Overview
Background
Dr. Lord leads the Spectroscopy Lab at the School of the Environment, the University of Queensland. Her interdisciplinary research focuses on developing novel, rapid next-generation surveillance and diagnostic tools using infrared light and artificial intelligence. These tools are designed for detecting pathogens in humans and the environment and for characterizing disease-carrying vectors such as mosquitoes.
During the Zika epidemic, Dr. Lord pioneered the application of infrared spectroscopy for rapid Zika virus detection in mosquitoes, achieving results in less than 10 seconds. In 2022, in collaboration with the Australian Defence Force and Instituto Oswaldo Cruz in Brazil, she led a team that demonstrated for the first time that infrared light and AI could detect malaria through the skin—eliminating the need for blood samples.
As a Chief Investigator, Dr. Lord has secured research funding from several funding bodies including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, USAID, NHMRC, AQIRF, and Grand Challenges Canada to develop rapid tools for large-scale disease surveillance. With her recent funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council, she is developing a smart trap for Ross River virus surveillance in partnership with Queensland Health.
Dr. Lord has published over 60 research works, and presented her findings at over 30 international conferences. Her groundbreaking research has been featured in hundreds of media outlets worldwide. Her contributions to global health have earned her numerous academic accolades, including being named a Fellow of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene in 2024.
Beyond research, Dr. Lord leads the STEM Spotlight program, a STEM mentorship initiative that provides a safe and engaging space for students from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities. The program encourages students from underrepresented backgrounds to pursue careers in STEM while providing them the opportunity to be part of the STEM community in a safe space. In recognition of this work, she was awarded the Diversity and Inclusion Champion Award (2023) by the Department of Multicultural Affairs. Dr Lord has served/serves on numerous committees including the Australian of the year selection Committee (2023), the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene Scientific Committee, Young investigator award committee (ASTMH), Equity, Diversity and Inclusion committee (UQ).Between 2021-2024 she served as the vice president of African Professionals of Australia (QLD).
Current Research interests:
Vectors that transmit diseases including but not limited to mosquitoes, Triatomine species, ticks
Large scale surveillance tools for Vector-borne disease
Availability
- Dr Maggy Lord is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, Griffith University
Research interests
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Vector borne diseases
Surveillance tools for vector-borne diseases
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Artificial intelligence
Development of AI tools for vector-borne diseases
Research impacts
Demonstrated the capacity of infrared and Artificial intelligence to
1. Characterise mosquito species into age, species and infection
2. Detect Zika, Dengue and Chikungunya in seconds non-invasively in mosquitoes
3. Detect Wolbachia in mosquitoes non-invasively
4. Detect Trypanosoma cruzi in Triatomine species and faecal samples
5. Detect malaria non-invasively through the skin of human subjects
6. Detect soil-transmitted helminths non-invasively in experimental mouse
Works
Search Professor Maggy Lord’s works on UQ eSpace
2020
Journal Article
Visible-near infrared spectroscopy for detection of blood in sheep faeces
Kho, Elise A., Fernandes, Jill N., Kotze, Andrew C., Fox, Glen P., Lord, Maggy, Beasley, Anne M., Moore, Stephen S. and James, Peter J. (2020). Visible-near infrared spectroscopy for detection of blood in sheep faeces. Journal of Near Infrared Spectroscopy, 28 (5-6), 255-266. doi: 10.1177/0967033520927519
2020
Journal Article
Near-infrared spectroscopy evaluations for the differentiation of carbapenem-resistant from susceptible enterobacteriaceae strains
Alharbi, Bushra, Sikulu-Lord, Maggy, Lord, Anton, Zowawi, Hosam M. and Trembizki, Ella (2020). Near-infrared spectroscopy evaluations for the differentiation of carbapenem-resistant from susceptible enterobacteriaceae strains. Diagnostics, 10 (10) 736, 1-9. doi: 10.3390/diagnostics10100736
2020
Journal Article
An autoencoder and artificial neural network-based method to estimate parity status of wild mosquitoes from near-infrared spectra
