Where are they now: Dr Nur Sabrina Idrose

Published

Tuesday, December 10, 2024 - 9:00 AM

Dr Sabrina Idrose was awarded a Centre of Food Allergy Research (CFAR) PhD Scholarship in 2019. Now, her award-winning research aims to help practitioners and patients manage and prevent aeroallergen-induced health effects.

Dr Idrose’s PhD project investigated the impact of short-term grass pollen exposure on lung health and other allergic conditions – such as food allergy and eczema. She explored different age groups using large, population-based studies, including HealthNuts, and identified effect modifiers of the association.

Her research out of The University of Melbourne, under the supervision of CFAR Chief Investigators Professor Shyamali Dharmage and Associate Professor Jennifer Koplin, found increasing short-term ambient grass pollen exposure was associated with reversible obstructive lung function deficits in children with allergic disease. The greatest risk of exacerbation was in food allergic children.

Dr Idrose's second paper showed persistent grass pollen exposure may trigger a general state of heightened immune responsiveness leading to increased odds of food skin prick test reactivity and eczema flares in children. She indicated the impact may be greater if peanut allergy was already present.

Her PhD Thesis titled: 'The role of short-term grass pollen exposure in allergic diseases and lung health' also passed with no corrections and was recommended for the 2024 University of Melbourne Chancellor PhD Prize.

“The CFAR PhD Scholarship was instrumental in launching my research career. It provided me with invaluable support, including access to mentorship, resources and a collaborative research environment,” she said.

“Regularly presenting my work at CFAR research retreats and receiving valuable feedback from the investigators helped ensure my papers were of high quality, further solidifying my foundation for success in research.”

Dr Idrose is now a Centre for Safe Air Postdoctoral Fellow (2024-25), specialising in environmental and respiratory epidemiology based at The University of Melbourne’s Allergy and Lung Health Unit.

She is currenting working on a project to assess the associations between short-term exposure to aeroallergens and cardio-respiratory health outcomes. This work will also examine potential effect modification by environmental and individual characteristics. The project will tap into the seventh decade follow-up of the Tasmanian Longitudinal Health Study participants.

Dr Idrose received a CFAR Travel Grant to present her work at the ISEE-AWPC Conference in June 2024.

“I wouldn’t be where I am today without CFAR’s incredible support during my PhD, especially as much of it took place during the challenging COVID-19 pandemic,” she said.

“The training, mentoring and networking opportunities provided by CFAR are outstanding. Being part of the PhD-Early to Mid-Career Researchers (EMCRs) Committee allowed me to co-lead and organise workshops, which enhanced my leadership and collaboration skills.”

Between 2019 – 2024 Dr Idrose has enjoyed incredible success and high impact research outputs, including: 21 publications, 23 lead presentations a number of awards and grants.

Awards

• Finalist nominee from The University of Melbourne’s Melbourne School of Population and Global Health (MSPGH) for Chancellor PhD prize & Dean’s Award for Excellence in PhD thesis
• MSPGH CEB Professional and Academic Staff Development Award
• MSPGH Graduate Research Achievement Award
• Australasian Epidemiological Association ECR Professional Development Award
• 3 presentation awards

Grants/Fellowship

• CRE CFAR PhD Scholarship
• CRE Centre for Safe Air (CSA) Postdoctoral Fellowship
• CRE CSA Seed Funding grant
• UoM Early Career Researcher grant
• Associate Investigator on PRE-TREAT (NHMRC CTCS 2025-29)
• 8 travel grants

Learn more about the CFAR PhD Scholars and their projects.