BSc, DPH, MPH, PhD
Senior Research Fellow; HEIRU
Contact details
Email julie.bennett@otago.ac.nz
Research interests and activities
Dr Julie Bennett is a Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Public Health in Wellington. She has a wide range of public health research interests, with a particular focus on infectious diseases, indoor air quality, housing and health. Her research activities currently have a strong focus on group A streptococcal infections, acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease.
Julie is the lead researcher of SCIP RHD, a Trans-Tasman collaboration trialling subcutaneous infusions of benzathine penicillin for prevention of rheumatic heart disease. Julie also leads the “Isolate study” which aims to establish if group A streptococcal isolates detected prior to rheumatic fever differ from those collected on hospital admission. Julie project manages the “Endgame” project, led by Professor Michael Baker, which aims to develop an optimal strategy for ending rheumatic fever in New Zealand and the “START” study, led by Dr Nikki Moreland that aims to develop and validate biomarkers that may form the basis for a rheumatic fever blood test. Julie is a member of Pū Manawa (Rheumatic fever network Aotearoa New Zealand) and the World Health Organization ARF and RHD guideline development group.
Julie is a member of He Kainga Oranga (Housing and Health Research Programme), which was awarded the Rutherford Medal in 2021 and is a founding member of the New Zealand Indoor Air Quality Research Centre.
Publications
Birrell, J. M., Wilson, B., Taylor, S., & Bennett, J. (2023). Invasive group A streptococcal disease in Hawke's Bay, New Zealand: Epidemiology, manifestations and impact. New Zealand Medical Journal/Te ara tika o te hauora hapori, 136(1575), 33-41. Retrieved from https://journal.nzma.org.nz/
Enkel, S. L., Kado, J., Hla, T. K., Salman, S., Bennett, J., Anderson, A., … Manning, L. (2023). Qualitative assessment of healthy volunteer experience receiving subcutaneous infusions of high-dose benzathine penicillin G (SCIP) provides insights into design of late phase clinical studies. PLoS ONE, 18(4), e0285037. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0285037
Bennett, J., Moreland, N. J., Birrell, J., Webb, R., Kvalsvig, A., Roberts, S., & Baker, M. (2023). Likely rise in invasive strep infections in NZ requires a strategy. The Briefing, (23 March). Retrieved from https://www.phcc.org.nz/briefing/likely-rise-invasive-strep-infections-nz-requires-strategy
Kvalsvig, A., Tuari-Toma, B., Timu-Parata, C., Bennett, J., Sinnema, C., Summers, J., Davies, C., Jackson, C., … Telfar Barnard, L., & Baker, M. G. (2023). Protecting school communities from COVID-19 and other infectious disease outbreaks: The urgent need for healthy schools in Aotearoa New Zealand. New Zealand Medical Journal/Te ara tika o te hauora hapori, 136(1571), 7-19. Retrieved from https://journal.nzma.org.nz/
Howden-Chapman, P., Crane, J., Keall, M., Pierse, N., Baker, M. G., Cunningham, C., … Aspinall, C., Bennett, J., Bierre, S., … Chisholm, E., Davies, C., Fougere, G., Fraser, B., Fyfe, C., … Halley, C., … Olin, C., Ombler, J., O'Sullivan, K., Pehi, T., Penny, G., … Randal, E., Riggs, L., Robson, B., Ruru, J., Shaw, C., … Teariki, M. A., Telfar Barnard, L., Tiatia, R., … Viggers, H., … Zhang, W. (2023). He Kāinga Oranga: Reflections on 25 years of measuring the improved health, wellbeing and sustainability of healthier housing. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand. Advance online publication. [Review].
Howden-Chapman, P., Bennett, J., & Siebers, R. (Eds.). (2009). Do damp and mould matter? Health impacts of leaky homes. Wellington, New Zealand: Steele Roberts, 172p.
Edited Book - Research
Howden-Chapman, P., Chisholm, E., Telfar Barnard, L., Viggers, H., O'Sullivan, K., Bennett, J., Bierre, S., Preval, N., Randal, E., Tiatia, R., Ombler, J., Amore, K., Rivera-Muñoz, G., … Davies, C., Aspinall, C., Oliver, J., Baker, M., Keall, M., … Crane, J., & Pierse, N. (2017). Housing, energy and health in resilient cities. In P. Howden-Chapman, L. Early & J. Ombler (Eds.), Cities in New Zealand: Preferences, patterns and possibilities. (pp. 95-106). Wellington, New Zealand: Steele Roberts Aotearoa.