Milali, Masabho P., Kiware, Samson S., Govella, Nicodem J., Okumu, Fredros, Bansal, Naveen, Bozdag, Serdar, Charlwood, Jacques D., Maia, Marta F., Ogoma, Sheila B., Dowell, Floyd E., Corliss, George F., Sikulu-Lord, Maggy T. and Povinelli, Richard J. (2020). An autoencoder and artificial neural network-based method to estimate parity status of wild mosquitoes from near-infrared spectra. PLoS ONE, 15 (6) e0234557, e0234557. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0234557
2020
Journal Article
Detection of Haemonchus contortus nematode eggs in sheep faeces using near and mid-infrared spectroscopy
Kho, Elise A., Fernandes, Jill N., Kotze, Andrew C., Sikulu-Lord, Maggy T., Fox, Glen P., Beasley, Anne M., Moore, Stephen S. and James, Peter J. (2020). Detection of Haemonchus contortus nematode eggs in sheep faeces using near and mid-infrared spectroscopy. Journal of Near Infrared Spectroscopy, 28 (5-6), 096703352092449-254. doi: 10.1177/0967033520924491
2020
Other Outputs
An Autoencoder and Artificial Neural Network-based Method to Estimate Parity Status of Wild Mosquitoes from Near-infrared Spectra
Milali, Masabho P., Kiware, Samson S., Govella, Nicodem J., Okumu, Fredros, Bansal, Naveen, Bozdag, Serdar, Charlwood, Jacques D., Maia, Marta, Ogoma, Sheila B., Dowell, Floyd E., Corliss, George F., Sikulu-Lord, Maggy T. and Povinelli, Richard J. (2020). An Autoencoder and Artificial Neural Network-based Method to Estimate Parity Status of Wild Mosquitoes from Near-infrared Spectra. doi: 10.1101/2020.01.25.919878
2020
Conference Publication
Shining a light on Haemonchus contortus in sheep
Kho, Elise, Fernandes, Jill, Kotze, Andrew, Lord, Maggy, Fox, Glen, Beasley, Anne, Moore, Stephen and James, Peter (2020). Shining a light on Haemonchus contortus in sheep. 3rd International Tropical Agriculture Conference (TROPAG 2019), Brisbane, Australia, 11–13 November 2019. Basel, Switzerland: MDPI. doi: 10.3390/proceedings2019036138
2019
Journal Article
Detection of malaria parasites in dried human blood spots using mid-infrared spectroscopy and logistic regression analysis
Mwanga, Emmanuel P., Minja, Elihaika G., Mrimi, Emmanuel, Jiménez, Mario González, Swai, Johnson K., Abbasi, Said, Ngowo, Halfan S., Siria, Doreen J., Mapua, Salum, Stica, Caleb, Maia, Marta F., Olotu, Ally, Sikulu-Lord, Maggy T., Baldini, Francesco, Ferguson, Heather M., Wynne, Klaas, Selvaraj, Prashanth, Babayan, Simon A. and Okumu, Fredros O. (2019). Detection of malaria parasites in dried human blood spots using mid-infrared spectroscopy and logistic regression analysis. Malaria Journal, 18 (1) 341, 341. doi: 10.1186/s12936-019-2982-9
2019
Journal Article
Age grading An. gambiae and An. arabiensis using near infrared spectra and artificial neural networks
Milali, Masabho P., Sikulu-Lord, Maggy T., Kiware, Samson S., Dowell, Floyd E., Corliss, George F. and Povinelli, Richard J. (2019). Age grading An. gambiae and An. arabiensis using near infrared spectra and artificial neural networks. PLoS One, 14 (8) e0209451, e0209451. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0209451
2019
Other Outputs
Detection of malaria parasites in dried human blood spots using mid-infrared spectroscopy and logistic regression analysis
Mwanga, Emmanuel P., Minja, Elihaika G., Mrimi, Emmanuel, Jiménez, Mario González, Swai, Johnson K., Abbasi, Said, Ngowo, Halfan S., Siria, Doreen J., Mapua, Salum, Stica, Caleb, Maia, Marta F., Olotu, Ally, Sikulu-Lord, Maggy T., Baldini, Francesco, Ferguson, Heather M., Wynne, Klaas, Selvaraj, Prashanth, Babayan, Simon A. and Okumu, Fredros O. (2019). Detection of malaria parasites in dried human blood spots using mid-infrared spectroscopy and logistic regression analysis. doi: 10.1101/19001206
2019
Conference Publication
Rapid Identification of Bacterial Species with a Beam of Light
AlHarbi, B., Lord, M. and Zowawi, H. (2019). Rapid Identification of Bacterial Species with a Beam of Light. GCCMID 2018, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 7-10 November 2018. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.jiph.2018.10.079
2019
Conference Publication
Detection of arboviruses and parasites in mosquito vectors with a beam of light
Sikulu-Lord, Maggy, Garcia, Gabriela A., Santos, Lilha M., Fernandes, Jill N., Dowell, Floyd E. and Maciel-De-Freitas, Rafael (2019). Detection of arboviruses and parasites in mosquito vectors with a beam of light. 68th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH), National Harbor, MD, United States, 20-24 November, 2019. Deerfield, IL, United States: American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.abstract2019
2019
Conference Publication
Developing alternative surveillance methods, from the near infrared spectroscopy to predict zika infection on aedes aegypti, to metagenomics to detect the invasion of new arboviruses and haplotypes
Pavan, Marcio G., Garcia, Gabriela A., Santos, Lilha M., David, Mariana R., Sikulu-Lord, Maggy T., Martins, Ademir J., Powell, Jeffrey R., Mason, Cristopher E. and Maciel-de-Freitas, Rafael (2019). Developing alternative surveillance methods, from the near infrared spectroscopy to predict zika infection on aedes aegypti, to metagenomics to detect the invasion of new arboviruses and haplotypes. 68th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH), National Harbor, MD, United States, 20-24 November, 2019. Deerfield, IL, United States: American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.abstract2019
2018
Journal Article
First report of natural Wolbachia infection in the malaria mosquito Anopheles arabiensis in Tanzania
Baldini, Francesco, Rougé, Justine, Kreppel, Katharina, Mkandawile, Gustave, Mapua, Salum Abdallah, Sikulu-Lord, Maggy, Ferguson, Heather M., Govella, Nicodem and Okumu, Fredros O. (2018). First report of natural Wolbachia infection in the malaria mosquito Anopheles arabiensis in Tanzania. Parasites and Vectors, 11 (1) 635, 635. doi: 10.1186/s13071-018-3249-y
2018
Other Outputs
Age Grading An. Gambiae and An. Arabiensis Using Near Infrared Spectra and Artificial Neural Networks
Milali, Masabho P., Sikulu-Lord, Maggy T., Kiware, Samson S., Dowell, Floyd, Corliss, George F. and Povinelli, Richard J. (2018). Age Grading An. Gambiae and An. Arabiensis Using Near Infrared Spectra and Artificial Neural Networks. doi: 10.1101/490326
2018
Journal Article
First report on the application of near-infrared spectroscopy to predict the age of Aedes albopictus Skuse
Sikulu-Lord, Maggy T., Devine, Gregor J., Hugo, Leon E. and Dowell, Floyd E. (2018). First report on the application of near-infrared spectroscopy to predict the age of Aedes albopictus Skuse. Scientific Reports, 8 (1) 9590, 9590. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-27998-7
2018
Journal Article
Do NIR spectra collected from laboratory-reared mosquitoes differ from those collected from wild mosquitoes?
Milali, Masabho P., Sikulu-Lord, Maggy T., Kiware, Samson S., Dowell, Floyd E., Povinelli, Richard J. and Corliss, George F. (2018). Do NIR spectra collected from laboratory-reared mosquitoes differ from those collected from wild mosquitoes?. PloS One, 13 (5) e0198245, e0198245. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0198245
2018
Journal Article
Rapid, noninvasive detection of Zika virus in mosquitoes by near-infrared spectroscopy
Fernandes, Jill N., Dos Santos, Lílha M. B., Chouin-Carneiro, Thaís, Pavan, Márcio G., Garcia, Gabriela A., David, Mariana R., Beier, John C., Dowell, Floyd E., Maciel-de-Freitas, Rafael and Sikulu-Lord, Maggy T. (2018). Rapid, noninvasive detection of Zika virus in mosquitoes by near-infrared spectroscopy. Science Advances, 4 (5) eaat0496, eaat0496. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.aat0496
2018
Journal Article
Potential benefits of combining transfluthrin-treated sisal products and long-lasting insecticidal nets for controlling indoor-biting malaria vectors
Masalu, John P., Okumu, Fredros O., Mmbando, Arnold S., Sikulu-Lord, Maggy T. and Ogoma, Sheila B. (2018). Potential benefits of combining transfluthrin-treated sisal products and long-lasting insecticidal nets for controlling indoor-biting malaria vectors. Parasites and Vectors, 11 (231) 231, 231. doi: 10.1186/s13071-018-2811-y
2018
Journal Article
Monitoring the age of mosquito populations using near-infrared spectroscopy
Lambert, Ben, Sikulu-Lord, Maggy T., Mayagaya, Vale S, Devine, Greg, Dowell, Floyd and Churcher, Thomas S (2018). Monitoring the age of mosquito populations using near-infrared spectroscopy. Scientific Reports, 8 (1) 5274, 5274. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-22712-z
2018
Conference Publication
Determining species of field-collected mosquitoes using near-infrared spectroscopy
Esperanca, Pedro, Da, Dari, Some, Bernard, Sikulu-Lord, Maggy, Yerbanga, R., Lefevre, Thierry, Mouline, Karine, Werme, Karidia, Dowell, Floyd, Dabire, Roch and Churcher, Thomas (2018). Determining species of field-collected mosquitoes using near-infrared spectroscopy. 67th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTHM), New Orleans, LA, United States, 28 Oct - 1 Nov, 2018. Deerfield, IL, United States: American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.abstract2018
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Maggy Lord is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Available projects
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Mosquito microbiome and pathogen interaction
This PhD project aims to assess the role of probiotics as a potential transmission blocking tool for arboviruses and parasites transmitted by mosquitoes. Interested students will analyse the interaction of the mosquito microbiome and various pathogens
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Analysis of mosquitoes with Near-infrared andmachine learning algorithms
This PhD project aims to assess the role of NIR and machine learning techniques to detect Ross River virus and blood meal status in mosquitoes. It requires students to rear mosquitoes in the lab, infect them and analyse them with both PCR and machine learning algorithms. When inquiring about this project, please let me know if you havea scholarship or you intent to apply for one. You should also use PhD project on Ross River virus in your title
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Analysis of mosquitoes with Near-infrared and machine learning algorithms
This PhD project aims to assess the role of NIR and machine learning techniques to detect Ross River virus and blood meal status in mosquitoes. It requires students to rear mosquitoes in the lab, infect them and analyse them with both PCR and machine learning algorithms. It requires knowledge in insect handling/rearing, PCR techniques and data analysis. Both international and domestic students are encouraged to apply. When inquiring about this project, please let me know if you havea scholarship or you intent to apply for one. You should also use PhD project on Ross River virus in your title/subject line
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Comparative evaluation of handheld and benchtop NIR instruments for mosquito analysis
This project aims to compare the accuracy of smaller handheld NIR instruments with benchtop instruments for mosquito characterisation in the lab and field. It requires knowledge in insect handling/rearing, PCR techniques and data analysis. Both international and domestic students are encouraged to apply. When inquiring about this project, please let me know if you have a scholarship or you intent to apply for one. You should also use PhD project on Ross River virus in your subject line
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Machine learning algorithms for insect characterisation using infrared data
The Lord Lab has been collecting infrared data on mosquito characterisation for the last 10 years. This PhD project will analyse these data with various machine learning algorithms to develop robust predictive models for global use. This is a dry lab only PhD. Both domestic and international students are encouraged to apply.
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Analysis of mosquitoes with Near-infrared and machine learning algorithms
This PhD project aims to assess the role of NIR and machine learning techniques to detect Ross River virus and blood meal status in mosquitoes. It requires insect handling/rearing knowledge, PCR techniques and machine learning. Both international and domestic students are encouraged to apply. When inquiring about this project, please let me know if you intent to apply for a scholarship. You should also use PhD project on Ross River virus in your title/subject line
-
Comparative evaluation of handheld and benchtop NIR instruments for mosquito analysis
This project aims to compare the accuracy of smaller handheld NIR instruments with benchtop instruments for mosquito characterisation in the lab and field. It requires knowledge in insect handling/rearing, PCR techniques and machine leraning. Both international and domestic students are encouraged to apply. When inquiring about this project, please let me know if you intent to apply for a scholarship.
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Machine learning algorithms for insect characterisation using infrared data
The Lord Lab has been collecting infrared data on mosquito characterisation for >10 years. This PhD project is a dry lab only and aims to analyse these data with various machine learning algorithms to develop robust predictive models for global use. Both domestic and international students are encouraged to apply.
Supervision history
Completed supervision
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
Detection of malaria and arboviruses with spectroscopy and machine learning techniques
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Ricardo Soares Magalhaes, Dr Silvia Ciocchetta
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
Exploring diagnostic approaches and quality assurance data for improved management of gonorrhoea antimicrobial resistance
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor David Whiley, Dr Emma Sweeney, Dr Ella Trembizki
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
Detecting Haemonchus contortus infection in sheep using infrared spectroscopy
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Adjunct Professor Andrew Kotze, Dr Anne Beasley
Media
Enquiries
Contact Dr Maggy Lord directly for media enquiries about:
- infrared spectroscopy
- malaria
- Mosquitoes
- non-invasive diagnostic tools
- surveillance
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