Collin Brooks
PhD
Collin Brooks has been part of the CPHR team since 2006, when he was originally employed as a laboratory technician after a number of years in similar roles conducting molecular and immunological research in the UK. Since then he has been employed as a junior research officer on several projects. Collin’s research interests are primarily focused around respiratory disease, and he has been involved in clinical and epidemiological studies investigating the inflammatory mechanisms underlying different asthma phenotypes. Much of this research to date has been published and is included in his Doctoral thesis, entitled ‘Non-invasive assessment of airway inflammation in asthma’. He also interested in the causative, protective and risk factors responsible for different asthma pathologies in populations of both children and adults. In 2020, Collin was awarded the Sir Charles Hercus Fellowship, which he says is an honour, as it is relatively rare for a public health researcher to receive one.
- Publications
- Current Research Projects
PUBLICATIONS
Publication | Type |
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Ali H, Brooks C, Crane J, Beasley R, Le Gros G, Holgate S, Gibson P, Pattemore P, Stanley T, Tzeng S, Pearce N, Douwes J. Airway sensory nerve sensitivity in adolescents with eosinophilic and non-eosinophilic asthma. Eur Respiratory J, 2020; 56:4081. | Conference Proceedings |
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Ali H, Brooks C, Crane J, Beasley R, Le Gros G, Holgate S, Gibson P, Pattemore P, Tzeng S, Pearce N, Douwes J. Autonomic nervous system activity in adolescent asthma. Respirology, 2020; 25(S1):032. | Conference Proceedings |
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Brooks C, Slater T, Tupai-Firestone R, Zock J, Pearce N, Douwes J. Respiratory health in professional cleaners: symptoms, lung function, and risk factors. Clinical & Experimental Allergy, 2020; 50(5): 567-576. | Journal |
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Holst G, Pørneki A, Lindgreen J, Thuesen B, Bønløkke J, Hyvärinen A, Elholm G, Østergaard K, Loft S, Brooks C, Douwes J, Linneberg A, Sisgaard T. Household dampness and microbial exposure related to allergy and respiratory health in Danish adults. European Clinical Respiratory Journal, 2020; 7(1): 1706235. | Journal |
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Compton B, Farrand K, Tang C, Osmond T, Speir M, Authier-Hall A, Wang J, Ferguson P, Chan S, Anderson R, Cooney T, Hayman C, Williams G, Brimble M, Brooks C, Yong L, Metelitsa L, Zajonc D, Godfrey D, Gasser O, Weinkove R, Painter G, Hermans I. Enhancing T cell responses and tumour immunity by vaccination with peptides conjugated to a weak NKT cell agonist. Org Biomol Chem, 2019; (In Press). | Journal |
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Pembrey L, Barreto M, Douwes J, Cooper P, Henderson J, Mpairwe H, Ardura-Garcia C, Chico M, Brooks C, Cruz A, Elliott A, Figueiredo C, Langan S, Nassanga B, Ring S, Rodrigues L, Pearce N. Understanding asthma phenotypes: the World Asthma Phenotypes (WASP) international collaboration. ERJ Open Res, 2018; 4(3): 00013-2018. | Journal |
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McLean D, Leblanc-Maridor M, Hall R, Moore N, Cullen K, Brooks C, Benschop J, 't Mannetje A, Weinkove R, Douwes J, Pearce N. Airborne dispersion of Leptospirosis in a meat processing plant. 32nd International Congress on Occupational Health, 29 Apr-4 May, Dublin, Ireland. Occ Environ Med, 2018; 75(2): A213. | Conference Proceedings |
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Leblanc-Maridor M, Hall R, Moore N, Cullen K, Brooks C, Benschop J, Pearce N, Douwes J, McLean D. (2018) Airborne dispersion of Leptospirosis in a meat processing plant. Pathobiome 2018, Pathogens in microbiotas in hosts, 18-20 March; Corsica, France. (poster) | Conference Proceedings |
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't Mannetje A, Eng A, Walls C, Dryson E, Douwes J, Bertazzi P, Ryder-Lewis S, Scott D, Brooks C, McLerran D, Cheng S, Pearce N. Morbidity in New Zealand pesticide producers exposed to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). Environment International, 2018; 110: 22-31. | Journal |
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Brooks C, van Dalen C, Harding E, Hermans I, Douwes J. Effects of treatment changes on asthma phenotype prevalence and airway neutrophil function. BMC Pulmonary Medicine, 2017; 17: 169. | Journal |
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Speir M, Authier-Hall A, Brooks C, Farrand K, Compton B, Anderson R, Heiser A, Osmond T, Tang C, Berzofsky J, Terabe M, Painter G, Hermans I, Weinkove R. Glycolipid-peptide conjugate vaccines enhance CD8+ T cell responses against human viral proteins. Scientific Reports, 2017; 7: 14273. | Journal |
