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Prof. Robert Siebers

Research Associate professor
Dept. of Medicine, University of Otago
 

Brief Biography:


Initially trained as a medical laboratory scientist in the netherlands and New Zealand. have been in research since 1984, initially in hypertension research and since 1996 in asthma and allergy research.

 

Academic positions:


Research Associate Professor Past Associate Dean of Research & Postgraduate Studies

 

Research interests:


The indoor environment and allergic diseases. Role of house dust mite, animal and insect allergens, and bacterial endotoxin and fungal B-glucan on respiratory symptoms and allergic sensitisation

 

Any other information:


Peer-reviewed publications last 10 years

1. Wu FF, Wu MW, Chou YH, Ting MH, Siebers RW. Incidence of percutaneous injuries and non-reporting among emergency medical technicians in Taiwan. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene 2012; 9: 535-537. IF: 1.189
2. Wu FF, Wu MW, Pierse N, Crane J, Siebers R. Daily vacuuming of mattresses significantly reduces house dust mite allergens, bacterial endotoxin and fungal β-glucan. Journal of Asthma 2012; 49: 139-143. IF: 1.525
3. Crane J, Lampshire P, Wickens K, Epton M, Siebers R, Ingham T, Pattemore P, Town GI; Year Six New Zealand Asthma and Allergy Cohort Study Group. Asthma, atopy and exhaled nitric oxide in a cohort of six year old New Zealand children. Pediatric Allergy and Immunology 2012; 23: 59-64. IF: 2.459
4. Smith C, Stanley T, Crane J, Siebers R. Do other components of bedding dust affect sensitisation to house dust mites? ISRN Allergy 2011; article ID 426941, 4 pages; doi: 10.5402/2011/426941.
5. Chang CF, Wu FFS, Chen CY, Crane J, Siebers R. Effect of freezing, hot tumble drying and washing with eucalyptus oil on house dust mites in soft toys. Pediatric Allergy and Immunology 2011; 22: 638-641. IF: 2.459
6. Cotter M, Siebers R, Pike A, Fitzharris P, Crane J. Storage mites in flour samples in Wellington, New Zealand. Journal of Investigational Allergology and Clinical Immunology 2011; 21: 410-411. IF: 2.269
7. Mitcheson H, Collings S, Siebers R. Authorship issues at a New Zealand academic institution. International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2011; 2: 164-169.
8. Siebers RW, Crane J. Does bedding affect the airway and allergy? (Review). International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2011; 2: 65-75.
9. Wu FF, Wu MW, Chang CF, Lai SM, Pierse N, Crane J, Siebers R. Endotoxin and ß-(1,3)-glucan levels in automobiles: a pilot study. Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine 2010; 17: 327-330. IF: 2.311
10. Wu FF, Chang CF, Wu MW, Pierse N, Siebers R. Prevalence of macrocytosis in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. New Zealand Journal of Medical Laboratory Science 2010; 64: 86-87.
11. Wu FF, Siebers R, Chung CF, Hsieh SW, Wu MW, Chen CY, Pierse N, Crane J. Indoor allergens and microbial bio-contaminants in houses of asthmatic children in central Taiwan. Journal of Asthma 2009; 46: 745-749. IF: 1.525
12. Siebers R, Holt S, Healey B, Beasley R, Burgess C. Advice given by natural health food stores regarding high blood pressure. New Zealand Medical Journal 2009; 122: (1293).
13. Caldwell B, Dixon S, Burgess C, Siebers R, Seema M, Parkes A, Crane J. A pilot study of nicotine delivery to smokers from a metered dose inhaler. Nicotine and Tobacco Research 2009; 11: 342-347.  IF: 2.579
14. Heyes J, Siebers R, Parkes A, Pierse N, Crane J. ß-(1,3)-glucan levels and its determinants in New Zealand bedrooms. Journal of Asthma 2009; 46: 64-66. IF: 1.525
15. Gehring U, Strikwold M, Schram-Bijkerk D, Weinmayr G, Genuneit J, Nagel G, Wickens K, Siebers R, et al. Asthma and allergic symptoms in relation to house dust endotoxin: Phase Two of the International Study of Allergies in Childhood. Clinical and Experimental Allergy 2008; 38: 1911-1920. IF: 5.032  
16. Prescott S, Wickens K, Westcott L, Jung W, Currie H, Black PN, Stanley TV, Mitchell EA, Fitzharris P, Siebers R, Wu L, Crane J, Probiotic Study Group. Supplementation with Lactobacillus rhamnosus or Bifidobacterium lactis probiotics in pregnancy increases cord blood IFNy and breast milk IgA detection. Clinical and Experimental Allergy 2008; 38: 1606-1614. IF: 5.032
17. Nam HS, Siebers R, Lee SH, Park JS, Kim YB, Choi YJ, Lee SH, Crane J. House dust mite allergens in domestic homes from Cheonan, Korea. Korean Journal of Parasitology 2008; 46: 187-189. IF: 1.042
18. Causer SM, Shorter CL, Lewis RD, Siebers RW. Efficiency of vacuuming for the removal of cat allergen (Fel d 1) from worn and unworn wool carpets of different construction. Textile Research Journal 2008; 78: 105-110. IF: 1.122