Chapter in Book - Research
Howden-Chapman, P., & Bennett, J. (2009). Why indoor dampness and mould matter. In P. Howden-Chapman, J. Bennett & R. Siebers (Eds.), Do damp and mould matter? Health impacts of leaky homes. (pp. 7-18). Wellington, New Zealand: Steele Roberts.
Chapter in Book - Research
Birrell, J. M., Wilson, B., Taylor, S., & Bennett, J. (2023). Invasive group A streptococcal disease in Hawke's Bay, New Zealand: Epidemiology, manifestations and impact. New Zealand Medical Journal/Te ara tika o te hauora hapori, 136(1575), 33-41. Retrieved from https://journal.nzma.org.nz/
Journal - Research Article
Enkel, S. L., Kado, J., Hla, T. K., Salman, S., Bennett, J., Anderson, A., … Manning, L. (2023). Qualitative assessment of healthy volunteer experience receiving subcutaneous infusions of high-dose benzathine penicillin G (SCIP) provides insights into design of late phase clinical studies. PLoS ONE, 18(4), e0285037. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0285037
Journal - Research Article
Baker, M. G., Gurney, J., Moreland, N. J., Bennett, J., Oliver, J., Williamson, D. A., Pierse, N., … Merriman, T. R., … Edwards, R., … Thomson, W. M., Zhang, J., & Lennon, D. (2022). Risk factors for acute rheumatic fever: A case-control study. Lancet Regional Health: Western Pacific. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1016/j.lanwpc.2022.100508
Journal - Research Article
Bennett, J., Moreland, N. J., Williamson, D. A., Carapetis, J., Crane, J., Whitcombe, A. L., Jack, S., … Baker, M. G. (2022). Comparison of group A streptococcal titres in healthy children and those with pharyngitis and skin infections. Journal of Infection, 84, 24-30. doi: 10.1016/j.jinf.2021.10.014
Journal - Research Article
Bennett, J., Moreland, N. J., Zhang, J., Crane, J., Sika-Paotonu, D., Carapetis, J., Williamson, D. A., & Baker, M. G. (2022). Risk factors for group A streptococcal pharyngitis and skin infections: A case control study. Lancet Regional Health: Western Pacific, 26, 100507. doi: 10.1016/j.lanwpc.2022.100507
Journal - Research Article
Hashimi, F. N., Bennett, J., Baker, M. G., Moreland, N. J., Merry, T. L., & Loh, J. M. S. (2022). The effects of sugar in drinking water on Streptococcus pyogenes colonisation in a murine nasopharyngeal infection model. Scientific Reports, 12, 17716. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-22648-5
Journal - Research Article
Howden-Chapman, P., Bennett, J., Edwards, R., Jacobs, D., Nathan, K., & Ormandy, D. (2022). Review of the impact of housing quality on inequalities in health and well-being. Annual Review of Public Health. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1146/annurev-publhealth-071521-111836
Journal - Research Article
Whitcombe, A. L., McGregor, R., Bennett, J., Gurney, J. K., Williamson, D. A., Baker, M. G., & Moreland, N. J. (2022). Increased breadth of Group A Streptococcus antibody responses in children with acute rheumatic fever compared to precursor pharyngitis and skin infections. Journal of Infectious Diseases, 226, 167-176. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiac043
Journal - Research Article
Bennett, J., Zhang, J., Leung, W., Jack, S., Oliver, J., Webb, R., … Sika-Paotonu, D., Harwood, M., & Baker, M. G. (2021). Rising ethnic inequalities in acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease, New Zealand, 2000-2018. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 27(1), 36-46. doi: 10.3201/eid2701.191791
Journal - Research Article
Cannon, J., Zhang, J., Bennett, J., Moreland, N. J., Baker, M. G., Geelhoed, E., … Jack, S. (2021). The economic and health burden of disease caused by Group A Streptococcus in New Zealand. International Journal of Infectious Diseases, 103, 176-181. doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2020.11.193
Journal - Research Article
Oliver, J., Bennett, J., Thomas, S., Zhang, J., Pierse, N., Moreland, N. J., Williamson, D. A., Jack, S., & Baker, M. (2021). Preceding group A streptococcus skin and throat infections are individually associated with acute rheumatic fever: Evidence from New Zealand. BMJ Global Health, 6, e007038. doi: 10.1136/bmjgh-2021-007038
Journal - Research Article
Oliver, J., Robertson, O., Zhang, J., Marsters, B. L., Sika-Paotonu, D., Jack, S., Bennett, J., Williamson, D. A., … Pierse, N., & Baker, M. G. (2021). Early release-ethnically disparate disease progression and outcomes among acute rheumatic fever patients in New Zealand, 1989–2015. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 27(7), 1893-1901. doi: 10.3201/eid2707.203045
