke Knibbs

BSc (Macq.), MPH (Syd.), PhD (Macq.)
Associate Professor of Epidemiology and Public Health Data Science
Sydney School of Public Health
Faculty of Medicine and Health
Phone
(+61) 2 8627 0081
Websites
Associate Professor Luke Knibbs

Luke is Associate Professor, Epidemiology and Public Health Data Science, at the School of Public Health and Director, Public Health Research Analytics and Methods for Evidence (PHRAME), at Sydney Local Health District (SLHD), since August, 2021.

This new and unique PHRAME partnership will enable Luke’s team to use research-informed rigour to produce actionable evidence for decision makers across SLHD, facilitate capacity building and pursue scalable ideas through existing national and international research networks.

Previously, Luke was Associate Professor of Environmental Health, at The University of Queensland, School of Public Health, among other academic appointments there between 2012–2021. Prior to that, he undertook three years' postdoctoral training at the International Laboratory for Air Quality and Health, Queensland University of Technology (2009–2012), having completed a PhD on ultrafine particle exposure assessment in 2009.

Luke has a multidisciplinary background in atmospheric science, epidemiology and geographic information systems. This has informed his long-standing interest, originally borne out of necessity, in harnessing large and/or high-dimensional data sets to answer questions on anthropogenic sources of environmental change and the exposures that may mediate effects on human health, including air pollution among others. The majority of recent work is focused on, and done in collaboration with colleagues in, low- and middle-income countries.

Common themes that are demonstrated across Luke’s program of work are (1) quantifying the complex relationships between exposures that vary over space and time, (2) to understand how variation drives adverse and beneficial population-level health effects, (3) incorporating the fundamental role of social determinants of health equity in environmental exposures, and (4) using data to answer hypothesis-driven questions grounded in epidemiological paradigms.

Research summary

Luke has an international profile and recognition for research on environmental exposures and non-communicable disease. He and his team are fortunate to collaborate with leading overseas and domestic research groups working in this area.

Luke has published >230 peer-reviewed journal articles in his career (>110 since 2020). His h-index is 54 and total citations are >40,000 (Scopus, 2023). Overall, 80% of Luke’s work appears in journals ranked in the top 10% of their field (CiteScore, SciVal, 2023).

Luke’s work has been published in top general science and medical journals (Science, The Lancet), as well as publications in leading specialty journals (including The Lancet Planetary Health, American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Environment International, Environmental Science & Technology).

He has been awarded over AUD$27 million in competitive research funding as a chief investigator over his career (>$17 million since 2020).

Luke has supervised/co-supervised 16 PhD/MPhil and five Honours students to completion, many of whom remain in research roles in Australia and overseas. He has supervised a further 15 coursework Masters research projects and eight internships or volunteer research projects.

He currently supervises three PhD students as primary supervisor, as well as having co-supervisory roles with other students. Prospective PhD students are encouraged to contact Luke to discuss opportunities.

Having spent the most of his career in teaching and research roles, Luke is a keen proponent of research-informed teaching. He has extensive experience leading the development and coordination of undergraduate- and postgraduate-level courses in epidemiology, general and children’s environmental health, and delivering guest lectures to postgraduate medical and public health curricula.

He has had responsibility for administering large, flagship academic portfolios, having served as Director of the Master of Public Health (2017–2019), and as Co-Director of the Bachelor of Health Sciences (2016–2017) programs at The University of Queensland.

International Society for Environmental Epidemiology (2011-)