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Brooks C, van Dalen C, Hermans I, Gibson P, Simpson J, Douwes J. Sputum basophils are increased in eosinophilic asthma compared with non-eosinophilic asthma phenotypes. Allergy, 2017; 72(10): 1583-1586. | Journal |
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't Mannetje A, Eng A, Walls C, Dryson E, Kogevinas M, Brooks C, McLean D, Cheng S, Smith A, Pearce N. Sex ratio of the offspring of New Zealand phenoxyherbicide producers exposed to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin. Occup Environ Med, 2017; 74(1): 24-29. | Journal |
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Brooks C, van Dalen C, Zacharasiewicz A, Simpson J, Harper J, Le Gros G, Gibson P, Pearce N, Douwes J. Absence of airway inflammation in a large proportion of adolescents with asthma. Respirology, 2016; 21(3): 460-466. | Journal |
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't Mannetje A, Eng A, Walls C, Dryson E, McLean D, Kogevinas M, Fowles J, Borman B, O'Connor P, Cheng S, Brooks C, Smith A, Pearce N. Serum concentrations of chlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, furans and PCBs, among former phenoxy herbicide production workers and firefighters in New Zealand. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2016; 89(2): 307-319. | Journal |
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Douwes J, Boezen M, Brooks C, Pearce N. (2014) Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma. In Detels R, Gulliford M, Karim QA, Tan (Eds.), Oxford Textbook of Public Health (6th ed) Vol 3. Chapt 8.3 Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp 945-969. | Books and Chapters |
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Weinkove R,
Brooks C,
Carter J,
Hermans I,
Ronchese F.
Efficient depletion of chronic lymphocytic leukemia B cells using serial rounds of immunomagnetic depletion. J Immunol Methods, 2013; 396(1-2): 152-156.
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Journal |
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Brooks C. (2013). Non-invasive assessment of airway inflammation in asthma. A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Public Health (PhD), Massey University, Wellington, NZ. | Thesis |
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Ashraf S,
Nitschke K,
Warshow U,
Brooks C,
Kim A,
Lauer G,
Hydes T,
Cramp M,
Alexander G,
Little A,
Thimme R,
Neumann-Haefelin C,
Khakoo S.
Synergism of tapasin and human leukocyte antigens in resolving hepatitis C virus infection. Hepatology, 2013; 58(3): 881-889.
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Journal |
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Hall R,
Leblanc-Maridor M,
Wang J,
Ren X,
Moore N,
Brooks C,
Peacey M,
Douwes J,
McLean D.
Metagenomic detection of viruses in aerosol samples from workers in animal slaughterhouses. PLoS ONE, 2013; 8(8): e72226. |
Journal |
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't Mannetje A,
Coakley J,
Bridgen P,
Brooks C,
Harrad S,
Smith A,
Pearce N,
Douwes J.
Current concentrations, temporal trends and determinants of persistent organic pollutants in breast milk of New Zealand women. Sci Total Environ, 2013; 458-460: 399-407.
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Journal |
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Brooks C,
Gibson P,
Douwes J,
van Dalen C,
Simpson J.
Relationship between airway neutrophilia and ageing in asthmatics and non-asthmatics. Respirology, 2013; 18(5): 857–865.
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Journal |
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Weinkove R,
Brooks C,
Carter J,
Hermans I,
Ronchese F.
Functional invariant natural killer T cell and CD1d axis in chronic lymphocytic leukemia: implications for immunotherapy. Haematologica, 2013; 98(3): 376-384.
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Journal |
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Brooks C,
Pearce N,
Douwes J.
The hygiene hypothesis in allergy and asthma: an update. Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol, 2013; 13(1): 70-77.
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Journal |
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Brooks C,
Siebers R,
Crane J,
Noss I,
Wouters I,
Sander I,
Raulf-Heimsoth M,
Thorne P,
Metwali N,
Douwes J.
Measurement of β-(1,3)-glucan in household dust samples using Limulus amebocyte assay and enzyme immunoassays: an inter-laboratory comparison. Environ Sci Process Impacts, 2013; 15(2): 405-411.
