Centre for Clinical Research

Operational Research and Decision Support for Infectious Diseases (ODeSI)

We aim to optimise infectious disease prevention, control, and elimination by generating new evidence and providing innovative solutions that support clinical and public health decision-making.

The ODeSI research team bridges the gap between research and real-world decision-making and policy.

We collaborate with clinicians and global public health experts to:

  • Design impactful research programs
  • Implement and evaluate interventions
  • Explore cutting-edge methods to improve disease prevention, control and elimination.

ODeSI hubs

The ODeSI Hubs provide forums for our collaborators and partners to engage, and platforms to translate complex research into actionable intelligence, bridging the gap between evidence generation and routine policy and operational use.

The Global Health Hub enables partners to work together to respond to infectious disease challenges. It supports collective, evidence-informed action across surveillance and health system decision-making.

The Modelling, Maths and Maps (M³) Hub unites UQ students and staff with external partners to advance applied and innovative spatial epidemiology, machine learning, and mathematical modelling for infectious diseases. The (M³) Hub convenes the Australian Spatial Expert Working Group on NTDs and Other Priority Infectious Diseases.

The Clinician-Epidemiologist Hub is ODeSI’s translational platform, bringing clinicians and epidemiologists together to generate practice-relevant evidence and inform real-world decision-making. It integrates clinical insight with analytical expertise to enhance infectious disease prevention, surveillance, and vaccine policy.

Innovation to reduce global burden of infectious disease

Our expertise

Our expertise spans a broad spectrum of infectious diseases, with a focus on:

  • neglected tropical diseases
  • emerging infectious diseases
  • antimicrobial resistance
  • vaccine preventable diseases
  • travel medicine

We also explore environmental and sociodemographic drivers of disease transmission.

We deliver real-world impact by combining strong operational research with advanced analytical methods, including:

  • statistical modelling
  • spatial-temporal modelling and forecasting
  • predictive risk modelling
  • Bayesian networks and system dynamics
  • AI-driven modelling and machine learning
  • social network analysis
  • digital health

In addition, we have substantial experience delivering clinical trials and large-scale field surveys across Australia and the Asia-Pacific.

Our research approach
  • Collaboration: We co-create research questions and programs with policymakers and practitioners, ensuring our work addresses infectious diseases with direct, real-world relevance.
  • Innovation: We apply advanced analytical methods to design, implement and evaluate interventions and technologies for infectious disease prevention and control.   
  • Impact: Through strong multidisciplinary partnerships with national, regional, and global stakeholders, our research informs strategies that improve health outcomes at scale.

Adjuncts

  • Dr Hammad Ali
  • Dr Harriet Lawford
  • Dr Jessica Chellappah
  • Dr Deborah Mills
  • Dr Sarah Sheridan
  • Dr Nicolas Smoll

Affiliates

  • Professor Patricia Graves (James Cook University)
  • Professor Paul Jagals (Child Health Research Centre, UQ)
  • Dr Angus McLure (Australian National University)
  • Lt Col Brady McPherson (Australian Defence Force Malaria and Infectious Disease Institute)

PhD candidates

  • Wondimeneh Shiferaw
  • Selina Ward 
  • Kim Dianne Ligue 
  • Jin Cao
  • Fan Yu 
  • Mohabeer Amar Teeluck
  • Indah Amelia
  • Gabriel Parker
  • Jiaxin Zhao 
  • Alemu Belete
  • Ermias Enyew 
  • Madisen Roser

Please see individual UQ Experts profiles for a full list of publications

Craig, A.T.; Lawford, H.L.S.; Bauro, T.; Couteaux, C.; Volavala, L.; Dupont-Rouzeyrol, M.; Soares, N.G.; Nehemia, R…. Lau CL. Integrated Approaches to Surveillance of Lymphatic Filariasis and Other Infectious Diseases in the Pacific Islands. Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2026, 11, 54. https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed11020054

Jian, H.; Lawford, H.; McLure, A.; Lau, C.; Craig, A. Global Lymphatic Filariasis Post-Validation Surveillance Activities in 2025: A Scoping Review. Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2026, 11, 28. https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed11010028

Lawford, H.L.S.; Jian, H… Lau CL, Craig AT. Barriers and Facilitators to Implementing Post-Validation Surveillance of Lymphatic Filariasis in Pacific Island Countries and Territories: A Conceptual Framework Developed from Qualitative Data. Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2026, 11, 27. https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed11010027

Krishna, R.; Furuya-Kanamori, L.; Lawford, H.L.S. Temporal Trends in Lower Respiratory Infection Mortality in Ecuador, 2012–2022. Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2026, 11, 21. https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed11010021

Martin BM, Zhang Z, Vernal S, Jian H, Nilles EJ, Furuya-Kanamori L, Sartorius B, Lau CL. Leptospirosis in the Caribbean Region between 2000 and 2022: A scoping review of morbidity and mortality. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2026 Jan 5;20(1):e0013595. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0013595. PMID: 41490137; PMCID: PMC12782409.

Borem P, Gushken AKF, Gushken AP, Pacagnella RC, Petenate AJ, Tuma P, Pedrilio LS, Nariño S, Barker P, Barros CG, Vernal S. A Comprehensive Strategy to Mitigate Institutional Maternal Mortality: Lessons From a Quality Improvement Initiative in Brazilian Maternity Hospitals. Glob Health Sci Pract. 2026;13(2):e2400130. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41494826/

Nuñez Murillo, T.; Cadavid Restrepo, A.; Mayfield, H.J.; Lau, C.L.; Sartorius, B.; Kiani, B. Spatial Risk Factors of Vector-Borne Diseases in Pacific Island Countries and Territories: A Scoping Review. Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2026, 11, 6. https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed11010006

Ward S, Lawford HL, Sartorius B, Mayfield HJ, Amosa-Lei Sam F, Sheridan SL, Thomsen R, Viali S, Lau CL. Finding the Gaps: Integrated Serosurveillance and Spatial Clustering of Vaccine Preventable Diseases in Samoa, 2018–2019. Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease. 2025 Dec 28;11(1):9. https://www.mdpi.com/2414-6366/11/1/9 

  • The Task Force for Global Health
  • Global Institute for Disease Elimination (GLIDE)
  • The Pacific Community (SPC)
  • Travel Medicine Alliance
  • QIMR Berghofer
  • Pacific Mosquito Surveillance Strengthening for Impact (PacMOSSI)
  • Ministries and Departments of Health in Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Cook Islands, Niue, Palau and Wallis and Futuna
  • Universities across the Pacific Islands, including Fiji National University, National University of Vanuatu, Oceania University of Medicine, Solomon Islands National University