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DSM staff profile

Professor David Skegg

PositionEmeritus Professor
DepartmentDepartment of Preventive and Social Medicine
QualificationsKNZM OBE BMedSc MB ChB HonLLD(Otago) DPhil(Oxford) HonDSc(Queen’s, Canada) FFPHM FAFPHM FRSNZ
Research summaryEpidemiology and public health
MembershipsWorking group on future scenarios for the COVID-19 pandemic, International Science Council, Paris, 2020–present

Research

  • Cancer epidemiology
  • Contraceptive and drug safety
  • Reproductive health
  • Pandemic control strategies

Additional details

  • Vice-Chancellor, University of Otago, 2004–2011
  • President, Royal Society of New Zealand, 2012–2015
  • Chair, Scientific and Technical Advisory Group, Department of Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, Geneva, 2011–2016
  • Special adviser, COVID-19 Epidemic Response Committee, New Zealand Parliament, 2020

Publications

Skegg, D. (2021). The COVID-19 pandemic: Lessons for our future. Policy Quarterly, 17(1), 3-10.

Skegg, D., Gluckman, P., Boulton, G., Hackmann, H., Abdool Karim, S. S., Piot, P., & Woopen, C. (2021). Future scenarios for the COVID-19 pandemic. Lancet, 397, 777-778. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(21)00424-4

Skegg, D. C. G. (2020). The 1960s cervical screening incident at National Women's Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, 127, 235-236. doi: 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2020.09.007

Skegg, D., & Pearce, N. (2020). Unwarranted optimism about vaccine efficacy. BMJ, 371, m4918. doi: 10.1136/bmj.m4918

Skegg, D. (2019). The health of the people. Wellington, New Zealand: Bridget Williams Books, 144p. doi: 10.7810/9781988545585

Authored Book - Research

Skegg, D. (2019). The health of the people. Wellington, New Zealand: Bridget Williams Books, 144p. doi: 10.7810/9781988545585

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Edited Book - Research

Gluckman, P., & Skegg, D. (Eds.). (2015). Asbestos exposure in New Zealand: Review of the scientific evidence of non-occupational risks. Royal Society of New Zealand and the Office of the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor, 43p. Retrieved from http://www.royalsociety.org.nz/expert-advice/papers/yr2015/risks-from-asbestos-exposure-in-the-non-occupational-environment/

Gluckman, P., & Skegg, D. (Eds.). (2014). Health effects of water fluoridation: A review of the scientific evidence. Royal Society of New Zealand and the Office of the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor, 74p. Retrieved from http://www.royalsociety.org.nz/expert-advice/papers/yr2014/health-effects-of-water-fluoridation/

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Chapter in Book - Research

Skegg, D. C. G. (2009). Foreword: The Cartwright Inquiry and its legacy. In J. Manning (Ed.), The Cartwright papers: Essays on the cervical cancer inquiry 1987-88. (pp. 7-12). Wellington, New Zealand: Bridget Williams Books.

Skegg, D. C. G., Atkinson, P., Fennessy, P. F., Marbrook, J., Scott, B., & Wilks, C. R. (1997). Report from the BSE Expert Science Panel. In Meat and Human Health Symposium. (Miscellaneous Series (Royal Society of New Zealand), 38). (pp. 97-100). Wellington: Royal Society of New Zealand.

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Journal - Research Article

Skegg, D. (2021). The COVID-19 pandemic: Lessons for our future. Policy Quarterly, 17(1), 3-10.

Collaborative Group on Hormonal Factors in Breast Cancer, including McCredie, M., Paul, C., Skegg, D. C. G., & Spears, G. F. S. (2019). Type and timing of menopausal hormone therapy and breast cancer risk: Individual participant meta-analysis of the worldwide epidemiological evidence. Lancet, 394(10204), 1159-1168. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(19)31709-X

Paul, C., Sharples, K. J., Baranyai, J., Jones, R. W., & Skegg, D. C. G. (2018). Outcomes for women without conventional treatment for stage 1A (microinvasive) carcinoma of the cervix. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 58(3), 321-329. doi: 10.1111/ajo.12753

Collaborative Group on Hormonal Factors in Breast Cancer, including McCredie, M., Paul, C., Skegg, D. C. G., & Spears, G. F. S. (2012). Menarche, menopause, and breast cancer risk: Individual participant meta-analysis, including 118 964 women with breast cancer from 117 epidemiological studies. Lancet Oncology, 13(11), 1141-1151. doi: 10.1016/s1470-2045(12)70425-4

