What Makes Us Sick & What Makes Us Well?

Discover insights from the PERTH Trial, a groundbreaking study exploring the impact of plastic chemicals on adult health. Focusing on chemicals, such as BPA and phthalates, the study examines their potential link to chronic diseases. Through a seven-day diet and lifestyle intervention involving blood, urine and stool sample analysis, as well as dietary recalls, the research aims to uncover common sources of plastic exposure in everyday life, how these chemicals are processed by the body, and their possible contribution to inflammation and long-term health risks.

Everyone human is a walking house of heritage. Heritage is under your feet, around you, and in you (literally and metaphorically).This talk will consider what ‘heritage’ is, how it is managed and present emerging research on the very real concrete benefits of heritage – as the very real burdens when heritage is damaged (solastalgia anyone?). This presentation uses case studies beginning at the very venue of this presentation and extends outward include fracking, fire, flood and friendships to understand how heritage keeps us healthy.

Emily is a post doctoral researcher with the Neonatal Health Team, focusing on improving outcomes for preterm infants using advanced MRI and machine learning. Her work integrates multimodal imaging and clinical data to better understand, detect, and predict brain injury in this vulnerable population. Her talk will explore how AI can be used to analyse neonatal brain scans, identify subtle injury patterns, and ultimately support earlier and more targeted interventions.