Centre for Public Health Research

Grace Chen

 

Researchers

Grace Chen, Research Officer, PhD Candidate, Centre for Public Health Research, College of Health, Massey University.

Dr Dave McLean, Principal Investigator and Grace Chen’s supervisor

Professor Jeroen Douwes, Head of Department and Grace Chen’s supervisor

Professors Neil Pearce and Leonard van den Berg – overseas collaborators

Current Research

Grace and the team are conducting a New Zealand population based control study to investigate associations between occupational and environmental exposures and MND.

They have examined associations with occupational exposures to electric shocks, low-frequency magnetic fields, pesticides, other chemicals, and Motor Neurone Disease. They have published papers on their findings to date. See the links to these articles under publications below.

 

 

Relationship to MND

The aim of the study is to determine the relationship between MND and a range of unknown or suspected occupational and environmental exposures in New Zealand.

Future Research

The intention is to do more studies on MND after this study result has been published.

Collaborations

The Motor Neuron Disease Association New Zealand supports the recruitment for MND patients. The study also collaborated with the Centre for Brain Research (Scotter Lab) for the selected markers of the disease process.

Resources

Currently not using any shared resources, will share the database of the bio-markers of the disease process in New Zealand.

Resource Gaps

A formal diagnosis letter on the type of MND will help us to have a complete picture of the disease in New Zealand.

Publications

Sports and trauma as risk factors for Motor Neurone Disease: New Zealand case–control study.

Chen, GX, Douwes, J, van den Berg, LH, Glass, B, McLean, D, ’t Mannetje, AM. Sports and trauma as risk factors for Motor Neurone Disease: New Zealand case–control study. Acta Neurol Scand. 2022; 145: 770– 785. doi:10.1111/ane.13615 

Occupational exposures to pesticides and other chemicals: a New Zealand motor neuron disease case–control study

Chen GX, Douwes J, van den Berg L, et al. Occupational exposures to pesticides and other chemicals: a New Zealand motor neuron disease case–control study. Occupational and Environmental Medicine Published Online First: 22 March 2022. doi: 10.1136/oemed-2021-108056    

Occupational Exposure to Electric Shocks and Extremely Low-Frequency Magnetic Fields and Motor Neurone Disease 

Chen, G., McLean, D., Mannetje, A., D’Souza, W., McConnell, M., Kromhout, H., . . . Vermeulen, R. (2016). P203 Occupational exposure to ELF-MF and electric shocks and motor neurone disease. Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 73(Suppl 1), A189-A189. doi:10.1136/oemed-2016-103951.519   

 

 

 

Contact Details

Centre for Public Health Research
Massey University
Wellington Campus
PO Box 756
Wellington 6140

e: g.chen1@massey.ac.nz
w: www.publichealth.massey.ac.nz
p: +64 4 801 5799 (63121) or +64  4 9793121