Harrison-Woolrych, M., Skegg, K., Ashton, J., Herbison, P., & Skegg, D. C. G. (2011). Nocturnal enuresis in patients taking clozapine, risperidone, olanzapine and quetiapine: Comparative cohort study. British Journal of Psychiatry, 199(2), 140-144. doi: 10.1192/bjp.bp.110.087478

McCredie, M. R. E., Paul, C., Sharples, K. J., Baranyai, J., Medley, G., Skegg, D. C. G., & Jones, R. W. (2010). Consequences in women of participating in a study of the natural history of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 3. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 50(4), 363-370. doi: 10.1111/j.1479-828X.2010.01170.x

Dickson, N. P., Ryding, J., van Roode, T., Paul, C., Herbison, P., Dillner, J., & Skegg, D. C. G. (2009). Male circumcision and serologically determined human papillomavirus infection in a birth cohort. Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, 18(1), 177-183. doi: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-08-0353

International Collaboration of Epidemiological Studies of Cervical Cancer, including Skegg, D. (2009). Cervical carcinoma and sexual behavior: Collaborative reanalysis of individual data on 15,461 women with cervical carcinoma and 29,164 women without cervical carcinoma from 21 epidemiological studies. Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, 18(4), 1060-1069. doi: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-08-1186

McCredie, M. R. E., Sharples, K. J., Paul, C., Baranyai, J., Medley, G., Jones, R. W., & Skegg, D. C. G. (2008). Natural history of cervical neoplasia and risk of invasive cancer in women with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 3: A retrospective cohort study. Lancet Oncology, 9(5), 425-434. doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(08)70103-7

Skegg, K., Nada-Raja, S., Paul, C., & Skegg, D. C. G. (2007). Body piercing, personality, and sexual behavior. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 36, 47-54.

International Collaboration of Epidemiological Studies of Cervical Cancer, including Skegg, D. (2007). Cervical cancer and hormonal contraceptives: Collaborative reanalysis of individual data for 16573 women with cervical cancer and 35509 women without cervical cancer from 24 epidemiological studies. Lancet, 370, 1609-1621. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(07)61684-5

Dockerty, J. D., Herbison, P., Skegg, D. C. G., & Elwood, M. (2007). Vitamin and mineral supplements in pregnancy and the risk of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia: A case-control study. BMC Public Health, 7, 136. doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-7-136

International Collaboration of Epidemiological Studies of Cervical Cancer, including Skegg, D. (2006). Carcinoma of the cervix and tobacco smoking: Collaborative reanalysis of individual data on 13,541 women with carcinoma of the cervix and 23,017 women without carcinoma of the cervix from 23 epidemiological studies. International Journal of Cancer, 118, 1481-1495. doi: 10.1002/ijc.21493

International Collaboration of Epidemiological Studies of Cervical Cancer, including Skegg, D. (2006). Comparison of risk factors for invasive squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma of the cervix: Collaborative reanalysis of individual data on 8,097 women with squamous cell carcinoma and 1,374 women with adenocarcinoma from 12 epidemiological studies. International Journal of Cancer, 120(4), 885-891. doi: 10.1002/ijc.22357

Parkin, L., Bell, M. L., Herbison, G. P., Paul, C., & Skegg, D. C. G. (2006). Air travel and fatal pulmonary embolism. Thrombosis & Haemostasis, 95, 807-814.

McCredie, M. R. E., Medley, G., Sharples, K. J., Jones, R. W., Baranyai, J., Paul, C., & Skegg, D. C. G. (2006). Review of cytologic slides from the National Women's Hospital, New Zealand, cohort of women with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 3 diagnosed in 1955-1976. Acta Cytologica, 50(6), 632-636.

International Collaboration of Epidemiological Studies of Cervical Cancer, including Skegg, D. (2006). Cervical carcinoma and reproductive factors: Collaborative reanalysis of individual data on 16,563 women with cervical carcinoma and 33,542 women without cervical carcinoma from 25 epidemiological studies. International Journal of Cancer, 119(5), 1108-1124. doi: 10.1002/ijc.21953

Cox, B., Sneyd, M. J., Paul, C., & Skegg, D. C. G. (2006). Risk factors for prostate cancer: A national case-control study. International Journal of Cancer, 119, 1690-1694.