19. Siebers R, Hayes J, Crane J. Upper body clothing is a source of fungal ß-(1,3)-glucan exposure. Journal of Asthma 2007; 44: 649-650. IF: 1.525
20. Nam HS, Siebers RW, Lee SH, Kim SH, Lee SH,  Crane J. Activated charcoal suppresses breeding of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, in culture. Journal of Korean Medical Science 2007; 22: 231-233.  IF: 0.993                                          21. Oldfield K, Siebers R, Crane J. Endotoxin and indoor allergen levels in kindergartens and day-care centers in Wellington. New Zealand Medical Journal 2007; 120 (1248).                                                                            22. Siebers R, Parkes A, Miller JD, Crane J. Effect of allergen-impermeable covers on ß-(1,3)-glucan content of pillows. Allergy 2007; 62: 451-452. IF: 6.098    
23. Gillespie J, Wickens K, Siebers R, Howden-Chapman P, Town I, Epton M, Fitzharris P, Crane J; New Zealand Asthma and Allergy Cohort Study Group. Wheezing and rash in infancy and endotoxin exposure in a New Zealand cohort. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology 2006; 118: 1265-1270. IF: 11.003
24. Douwes J, Siebers R, Wouters IM, Doekes G, Fitzharris P, Crane J. Endotoxin, (1→3)-β-D-glucans and fungal extra cellular polysaccharides in New Zealand homes: a pilot study. Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine 2006; 13: 361-365. IF: 2.311
25. Siebers R, Oldfield K, Crane J. Child-care center sandpits, a source of cat allergen (Fel d 1). Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology 2006; 118: 533-534. IF: 11.003
26. Peters S, Siebers R, Wickens K, Crane J. Prevalence of mouse allergen (Mus m 1) in homes of New Zealand children. Asian and Pacific Journal of Allergy and Immunology 2006; 24: 81-84. IF: 0.649
27. Siebers R, Parkes A, Crane J. β-(1,3)-glucan on pillows. Allergy 2006; 61: 901-902. IF: 6.098
28. Erwin EA, Wickens K, Custis NJ, Siebers R, Woodfolk J, Barry D, Crane J, Platts-Mills TAE. Cat and dust mite sensitivity and tolerance in relation to wheezing among children raised with high exposure to both allergens. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology 2005; 115: 74-79. IF: 11.003         
29. Lane J, Siebers R, Pene G, Howden-Chapman P, Crane J. Tokelau. A unique low allergen environment at sea level. Clinical and Experimental Allergy 2005; 35: 479-482.  IF: 5.032
30. Wu FS, Juan CW, Huang SM, Chang YJ, Chou SL, Siebers R. Acquired immune deficiency syndrome and human immunodefiency virus: Taiwanese medical laboratory technologists and students’ attitudes, concerns, and knowledge. British Journal of Biomedical Science 2005; 62: 32-34. IF: 0.923
31. Nam HS, Park CS, Crane J, Siebers R. Endotoxin and house dust mite allergens on synthetic and buckwheat pillows. Journal of Korean Medical Science 2004; 19: 505-508. IF: 0.993
32. Siebers R, Nam HS, Crane J. Permeability of synthetic and feather pillows to live house dust mites and house dust. Clinical and Experimental Allergy 2004; 34: 888-890. IF: 5.032
33. Wickens K, Lane J, Siebers R, Ingham T, Crane J. A comparison of two dust collection methods for reservoir indoor allergens and endotoxin on carpets and mattresses. Indoor Air 2004; 14: 217-222. IF: 2.550
34. Wickens K, de Bruyne J, Calvo M, Choon-Kook S, Lai CKW, Lane J, Maheshwari R,   Mallol J, Nishima S, Purdie G, Siebers R, Sukumaran T, Trakultivakorn M, Crane J. The determinants of dust mite allergen and its relationship to the prevalence of symptoms of asthma in the Asia-Pacific region. Pediatric Allergy and Immunology 2004; 15: 55-61. IF: 2.459
35. Goldkorn A, Diotto P, Burgess C, Weatherall M, Holt S, Beasley R, Siebers R. The pulmonary and extra-pulmonary effects of high-dose formoterol in COPD: a comparison with salbutamol. Respirology 2004; 9: 102-108. IF: 2.416
36. Siebers RW, Lane JM, Crane J. Lavender in pillows. No effect on Der p 1 accumulation. Allergy 2004; 59: 231-232. IF: 6.098
37. Juan CW, Siebers R, Wu FFS, Wu CJ, Chang YJ, Chao C. The attitudes, concerns, gloving practices and knowledge of nurses in a Taiwanese hospital regarding AIDS and HIV. International Journal of Nursing Practice 2004; 19: 32-38. IF: 0.716
38. Nam HS, Crane J, Siebers R. Clothing - potentially a significant source of endotoxin exposure. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology 2003; 112: 633-634. IF: 11.003
39. Wickens K, Douwes J, Siebers R, Fitzharris P, Wouters IM, Doekes G, Mason K,    Hearfield M, Cunningham M, Crane J. Determinants of endotoxin levels in carpets in New Zealand homes. Indoor Air 2003; 13: 128-135. IF: 2.550
40. Loan R, Siebers RW, Fitzharris P, Crane J. House dust mite allergen and cat allergen variability within carpeted living rooms in domestic dwellings. Indoor Air 2003; 13: 92-95.  IF: 2.550

 

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