Heinrich Weber

Associate Professor Heinrich Weber came to Tasmania in 2010 as part of a career move and in search of new challenges.

Now, he is leading ongoing research into the high prevalence of childhood asthma in the state’s North-West.

After completing an undergraduate medical degree at the University of Cape Town, Associate Professor Weber then completed a Paediatric fellowship, followed by a sub-specialty training in Paediatric Respiratory Medicine. He also has training in allergic diseases, and a Master’s degree in Public Health. 

After attaining an Australian fellowship in Paediatrics, more recently he earned a Diploma in European Paediatric Respiratory Medicine.

But it was through the clinical exposure to children experiencing respiratory problems and their associated challenges that Associate Professor Weber’s passion for medical research was first ignited.

“I was further inspired to pursue this area as respiratory disease is still a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide and is an area of great need,” he said. 

“My interest in research was sparked by my exposure to clinical dilemmas faced in managing children with respiratory problems, especially the additional challenges that are posed in regional and rural areas.”

With funding from the Clifford Craig Foundation, he is continuing research examining risk factors, including environmental risk factors, for the relatively high prevalence of childhood asthma in regional and rural Tasmania.

He is also working on low-cost interventions to improve outcomes for babies in North West Tasmania by addressing common causes of morbidity in pregnancy, such as obesity and smoking in pregnancy and hopefully preventing of long term consequences.