  1. Top 2% of researchers in field (Environmental Sciences; General and Internal Medicine), based on Stanford University analysis of Scopus publication and citation metrics, 2022.
  2. Top-cited article certificate, 2020-2021 (Walter et al., Respirology, 2020;25:495-501)
  3. Eureka Prize for Infectious Diseases Research, Australian Museum, Team CF Air (joint award:Scott Bell, Claire Wainwright, Keith Grimwood, Lidia Morawska, Luke Knibbs, Tim Kidd), 2018. “Awarded for outstanding infectious diseases research that benefits, or has the potential to benefit, human health
  4. Certificate of Outstanding Contribution in Reviewing, Environmental Modelling & Software, 2018
  5. Academic Staff Development Scheme, UQ School of Public Health, 2018.
  6. Certificate of Outstanding Contribution in Reviewing, Atmospheric Environment, 2017
  7. Certificate of Outstanding Contribution in Reviewing, Environment International, 2017
  8. Young Tall Poppy Science Award (QLD), Australian Institute of Policy & Science, 2016 “Chosen as one of Queensland’s most outstanding scientists for achievements in the area of scientific research and communication
  9. Top 20 most-cited articles, 2011–2016 (of 5,472 published), Atmospheric Environment (Knibbs et al., Atmos Environ 2011;45:2611-2622), 2016.
  10. Certificate of Research Excellence (Level C category), UQ School of Public Health, 2015
  11. Excellence in Research Award (Level B category), UQ School of Public Health, 2014.
  12. Top Reviewer 2012–2013, Atmospheric Environment, 2013
  13. NHMRC Early Career (Australian Public Health) Fellowship, 2012–2015. “To enable developing health and medical researchers of outstanding ability to undertake advanced training, either in Australia or overseas, in health and medical research that is both of major importance in its field and of benefit to Australian health
  14. Certificate of Excellence: Top 25 Atmospheric Environment Peer Reviewers, 2012
  15. Human Health & Wellbeing Conference Travel Scheme, QUT, 2011.
  16. Human Health & Wellbeing A* Publication Award, QUT, 2011.
  17. Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand (NSW) award, 2009.“Outstanding achievement in an undergraduate or postgraduate environmental program
  18. Vice-Chancellor’s International Travel Grant, Macquarie University, 2008.
  19. Vice-Chancellor’s International Travel Grant, Macquarie University, 2007.
  20. All-round Best Presentation Award, Departmental Postgraduate Symposium, Macquarie University, 2006
  21. Postgraduate Research Fund, Macquarie University, 2006.
  22. PhD Scholarship, Macquarie University, 2005–2008
Reproductive, Maternal and Child Health, Healthy Ageing, Lifespan
Project titleResearch student
Geographical Impact on Interstitial Lung DiseaseDoris LAN

Publications

Journals

  • Takashima, M., Grimwood, K., Vilcins, D., Knibbs, L., Sly, P., Lambert, S., Ware, R. (2024). Association of antenatal and early childhood air pollution and greenspace exposures with respiratory pathogen upper airway acquisitions and respiratory health outcomes. International Journal of Environmental Health Research. [More Information]
  • Soloveva, M., Akram, M., Barnett, A., Poudel, G., Shaw, J., Martino, E., Knibbs, L., Cerin, E. (2024). Associations of neighbourhood attributes with depression in mid-age and older adults: the moderating role of traffic-related air pollution and neighbourhood socioeconomic status. Cities & Health. [More Information]
  • Cerin, E., Chan, Y., Symmons, M., Soloveva, M., Martino, E., Shaw, J., Knibbs, L., Jalaludin, B., Barnett, A. (2024). Associations of the neighbourhood built and natural environment with cardiometabolic health indicators: A cross-sectional analysis of environmental moderators and behavioural mediators. Environmental Research, 240, 117524. [More Information]

Conferences

  • Pereira, M., Morawska, L., Knibbs, L., He, C., Johnson, G. (2015). The effect of human density on the risk of infection in a hospital ward. 1st North American Regional Conference on Healthy Buildings (HB 2015), United States: International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate (ISIAQ).
  • Knibbs, L., de Dear, R., Morawska, L., Atkinson, S. (2008). On-road quantification of the key characteristics of automobile HVAC systems in relation to in-cabin submicrometer particle pollution. The 11th International Conference on Indoor Air Quality and Climate (Indoor Air 2008), Denmark: International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate (ISIAQ).

2024

  • Takashima, M., Grimwood, K., Vilcins, D., Knibbs, L., Sly, P., Lambert, S., Ware, R. (2024). Association of antenatal and early childhood air pollution and greenspace exposures with respiratory pathogen upper airway acquisitions and respiratory health outcomes. International Journal of Environmental Health Research. [More Information]
  • Soloveva, M., Akram, M., Barnett, A., Poudel, G., Shaw, J., Martino, E., Knibbs, L., Cerin, E. (2024). Associations of neighbourhood attributes with depression in mid-age and older adults: the moderating role of traffic-related air pollution and neighbourhood socioeconomic status. Cities & Health. [More Information]
  • Cerin, E., Chan, Y., Symmons, M., Soloveva, M., Martino, E., Shaw, J., Knibbs, L., Jalaludin, B., Barnett, A. (2024). Associations of the neighbourhood built and natural environment with cardiometabolic health indicators: A cross-sectional analysis of environmental moderators and behavioural mediators. Environmental Research, 240, 117524. [More Information]