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Journal |
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Brooks C,
van Dalen C,
Hermans I,
Douwes J.
Identifying leukocyte populations in fresh and cryopreserved sputum using flow cytometry. Cytometry: Part B - Clinical Cytometry, 2013; 84B(2): 104–113.
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Journal |
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Brooks C, Gibson P, Douwes J, van Dalen C, Simpson J. Assessment of the relationship between airway neutrophilia and aging in asthmatics and non-asthmatics. Respirology, 2012; 17(S2): 10. (abstract). | Conference Proceedings |
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Douwes J,
Brooks C,
van Dalen C,
Pearce N.
Importance of allergy in asthma: an epidemiologic perspective. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep, 2011; 11(5): 434-44.
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Journal |
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Brooks C, Brogan S, van Dalen C, Lampshire P, Crane J, Douwes J. Measurement of Exhaled Nitric Oxide in a General Population Sample: A Comparison of the Medisoft HypAir FENO and Aerocrine NIOX Analyzers. J Asthma, 2011; 48(4): 324-8. | Journal |
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Douwes J, Brooks C, Pearce N. Asthma nervosa: old concept, new insights. Eur Respir J, 2011; 37(5): 986-90. | Journal |
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Brooks C, Weinkove R, Hermans I, van Dalen C, Douwes J. Invariant natural killer T cells and asthma: immunologic reality or methodological artifact? J Allergy Clin Immunol, 2010; 126(4): 882-5. (letter). | Other Publications |
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Brooks C, Weinkove R, Hermans I, van Dalen C, Douwes J. Invariant natural killer T cells and asthma: Immunologic reality or methodological artefact? J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2010;126(4):882-5. | Journal |
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Douwes J, Brooks C, Pearce N. Stress and asthma: Hippocrates revisited. J Epidemiol Community Health, 2010; 64(7): 561-2. | Journal |
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't Mannetje A, Douwes J, Duckett H, Brogan S, Harding E, Brooks C, Harrad S, Ellison-Loschmann L, Smith A, Pearce N. (2010) Concentrations of persistent organic pollutants in the milk of New Zealand women. Report prepared as part of a Ministry of Health contract for scientific services. Centre for Public Health Research (CPHR), Massey University, NZ. | Reports |
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Douwes J, Brooks C, Pearce N. Protective effects of farming on allergies and asthma: have we learnt anything since 1873? Expert Rev Clin Immunol, 2009; 5(3): 213-9. | Journal |
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Simpson J, Brooks C, Douwes J. Innate immunity in asthma. Paediatr Respir Rev, 2008; 9(4): 263-70. | Journal |
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CURRENT RESEARCH PROJECTS
Interventions to reduce pesticide exposure and associated ill health in pesticide exposed workers and family members
Key words: Pesticides, Health Effects, Occupational
Biodiversity, microbiota, and childhood allergies and asthma: variation across space and time.
Key words: Microbiota, asthma, children, biodiversity, allergies
Cancer in meat workers: identifying the causal exposures
Key words: Meat workers, occupational cancer, bioaerosols, environmental monitoring, serological testing, sputum induction, mutagenicity, epidemiology
Examining the role of the airway neutrophil in the pathogenesis of asthma
Key words: Asthma, neutrophil, sputum, flow cytometry
The Role of the Innate Immune System in Childhood Asthma Development
Key words: Childhood asthma, allergy, innate immunity, birth cohort
Unpasteurised milk: protective for allergies and asthma?
Key words: Asthma, allergy, innate immunity, raw milk, unpasteurised milk
Non-inflammatory mechanisms in asthma
Key words: Asthma
The benefits of biodiversity: a novel approach to preventing asthma and allergy?
Key words: Asthma, allergies, natural environment, microbiota, biodiversity
Persistent airflow limitation and the airway microbiome in childhood asthma
Key words: Asthma, Microbiome, children
Asthma phenotypes in high and low income countries
Key words: Asthma, Socio-economic
Interventions to reduce solvent exposure and associated ill health in collision-repair workers
Key words: Occupational health, neurotoxicity, epidemiology, solvents
Interventions to reduce silica and associated ill health in construction workers
Key words: Silica, construction workers, occupation, NZ
Biodiversity and microbiota: a novel pathway to allergy and asthma prevention
Key words: Microbiota, biodiversity, asthma, allergy