Journal - Research Article
Thomas, S., Bennett, J., Jack, S., Oliver, J., Purdie, G., Upton, A., & Baker, M. G. (2021). Descriptive analysis of group A Streptococcus in skin swabs and acute rheumatic fever, Auckland, New Zealand, 2010–2016. Lancet Regional Health: Western Pacific, 8, 100101. doi: 10.1016/j.lanwpc.2021.100101
Journal - Research Article
McGregor, R., Whitcombe, A. L., Sheen, C. R., Dickson, J. M., Day, C. L., Carlton, L. H., … Bennett, J., Baker, M. G., … Moreland, N. J. (2020). Collaborative networks enable the rapid establishment of serological assays for SARS-CoV-2 during nationwide lockdown in New Zealand. PeerJ, 8, e9863. doi: 10.7717/peerj.9863
Journal - Research Article
Bennett, J., Davy, P., Trompetter, B., Wang, Y., Pierse, N., Boulic, M., … Howden-Chapman, P. (2019). Sources of indoor air pollution at a New Zealand urban primary school: A case study. Atmospheric Pollution Research, 10, 435-444. doi: 10.1016/j.apr.2018.09.006
Journal - Research Article
Chisholm, E., Keall, M., Bennett, J., Marshall, A., Telfar-Barnard, L., Thornley, L., & Howden-Chapman, P. (2019). Why don't owners improve their homes? Results from a survey following a housing warrant-of-fitness assessment for health and safety. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 43(3), 221-227. doi: 10.1111/1753-6405.12895
Journal - Research Article
Telfar-Barnard, L., Bennett, J., Robinson, A., Hailes, A., Ombler, J., & Howden-Chapman, P. (2019). Evidence base for a housing warrant of fitness. SAGE Open Medicine, 7. doi: 10.1177/2050312119843028
Journal - Research Article
Telfar-Barnard, L., Bennett, J., Howden-Chapman, P., Jacobs, D. E., Ormandy, D., Cutler-Welsh, M., Preval, N., Baker, M. G., & Keall, M. (2017). Measuring the effect of housing quality interventions: The case of the New Zealand "Rental Warrant of Fitness". International Journal of Environmental Research & Public Health, 14(11), 1352. doi: 10.3390/ijerph14111352
Journal - Research Article
Bennett, J., Howden-Chapman, P., Chisholm, E., Keall, M., & Baker, M. G. (2016). Towards an agreed quality standard for rental housing: Field testing of a New Zealand housing WOF tool. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 40(5), 405-411. doi: 10.1111/1753-6405.12519
Journal - Research Article
Pierse, N., Arnold, R., Keall, M., Howden-Chapman, P., Crane, J., Cunningham, M., the Housing, Heating, and Health Study Research Team, including Bennett, J. (2013). Modelling the effects of low indoor temperatures on the lung function of children with asthma. Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, 67, 918-925. doi: 10.1136/jech-2013-202632
Journal - Research Article
Gillespie-Bennett, J., Pierse, N., Wickens, K., Crane, J., Howden-Chapman, P., and the Housing Heating and Health Study Research Team, including Viggers, H., & Lloyd, B. (2011). The respiratory health effects of nitrogen dioxide in children with asthma. European Respiratory Journal, 38, 303-309. doi: 10.1183/09031936.00115409
Journal - Research Article
Free, S., Howden-Chapman, P., Pierse, N., Viggers, H., the Housing, Heating, and Health Study Research Team, including Nicholls, S., Bennett, J., Shields, D., Lloyd, B., Wickens, K., Baker, M., & Crane, J. (2010). More effective home heating reduces school absences for children with asthma. Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, 64(5), 379-386. doi: 10.1136/jech.2008.086520
Journal - Research Article
Preval, N., Chapman, R., Pierse, N., Howden-Chapman, P., the Housing, Heating, and Health Study Research Team, including Gillespie-Bennett, J. (2010). Evaluating energy, health and carbon co-benefits from improved domestic space heating: A randomised community trial. Energy Policy, 38(8), 3965-3972. doi: 10.1016/j.enpol.2010.03.020
Journal - Research Article
Boulic, M., Fjällström, P., Phipps, R., Cunningham, M., Cleland, D., Pierse, N., Howden-Chapman, P., … Viggers, H., … and the Housing, Heating, and Health Team, including Baker, M., Crane, J., Cunningham, C., Free, S., Gillespie-Bennett, J., Shields, D., & Wickens, K. (2008). Cold homes in New Zealand: Does increasing the heater capacity improve indoor temperatures? Clean Air & Environmental Quality, 42(3), 22-29.