2023

  • Odo, D., Yang, I., Dey, S., Hammer, M., van Donkelaar, A., Martin, R., Dong, G., Yang, B., Hystad, P., Knibbs, L. (2023). A cross-sectional analysis of ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure and haemoglobin levels in children aged under 5 years living in 36 countries. Environmental Research, 227. [More Information]
  • Odo, D., Yang, I., Dey, S., Hammer, M., van Donkelaar, A., Martin, R., Dong, G., Yang, B., Hystad, P., Knibbs, L. (2023). A cross-sectional analysis of long-term exposure to ambient air pollution and cognitive development in children aged 3–4 years living in 12 low- and middle-income countries. Environmental Pollution, 318. [More Information]
  • Katoch, V., Kumar, A., Imam, F., Sarkar, D., Knibbs, L., Liu, Y., Ganguly, D., Dey, S. (2023). Addressing Biases in Ambient PM2.5 Exposure and Associated Health Burden Estimates by Filling Satellite AOD Retrieval Gaps over India. Environmental Science & Technology, 57(48), 19190-19201. [More Information]

2022

  • Nguyen, T., Johnson, G., Bell, S., Knibbs, L. (2022). A Systematic Literature Review of Indoor Air Disinfection Techniques for Airborne Bacterial Respiratory Pathogens. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(3), 1197. [More Information]
  • Odo, D., Yang, I., Dey, S., Hammer, M., van Donkelaar, A., Martin, R., Dong, G., Yang, B., Hystad, P., Knibbs, L. (2022). Ambient air pollution and acute respiratory infection in children aged under 5 years living in 35 developing countries. Environment International, 159, 1-11. [More Information]
  • Wang, L., Gong, Y., Fang, Q., Cui, X., Dharmage, S., Jalaludin, B., Knibbs, L., Bloom, M., Guo, Y., Lin, L., et al (2022). Association Between Exposure to Outdoor Artificial Light at Night and Sleep Disorders Among Children in China. JAMA Network Open, 5(5), e2213247. [More Information]

2021

  • Tu, Y., Williams, G., Cortes de Waterman, A., Toelle, B., Guo, Y., Denison, L., Babu, G., Yang, B., Dong, G., Jalaludin, B., Marks, G., et al (2021). A national cross-sectional study of exposure to outdoor nitrogen dioxide and aeroallergen sensitization in Australian children aged 7–11 years. Environmental Pollution, 271, 116330. [More Information]
  • Odo, D., Yang, I., Knibbs, L. (2021). A systematic review and appraisal of epidemiological studies on household fuel use and its health effects using demographic and health surveys. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(4), 1-30. [More Information]
  • Priyankara, S., Senarathna, M., Jayaratne, R., Morawska, L., Abeysundara, S., Weerasooriya, R., Knibbs, L., Dharmage, S., Yasaratne, D., Bowatte, G. (2021). Ambient pm2.5 and pm10 exposure and respiratory disease hospitalization in kandy, sri lanka. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(18), 9617. [More Information]

2020

  • Melody, S., Wills, K., Knibbs, L., Ford, J., Venn, A., Johnston, F. (2020). Adverse birth outcomes in Victoria, Australia in association with maternal exposure to low levels of ambient air pollution. Environmental Research, 188, 109784. [More Information]
  • Zhang, H., Dong, H., Ren, M., Liang, Q., Shen, X., Wang, Q., Yu, L., Lin, H., Luo, Q., Chen, W., et al (2020). Ambient air pollution exposure and gestational diabetes mellitus in Guangzhou, China: A prospective cohort study. Science of the Total Environment, 699, 134390. [More Information]
  • Wu, Q., Li, S., Yang, B., Bloom, M., Shi, Z., Knibbs, L., Dharmage, S., Leskinen, A., Jalaludin, B., Jalava, P., et al (2020). Ambient airborne particulates of diameter ≤1 μm, a leading contributor to the association between ambient airborne particulates of diameter ≤2.5 μm and children’s blood pressure. Hypertension, 75, 347-355. [More Information]