Collaborative Group on Hormonal Factors in Breast Cancer, including Skegg, D. C. G., Paul, C., & McCredie, M. R. E. (2004). Breast cancer and abortion: Collaborative reanalysis of data from 53 epidemiological studies, including 83000 women with breast cancer from 16 countries. Lancet, 363, 1007-1016.

Dockerty, J. D., Skegg, D. C. G., & Williams, S. M. (2003). Economic effects of childhood cancer on families. Journal of Paediatrics & Child Health, 39, 254-258.

Parkin, L. R., Skegg, D. C. G., Herbison, G. P., & Paul, C. E. (2003). Psychotropic drugs and fatal pulmonary embolism. Pharmacoepidemiology & Drug Safety, 12, 647-652.

Sneyd, M. J., Cox, B., Paul, C. E., & Skegg, D. C. G. (2003). PSA testing and digital rectal examination in New Zealand. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 27(5), 502-506.

Skegg, D. C. G., & McCredie, M. R. E. (2002). Comparison of cancer mortality and incidence in New Zealand and Australia. New Zealand Medical Journal, 115(1150), 205-208.

Collaborative Group on Hormonal Factors in Breast Cancer, including Skegg, D. C. G., & McCredie, M. R. E. (2002). Breastfeeding and breast cancer: Collaborative reanalysis of individual data from 47 epidemiological studies in 30 countries, including 50302 women with breast cancer and 96973 women without the disease. Lancet, 360(9328), 187-195.

Skegg, D. C. G. (2002). Oral contraceptives, parity, and cervical cancer. Lancet, 359, 1080-1081.

Cox, B., Sneyd, M. J., Paul, C. E., Delahunt, B., & Skegg, D. C. G. (2002). Vasectomy and risk of prostate cancer. JAMA, 287, 3110-3115.

Collaborative Group on Hormonal Factors in Breast Cancer, including Skegg, D. C. G., & McCredie, M. R. E. (2002). Alcohol, tobacco and breast cancer - Collaborative reanalysis of individual data from 53 epidemiological studies, including 58515 women with breast cancer and 95067 women without the disease. British Journal of Cancer, 87(11), 1234-1245. doi: 10.1038/sj.bjc.6600596

Skegg, D. C. G. (2001). Hormone therapy and heart disease after the menopause. Lancet, 358, 1196-1197.

Sneyd, M. J., Cox, B., Paul, C. E., & Skegg, D. C. G. (2001). High prevalence of vasectomy in New Zealand. Contraception, 64, 155-159.

Collaborative Group on Hormonal Factors in Breast Cancer, including Skegg, D. C. G., & McCredie, M. R. E. (2001). Familial breast cancer: Collaborative reanalysis of individual data from 52 epidemiological studies including 58, 209 women with breast cancer and 101, 986 women without the disease. Lancet, 358, 1389-1399.

Skegg, D. C. G. (2000). Third generation oral contraceptives. British Medical Journal, 321, 190-191.

Skegg, D. C. G. (2000). Pitfalls of pharmacoepidemiology. British Medical Journal, 321, 1171-1172.

Parkin, L., Skegg, D. C. G., Wilson, M., Herbison, G. P., & Paul, C. (2000). Oral contraceptives and fatal pulmonary embolism. Lancet, 355, 2133-2134.

Paul, C., Wilson, M., Dickson, N. P., Sharples, K. J., & Skegg, D. C. G. (2000). Enhanced surveillance of HIV infections in New Zealand, 1996 - 1998. New Zealand Medical Journal, 113, 390-394.

Dockerty, J. D., Williams, S. M., McGee, R. O., & Skegg, D. C. G. (2000). Impact of childhood cancer on the mental health of parents. Medical & Pediatric Oncology, 35(5), 475-483.

Dockerty, J. D., Skegg, D. C. G., Elwood, J. M., Herbison, G. P., Becroft, D. M. O., & Lewis, M. E. (1999). Infections, vaccinations, and the risk of childhood leukaemia. British Journal of Cancer, 80(9), 1483-1489.

Dockerty, J. D., Elwood, J. M., Skegg, D. C. G., & Herbison, G. P. (1999). Electromagnetic field exposures and childhood leukaemia in New Zealand. Lancet, 354(9194), 1967-1968.

McCredie, M. R. E., Paul, C. E., Skegg, D. C. G., & Williams, S. M. (1999). Breast cancer in Maori and non-Maori women. International Journal of Epidemiology, 28, 189-195.

Skegg, D. C. G. (1999). Safety and efficacy of fertility-regulating methods: a decade of research. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 77, 713-721.