Journal - Research Article
Gillespie-Bennett, J., Pierse, N., Wickens, K., Crane, J., Nicholls, S., Shields, D., … Viggers, H., Baker, M., … Howden-Chapman, P. (2008). Sources of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in New Zealand homes: Findings from a community randomized controlled trial of heater substitutions. Indoor Air, 18(6), 521-528. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0668.2008.00554.x
Journal - Research Article
Howden-Chapman, P., Pierse, N., Nicholls, S., Gillespie-Bennett, J., Viggers, H., Cunningham, M., … Free, S., … Lloyd, B., Wickens, K., Shields, D., Baker, M., Cunningham, C., … Crane, J. (2008). Effects of improved home heating on asthma in community dwelling children: Randomised controlled trial. BMJ, 337, 852-855. doi: 10.1136/bmj.a1411
Journal - Research Article
Gillespie, J., Wickens, K., Siebers, R., Howden-Chapman, P., Town, I., Epton, M., Fitzharris, P., … Crane, J., and the New Zealand Asthma and Allergy Birth Cohort Study Group, including Ingham, T., Irvine, V., Lampshire, P., Leadbitter, P., & Silvers, K. M. (2006). Endotoxin exposure, wheezing, and rash in infancy in a New Zealand birth cohort. Journal of Allergy & Clinical Immunology, 118, 1265-1270. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2006.07.051
Journal - Research Article
Gillespie, J., Milne, K., & Wilson, N. (2005). Secondhand smoke in New Zealand homes and cars: Exposure, attitudes, and behaviours in 2004. New Zealand Medical Journal, 118(1227). Retrieved from http://journal.nzma.org.nz/journal/118-1227/1782/content.pdf
Journal - Research Article
Gillespie, J., Siebers, R. W. L., & Crane, J. (2003). The hygiene hypothesis: The good, the bad, and the evil - a low-down on dirt. New Zealand Journal of Medical Laboratory Science, 111-115.
Journal - Research Article
Bennett, J., Moreland, N. J., Birrell, J., Webb, R., Kvalsvig, A., Roberts, S., & Baker, M. (2023). Likely rise in invasive strep infections in NZ requires a strategy. The Briefing, (23 March). Retrieved from https://www.phcc.org.nz/briefing/likely-rise-invasive-strep-infections-nz-requires-strategy
Journal - Research Other
Howden-Chapman, P., Crane, J., Keall, M., Pierse, N., Baker, M. G., Cunningham, C., … Aspinall, C., Bennett, J., Bierre, S., … Chisholm, E., Davies, C., Fougere, G., Fraser, B., Fyfe, C., … Halley, C., … Olin, C., Ombler, J., O'Sullivan, K., Pehi, T., Penny, G., … Randal, E., Riggs, L., Robson, B., Ruru, J., Shaw, C., … Teariki, M. A., Telfar Barnard, L., Tiatia, R., … Viggers, H., … Zhang, W. (2023). He Kāinga Oranga: Reflections on 25 years of measuring the improved health, wellbeing and sustainability of healthier housing. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand. Advance online publication. [Review].