2019

  • Popovic, I., Magalhaes, R., Ge, E., Marks, G., Dong, G., Wei, X., Knibbs, L. (2019). A systematic literature review and critical appraisal of epidemiological studies on outdoor air pollution and tuberculosis outcomes. Environmental Research, 170, 33-45. [More Information]
  • Hanigan, I., Rolfe, M., Knibbs, L., Salimi, F., Cowie, C., Heyworth, J., Marks, G., Guo, Y., Cope, M., Bauman, A., Jalaludin, B., Morgan, G. (2019). All-cause mortality and long-term exposure to low level air pollution in the '45 and up study' cohort, Sydney, Australia, 2006-2015. Environment International, 126, 762-770. [More Information]
  • Yang, B., Guo, Y., Morawska, L., Bloom, M., Markevych, I., Heinrich, J., Dharmage, S., Knibbs, L., Lin, S., Yim, S., et al (2019). Ambient PM1 air pollution and cardiovascular disease prevalence: Insights from the 33 Communities Chinese Health Study. Environment International, 123, 310-317. [More Information]

2018

  • Chen, G., Li, S., Knibbs, L., Hamm, N., Cao, W., Li, T., Guo, J., Ren, H., Abramson, M., Guo, Y. (2018). A machine learning method to estimate PM2.5 concentrations across China with remote sensing, meteorological and land use information. Science of the Total Environment, 636, 52-60. [More Information]
  • Knibbs, L., Woldeyohannes, S., Marks, G., Cowie, C. (2018). Damp housing, gas stoves, and the burden of childhood asthma in Australia. Medical Journal of Australia, 208(7), 299-302. [More Information]
  • Wang, Q., Zhang, H., Liang, Q., Knibbs, L., Ren, M., Li, C., Bao, J., Wang, S., He, Y., Zhu, L., et al (2018). Effects of prenatal exposure to air pollution on preeclampsia in Shenzhen, China. Environmental Pollution, 237, 18-27. [More Information]

2017

  • Wangchuk, T., He, C., Knibbs, L., Mazaheri, M., Morawska, L. (2017). A pilot study of traditional indoor biomass cooking and heating in rural Bhutan: gas and particle concentrations and emission rates. Indoor Air, 27(1), 160-168. [More Information]
  • Yeganeh, B., Hewson, M., Clifford, S., Knibbs, L., Morawska, L. (2017). A satellite-based model for estimating PM2.5 concentration in a sparsely populated environment using soft computing techniques. Environmental Modelling and Software, 88, 84-92. [More Information]
  • Zapata-Diomedi, B., Knibbs, L., Ware, R., Heesch, K., Tainio, M., Woodcock, J., Veerman, J. (2017). A shift from motorised travel to active transport: What are the potential health gains for an Australian city? PloS One, 12(10), e0184799. [More Information]

2016

  • Johnson, G., Knibbs, L., Kidd, T., Wainwright, C., Wood, M., Ramsay, K., Bell, S., Morawska, L. (2016). A novel method and its application to measuring pathogen decay in bioaerosols from patients with respiratory disease. PloS One, 11(7), e0158763. [More Information]
  • Brauer, M., Freedman, G., Frostad, J., Van Donkelaar, A., Martin, R., Dentener, F., Dingenen, R., Estep, K., Amini, H., Apte, J., et al (2016). Ambient Air Pollution Exposure Estimation for the Global Burden of Disease 2013. Environmental Science & Technology, 50(1), 79-88. [More Information]
  • McGarry, P., Clifford, S., Knibbs, L., He, C., Morawska, L. (2016). Application of multi-metric approach to characterization of particle emissions from nanotechnology and non-nanotechnology processes. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, 13(10), D175-D197. [More Information]