Skegg, D. C. G. (1999). Oral contraception and health. British Medical Journal, 318, 69-70.

Skegg, D. C. G. (1998). BSE and CJD. New Zealand Science Review, 55, 52.

McCredie, M. R. E., Paul, C. E., Skegg, D. C. G., & Williams, S. M. (1998). Reproductive factors and breast cancer in New Zealand. International Journal of Cancer, 76, 182-188.

Dockerty, J. D., Elwood, J. M., Skegg, D. C. G., & Herbison, G. P. (1998). Electromagnetic field exposures and childhood cancers in New Zealand. Cancer Causes & Control, 9, 299-309.

Skegg, D. C. G. (1998). Mission-oriented research: a case study. Lancet, 351, 1952-1954.

Skegg, D. C. G. (1997). Oral contraceptives and venous thromboembolic disease. WHO Drug Information, 11(2), 53-56.

Skegg, D. C. G. (1997). Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease: epidemic or false alarm? Nature, 385(6613), 200.

Collaborative Group on Hormonal Factors in Breast Cancer, including Paul, C., & Skegg, D. C. G. (1997). Breast cancer and hormone replacement therapy: Collaborative reanalysis of data from 51 epidemiological studies of 52 705 women with breast cancer and 108 411 women without breast cancer. Lancet, 350(9084), 1047-1059.

Paul, C. E., Skegg, D. C. G., & Williams, S. M. (1997). Depot medroxyprogesterone acetate: patterns of use and reasons for discontinuation. Contraception, 56(4), 209-214.

McCredie, M. R., Paul, C. E., Skegg, D. C. G., & Williams, S. M. (1997). Family history and risk of breast cancer in New Zealand. International Journal of Cancer, 73(4), 503-507.

Skegg, D. (1997). Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. New Zealand Medical Journal, 110(1044), 177-178.

Collaborative Group on Hormonal Factors in Breast Cancer, including Paul, C., & Skegg, D. C. G. (1996). Breast cancer and hormonal contraceptives: collaborative reanalysis of individual data on 53,297 women with breast cancer and 100,239 women without breast cancer from 54 epidemiological studies. Lancet, 347, 1713-1727.

Skegg, D. C. G. (1996). Sacred cows, science and uncertainties. Nature, 382, 755-756.

Sharples, K. J., Dickson, N. P., Paul, C. E., & Skegg, D. (1996). HIV/AIDS in New Zealand: an epidemic in decline? AIDS, 10, 1273-1278.

Skegg, D. C. G., Paul, C., Spears, G. F. S., & Williams, S. M. (1996). Progestogen-only oral contraceptives and risk of breast cancer in New Zealand. Cancer Causes & Control, 7, 513-519.

Collaborative Group on Hormonal Factors in Breast Cancer, including Skegg, D. C. G. (1996). Breast cancer and hormonal contraceptives: further results. Contraception, 54, 1-106.

Skegg, D. C. G. (1996). Depot medroxyprogesterone acetate and cancer risk. Gynaecology Forum, 1, 7-9.

Paul, C., Skegg, D. C. G., & Spears, G. F. S. (1995). Oral contraceptive use and risk of breast cancer in older women (New Zealand). Cancer Causes & Control, 6, 485-491.

Skegg, D. (1995). Risk assessment issues in breast cancer. Mutation Research: Fundamental & Molecular Mechanisms of Mutagenesis, 333, 51-58.

Skegg, D. (1995). Breast cancer: progress at last? Lancet, 346, S15.

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Journal - Research Other

Skegg, D., Gluckman, P., Boulton, G., Hackmann, H., Abdool Karim, S. S., Piot, P., & Woopen, C. (2021). Future scenarios for the COVID-19 pandemic. Lancet, 397, 777-778. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(21)00424-4

Skegg, D. C. G. (2020). The 1960s cervical screening incident at National Women's Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, 127, 235-236. doi: 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2020.09.007

Skegg, D., & Pearce, N. (2020). Unwarranted optimism about vaccine efficacy. BMJ, 371, m4918. doi: 10.1136/bmj.m4918

Skegg, D. C. G. (2014). Charting progress in the battle against cancer. New Zealand Medical Journal, 127(1400). Retrieved from http://www.nzma.org.nz/journal

Skegg, D. C. G. (2003). Autism and measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccination: A challenge for pharmacoepidemiology. Pharmacotherapy, 23(12), 1521-1523.

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