Journal - Research Other
Kvalsvig, A., Tuari-Toma, B., Timu-Parata, C., Bennett, J., Sinnema, C., Summers, J., Davies, C., Jackson, C., … Telfar Barnard, L., & Baker, M. G. (2023). Protecting school communities from COVID-19 and other infectious disease outbreaks: The urgent need for healthy schools in Aotearoa New Zealand. New Zealand Medical Journal/Te ara tika o te hauora hapori, 136(1571), 7-19. Retrieved from https://journal.nzma.org.nz/
Journal - Research Other
Bennett, J., Shorter, C., Kvalsvig, A., Telfar Barnard, L., Wilson, N., Crane, J., Douwes, J., Cunningham, C., … Summers, J., … Baker, M. G., & Howden-Chapman, P. (2022). Indoor air quality, largely neglected and in urgent need of a refresh. New Zealand Medical Journal, 135(1559), 136-139. Retrieved from https://journal.nzma.org.nz
Journal - Research Other
Rentta, N. N., Bennett, J., Leung, W., Webb, R., Jack, S., Harwood, M., Baker, M. G., … Wilson, N. (2022). Medical treatment for rheumatic heart disease: A narrative review. Heart, Lung & Circulation. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1016/j.hlc.2022.07.013
Journal - Research Other
Bennett, J., Anderson, A., 'Ofanoa, M., Anderson, P., Baker, M. G., Brown, R., … Eggleton, K., Harwood, M., … Malcolm, J., … Sika-Paotonu, D., … Wilson, N. (2021). Acute rheumatic fever: A preventable, inequitable disease: A call for action. New Zealand Medical Journal, 134(1535), 93-95. Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal
Journal - Research Other
Bennett, J., Rentta, N. N., Leung, W., Atkinson, J., Wilson, N., Webb, R., & Baker, M. G. (2021). Early diagnosis of acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease as part of a secondary prevention strategy: Narrative review. Journal of Paediatrics & Child Health, 57, 1385-1390. doi: 10.1111/jpc.15664
Journal - Research Other
Bennett, J., Rentta, N., Leung, W., Anderson, A., Oliver, J., Wyber, R., Harwood, M., … Baker, M. G. (2021). Structured review of primary interventions to reduce group A streptococcal infections, acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease. Journal of Paediatrics & Child Health, 57, 797-802. doi: 10.1111/jpc.15514
Journal - Research Other
Cannon, J. W., Bennett, J., Baker, M. G., & Carapetis, J. R. (2021). Time to address the neglected burden of group A Streptococcus. Medical Journal of Australia, 215(2), 94-94.e1. doi: 10.5694/mja2.51149
Journal - Research Other
Ralph, A. P., Webb, R., Moreland, N. J., McGregor, R., Bosco, A., Broadhurst, D., … Bennett, J., … Carapetis, J. R. (2021). Searching for a technology-driven acute rheumatic fever test: The START study protocol. BMJ Open, 11(9), e053720. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-053720
Journal - Research Other
Bennett, J., Moreland, N. J., Oliver, J., Crane, J., Williamson, D. A., Sika-Paotonu, D., … Baker, M. G. (2019). Understanding group A streptococcal pharyngitis and skin infections as causes of rheumatic fever: Protocol for a prospective disease incidence study. BMC Infectious Diseases, 19, 633. doi: 10.1186/s12879-019-4126-9
Journal - Research Other
Bennett, J., & Howden-Chapman, P. (2016). An overview of the housing issues facing New Zealand. The Lens, 2(1), 3-4.
Journal - Research Other
Telfar-Barnard, L., & Bennett, J. (2016). The case for minimum rental housing standards. The Lens, 2(1), 5.
Journal - Research Other
Gillespie-Bennett, J., Keall, M., Howden-Chapman, P., & Baker, M. G. (2013). Improving health, safety and energy efficiency in New Zealand through measuring and applying basic housing standards. New Zealand Medical Journal, 126(1379), 74-85. Retrieved from http://www.nzma.org.nz/journal
Journal - Research Other
Bennett, J. (2017). Air pollution in schools. Build, 158, 60-61. Retrieved from https://www.buildmagazine.org.nz/articles/show/air-pollution-in-schools
Journal - Professional & Other Non-Research Articles
Bennett, J. (2016). Costs to reach minimum. Build, 157, 77-78. Retrieved from https://www.buildmagazine.org.nz/articles/show/costs-to-reach-minimum
Journal - Professional & Other Non-Research Articles
Viggers, H., Howden-Chapman, P., Pierse, N., Gillespie-Bennett, J., Cunningham, M., Phipps, R., & Crane, J. (2008). Effect of installing effective heaters into the homes of asthmatic children. Proceedings of the Population Health Congress. (pp. 50-55). Maroochydore, Australia: Australian Health Promotion Association. [Full Paper]
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Full paper
Kado, J., Salman, S., Hla, T., Enkel, S., Henderson, R., Hand, R., … Bennett, J., … Manning, L. (2022). Subcutaneous infusions of high-dose benzathine penicillin G (SCIP) is safe, tolerable and potentially suitable for less frequent dosing for rheumatic heart disease secondary prophylaxis. Heart, Lung & Circulation, 31(Suppl. 3), (pp. S301). doi: 10.1016/j.hlc.2022.06.515
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract