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
2018
Conference Publication
IDENTIFICATION OF <it>PLASMODIUM FALCIPARUM</it>-INFECTIOUS <it>ANOPHELES COLUZZII</it> MOSQUITOES USING NEAR-INFRARED SPECTROSCOPY
Da, Dari, Esperanc, Pedro, Some, Bernard, Sikulu-Lord, Maggy, Yerbanga, R., Lefevre, Thierry, Mouline, Karine, Werme, Karidia, Dowell, Floyd, Dabire, Roch and Churcher, Thomas (2018). IDENTIFICATION OF PLASMODIUM FALCIPARUM-INFECTIOUS ANOPHELES COLUZZII MOSQUITOES USING NEAR-INFRARED SPECTROSCOPY. 67th Annual Meeting of the American-Society-of-Tropical-Medicine-and-Hygiene (ASTHM), New Orleans La, Oct 28-Nov 01, 2018. MCLEAN: AMER SOC TROP MED & HYGIENE.
2017
Journal Article
Efficacy and user acceptability of transfluthrin-treated sisal and hessian decorations for protecting against mosquito bites in outdoor bars
Masalu, John P., Finda, Marceline, Okumu, Fredros O., Minja, Elihaika G., Mmbando, Arnold S., Sikulu-Lord, Maggy T. and Ogoma, Sheila B. (2017). Efficacy and user acceptability of transfluthrin-treated sisal and hessian decorations for protecting against mosquito bites in outdoor bars. Parasites and Vectors, 10 (1) 197. doi: 10.1186/s13071-017-2132-6
2017
Journal Article
Bites before and after bedtime can carry a high risk of human malaria infection
Milali, Masabho P., Sikulu-Lord, Maggy T. and Govella, Nicodem J. (2017). Bites before and after bedtime can carry a high risk of human malaria infection. Malaria Journal, 16 (1) 91. doi: 10.1186/s12936-017-1740-0
2017
Conference Publication
Comparison between age estimates of wild Anopheles arabiensis using NIRS classification model and ovary dissection (Detinova's method)
Milali, Masabho P., Kiware, Samson S., Povinelli, Richard J., Corliss, George F. and Sikulu-Lord, Maggy (2017). Comparison between age estimates of wild Anopheles arabiensis using NIRS classification model and ovary dissection (Detinova's method). Annual Meeting of the American-Society-of-Tropical-Medicine-and-Hygiene (ASTMH), Baltimore, MD, United States, 5-9 November 2017. Deerfield, IL, United States: American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.abstract2017
2017
Conference Publication
Next generation mosquito surveillance technique: the near infra-red spectroscopy
Sikulu-Lord, Maggy, Wirtz, Robert, Hugo, Leon, Ulrich, Jill, Devine, Gregor, Masabho, Milali P., de Freitas, Rafael and Dowell, Floyd (2017). Next generation mosquito surveillance technique: the near infra-red spectroscopy. 66th Annual Meeting of the American-Society-of-Tropical-Medicine-and-Hygiene (ASTMH), Baltimore, Maryland USA, 05-09 November 2017. Deerfield, IL United States: American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.
2016
Journal Article
Safety and reproducibility of a clinical trial system using induced blood stage Plasmodium vivax infection and its potential as a model to evaluate malaria transmission
Griffin, Paul, Pasay, Cielo, Elliott, Suzanne, Sekuloski, Silvana, Sikulu, Maggy, Hugo, Leon, Khoury, David, Cromer, Deborah, Davenport, Miles, Sattabongkot, Jetsumon, Ivinson, Karen, Ockenhouse, Christian and McCarthy, James (2016). Safety and reproducibility of a clinical trial system using induced blood stage Plasmodium vivax infection and its potential as a model to evaluate malaria transmission. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 10 (12) e0005139, e0005139. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005139
2016
Journal Article
Near-infrared spectroscopy, a rapid method for predicting the age of male and female wild-type and Wolbachia infected Aedes aegypti
Sikulu-Lord, Maggy T., Milali, Masabho P., Henry, Michael, Wirtz, Robert A., Hugo, Leon E., Dowell, Floyd E. and Devine, Gregor J. (2016). Near-infrared spectroscopy, a rapid method for predicting the age of male and female wild-type and Wolbachia infected Aedes aegypti. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 10 (10) e0005040, e0005040.1-e0005040.11. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005040
2016
Journal Article
Rapid and non-destructive detection and identification of two strains of Wolbachia in Aedes aegypti by near-infrared spectroscopy
Sikulu-Lord, Maggy T., Maia, Marta F., Milali, Masabho P., Henry, Michael, Mkandawile, Gustav, Kho, Elise A., Wirtz, Robert A., Hugo, Leon E., Dowell, Floyd E. and Devine, Gregor J. (2016). Rapid and non-destructive detection and identification of two strains of Wolbachia in Aedes aegypti by near-infrared spectroscopy. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 10 (6) e0004759, e0004759. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0004759
2015
Conference Publication
Rapid and non-destructive near-infrared spectroscopy can predict the age and Wolbachia infection in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes
Sikulu, Maggy, Masabho, Peter, Henry, Michael, Lysenko, Nikita, Wirtz, Robert, Dowell, Floyd and Devine, Greg (2015). Rapid and non-destructive near-infrared spectroscopy can predict the age and Wolbachia infection in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 64th Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, PA, United States, 25-29 October 2015. Deerfield, IL, United States: American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.
2015
Journal Article
Mass spectrometry identification of age-associated proteins from the malaria mosquitoes Anopheles gambiae s.s. and Anopheles stephensi
Sikulu, Maggy T., Monkman, James, Dave, Keyur A., Hastie, Marcus L., Dale, Patricia E., Kitching, Roger L., Killeen, Gerry F., Kay, Brian H., Gorman, Jeffry J. and Hugo, Leon E. (2015). Mass spectrometry identification of age-associated proteins from the malaria mosquitoes Anopheles gambiae s.s. and Anopheles stephensi. Data in Brief, 4, 461-467. doi: 10.1016/j.dib.2015.07.007
2015
Journal Article
Proteomic changes occurring in the malaria mosquitoes Anopheles gambiae and Anopheles stephensi during aging
Sikulu, Maggy T., Monkman, James, Dave, Keyur A., Hastie, Marcus L., Dale, Patricia E., Kitching, Roger L., Killeen, Gerry F., Kay, Brian H., Gorman, Jeffery J. and Hugo, Leon E. (2015). Proteomic changes occurring in the malaria mosquitoes Anopheles gambiae and Anopheles stephensi during aging. Journal of Proteomics, 126, 234-244. doi: 10.1016/j.jprot.2015.06.008
2015
Conference Publication
The complementary advantage of combining spatial repellent treated sisal decorative baskets with long lasting insecticide treated nets
Paliga, J. M., Maia, M. F., Sikulu, M., Okumu, F. O. and Ogoma, S. B. (2015). The complementary advantage of combining spatial repellent treated sisal decorative baskets with long lasting insecticide treated nets. 9th European Congress on Tropical Medicine and International Health, Basel, Switzerland, 6‐10 September 2015. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing.
2014
Journal Article
Non-Destructive near Infrared Spectroscopy for Simultaneous Prediction of Age and Species of Two Major African Malaria Vectors: An. Gambiae and An. Arabiensis
Sikulu, Maggy T. (2014). Non-Destructive near Infrared Spectroscopy for Simultaneous Prediction of Age and Species of Two Major African Malaria Vectors: An. Gambiae and An. Arabiensis. NIR News, 25 (5), 4-6. doi: 10.1255/nirn.1455
2014
Journal Article
Using a near-infrared spectrometer to estimate the age of Anopheles mosquitoes exposed to pyrethroids
Sikulu, Maggy T., Majambere, Silas, Khatib, Bakar O., Ali, Abdullah S., Hugo, Leon E. and Dowell, Floyd E. (2014). Using a near-infrared spectrometer to estimate the age of Anopheles mosquitoes exposed to pyrethroids. PLoS One, 9 (3) e90657, e90657.1-e90657.6. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0090657
2013
Journal Article
Proteomic biomarkers for ageing the mosquito Aedes aegypti to determine risk of pathogen transmission
Hugo, Leon E., Monkman, James, Dave, Keyur A., Wockner, Leesa F., Birrell, Geoff W., Norris, Emma L., Kienzle, Vivian J., Sikulu, Maggy T., Ryan, Peter A., Gorman, Jeffery J. and Kay, Brian H. (2013). Proteomic biomarkers for ageing the mosquito Aedes aegypti to determine risk of pathogen transmission. PLoS One, 8 (3) e58656, e58656.1-e58656.10. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0058656
2011
Journal Article
Evaluating RNAlater ® as a preservative for using near-infrared spectroscopy to predict Anopheles gambiae age and species
Sikulu, Maggy, Dowell, Kayla M., Hugo, Leon E., Wirtz, Robert A., Michel, Kristin, Peiris, Kamaranga H. S., Moore, Sarah, Killeen, Gerry F. and Dowell, Floyd E. (2011). Evaluating RNAlater ® as a preservative for using near-infrared spectroscopy to predict Anopheles gambiae age and species. Malaria Journal, 10 (1) 186. doi: 10.1186/1475-2875-10-186
2010
Journal Article
Near-infrared spectroscopy as a complementary age grading and species identification tool for African malaria vectors
Sikulu, Maggy, Killeen, Gerry F., Hugo, Leon E., Ryan, Peter A., Dowell, Kayla M., Wirtz, Robert A., Moore, Sarah J. and Dowell, Floyd E. (2010). Near-infrared spectroscopy as a complementary age grading and species identification tool for African malaria vectors. Parasites and Vectors, 3 (1) 49. doi: 10.1186/1756-3305-3-49
2009
Journal Article
Window screening, ceilings and closed eaves as sustainable ways to control malaria in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Ogoma, Sheila B., Kannady, Khadija, Sikulu, Maggy, Chaki, Prosper P., Govella, Nicodem J., Mukabana, Wolfgang R. and Killeen, Gerry F. (2009). Window screening, ceilings and closed eaves as sustainable ways to control malaria in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Malaria Journal, 8 (1) 221. doi: 10.1186/1475-2875-8-221
2009
Journal Article
Comparative evaluation of the Ifakara tent trap-B, the standardized resting boxes and the human landing catch for sampling malaria vectors and other mosquitoes in urban Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Sikulu, Maggy, Govella, Nicodem J., Ogoma, Sheila B., Mpangile, John, Kambi, Said H., Kannady, Khadija, Chaki, Prosper C., Mukabana, Wolfgang R. and Killeen, Gerry F. (2009). Comparative evaluation of the Ifakara tent trap-B, the standardized resting boxes and the human landing catch for sampling malaria vectors and other mosquitoes in urban Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Malaria Journal, 8 (1) 197. doi: 10.1186/1475-2875-8-197
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Maggy Lord is:
- Available for supervision
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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.
-
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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