2015

  • Knibbs, L., Barnett, A. (2015). Assessing environmental inequalities in ambient air pollution across urban Australia. Spatial and Spatio - temporal Epidemiology, 13, 1-6. [More Information]
  • Beggs, C., Knibbs, L., Johnson, G., Morawska, L. (2015). Environmental contamination and hospital-acquired infection: Factors that are easily overlooked. Indoor Air, 25(5), 462-474. [More Information]
  • Forouzanfar, M., Alexander, L., Anderson, H., Bachman, V., Biryukov, S., Brauer, M., Burnett, R., Casey, D., Coates, M., Cohen, A., Blyth, F., Kemp, A., Leigh, J., Marks, G., et al (2015). Global, regional, and national comparative risk assessment of 79 behavioural, environmental and occupational, and metabolic risks or clusters of risks in 188 countries, 1990-2013: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013. The Lancet, 386(10010), 2287-2323. [More Information]

2014

  • Knibbs, L., Hewson, M., Bechle, M., Marshall, J., Barnett, A. (2014). A national satellite-based land-use regression model for air pollution exposure assessment in Australia. Environmental Research, 135, 204-211. [More Information]
  • Quang, T., He, C., Knibbs, L., de Dear, R., Morawska, L. (2014). Co-optimisation of indoor environmental quality and energy consumption within urban office buildings. Energy and Buildings, 85, 225-234. [More Information]
  • Knibbs, L., Sly, P. (2014). Indigenous health and environmental risk factors: An Australian problem with global analogues? Global Health Action, 7(1). [More Information]

2013

  • Salonen, H., Lahtinen, M., Lappalainen, S., Nevala, N., Knibbs, L., Morawska, L., Reijula, K. (2013). Design approaches for promoting beneficial indoor environments in healthcare facilities: a review. Intelligent Buildings International, 5(1), 26-50. [More Information]
  • McGarry, P., Morawska, L., Knibbs, L., Morris, H. (2013). Excursion guidance criteria to guide control of peak emission and exposure to airborne engineered particles. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, 10(11), 640-651. [More Information]
  • Quang, T., He, C., Morawska, L., Knibbs, L. (2013). Influence of ventilation and filtration on indoor particle concentrations in urban office buildings. Atmospheric Environment, 79, 41-52. [More Information]

2010

  • Knibbs, L., de Dear, R., Morawska, L. (2010). Effect of Cabin Ventilation Rate on Ultrafine Particle Exposure Inside Automobiles. Environmental Science & Technology, 44(9), 3546-3551. [More Information]
  • Knibbs, L., de Dear, R. (2010). Exposure to ultrafine particles and PM2.5 in four Sydney transport modes. Atmospheric Environment, 44(26), 3224-3227. [More Information]

2009

  • Knibbs, L., de Dear, R., Atkinson, S. (2009). Field study of air change and flow rate in six automobiles. Indoor Air, 19(4), 303-313. [More Information]
  • Knibbs, L., de Dear, R., Morawska, L., Mengersen, K. (2009). On-road ultrafine particle concentration in the M5 East road tunnel, Sydney, Australia. Atmospheric Environment, 43(22-23), 3510-3519. [More Information]

2008

  • Knibbs, L., de Dear, R., Morawska, L., Atkinson, S. (2008). On-road quantification of the key characteristics of automobile HVAC systems in relation to in-cabin submicrometer particle pollution. The 11th International Conference on Indoor Air Quality and Climate (Indoor Air 2008), Denmark: International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate (ISIAQ).

2007

  • Knibbs, L., de Dear, R., Morawska, L., Coote, P. (2007). A simple and inexpensive dilution system for the TSI 3007 condensation particle counter. Atmospheric Environment, 41, 4553-4557. [More Information]

Selected Grants

2023

  • Centre for air safety: healthy air for healthy communities, Johnston F, Marks G, Morawska L, Guo Y, Dharmage S, Vardoulakis S, Norman R, Morgan G, Knibbs L, Zosky G, National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)/Centres of Research Excellence

2022

  • A randomised clinical trial of a digital self management program for people with Interstitial Lung Disease (REBUILD-SM trial), Corte T, Holland A, Chambers D, Palmer A, Glaspole I, Moodley Y, Keech A, Laranjo L, Knibbs L, Troy L, Cox N, Cox I, Goh N, Troy L, Department of Health and Aged Care (Federal - administered by NHMRC)/MRFF 2021 Chronic Respiratory Conditions
  • Multi-Country Study on Health Effects of Bushfire Air Pollution, Morgan G, Knibbs L, Australian Research Council (ARC)/Discovery Projects (DP)

Prospective PhD students are encouraged to contact Luke to discuss opportunities.