Overview
Background
Prof Colleen Lau - MBBS (UWA), MPHTM (JCU), PhD (UQ), FRACGP, FACTM, FISTM.
Prof Colleen Lau is an NHMRC Fellow and Professorial Research Fellow at the UQ Centre for Clinical Research. Her areas of expertise include emerging infectious diseases, neglected tropical diseases, and clinical travel medicine. Her wide range of research interests include infectious disease epidemiology, spatial epidemiology and disease mapping, infectious disease surveillance and elimination, vaccinations, travel health, environmental health, and digital decision support tools. Professor Lau’s research projects focus on answering practical questions in clinical management of infectious diseases and operational questions on improving strategies to solve public health problems. She leads UQ's HERA program on Operational Research and Decision Support for Infectious Diseases (ODeSI).
Availability
- Professor Colleen Lau is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery and Medical Science, University of Western Australia
- Postgraduate Diploma in Travel Medicine, James Cook University
- Masters (Coursework) of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, James Cook University
- Doctor of Philosophy of Public Health, The University of Queensland
- Member, American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
- Member, Asia Pacific Travel Health Society, Asia Pacific Travel Health Society
- Board Member, Australasian College of Tropical Medicine, Australasian College of Tropical Medicine
- Fellow, Australasian College of Tropical Medicine, Australasian College of Tropical Medicine
- Honorary Academic, Australian National University, Australian National University
- Board Member, Healthy Environments and Lives (HEAL) Network, Healthy Environments and Lives (HEAL) Network
- Fellow, International Society of Travel Medicine, International Society of Travel Medicine
- Honorary Academic, James Cook University, James Cook University
- Journal Editorial Board Member, Journal of Travel Medicine, Journal of Travel Medicine
- Journal Editorial Board Member, One Health, One Health
- Fellow, Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, Royal Australian College of General Practitioners
- Journal Editorial Board Member, Socio-Environmental Systems Modelling, Socio-Environmental Systems Modelling
- Journal Editorial Board Member, Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease, Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease
Research interests
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Neglected Tropical Diseases
Operational research on lymphatic filariasis elimination. Spatial epidemiology. Disease hotspots. Integrated surveillance. Pacific Islands.
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Emerging Infectious Diseases
Leptospirosis. Arboviruses. Zoonoses. Spatial epidemiology and disease mapping. Environmental drivers of disease transmission and outbreaks.
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Clinical Travel Medicine
Vaccinations. Malaria prophylaxis. Health and wellbeing of travellers.
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Digital decision support tools
Works
Search Professor Colleen Lau’s works on UQ eSpace
Featured
2024
Journal Article
Malaria cases in China acquired through international travel, 2013–2022
Zhu, Yan, Restrepo, Angela Cadavid, Wang, Hai-Bo, Mills, Deborah J., Liang, Rong-Rong, Liu, Zhi-Bin, Lau, Colleen L. and Furuya-Kanamori, Luis (2024). Malaria cases in China acquired through international travel, 2013–2022. Journal of Travel Medicine, 31 (8) taae056. doi: 10.1093/jtm/taae056
Featured
2024
Journal Article
Anti-filarial antibodies are sensitive indicators of lymphatic filariasis transmission and enable identification of high-risk populations and hotspots
Lawford, Harriet, Mayfield, Helen, Sam, Filipina Amosa-Lei, Viali, Satupaitea, Kamu, Tito, Cooley, Gretchen, Simon, Ashley, Martin, Diana and Lau, Colleen L. (2024). Anti-filarial antibodies are sensitive indicators of lymphatic filariasis transmission and enable identification of high-risk populations and hotspots. International Journal of Infectious Diseases, 147 107194, 107194. doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2024.107194
Featured
2024
Journal Article
Operational research to inform post-validation surveillance of lymphatic filariasis in Tonga study protocol: history of lymphatic filariasis elimination, rational, objectives, and design
Lawford, Harriet, Tukia, Ofa, Takai, Joseph, Sheridan, Sarah and Lau, Colleen L. (2024). Operational research to inform post-validation surveillance of lymphatic filariasis in Tonga study protocol: history of lymphatic filariasis elimination, rational, objectives, and design. PLoS One, 19 (8) e0307331, 1-12. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0307331
Featured
2024
Journal Article
Field laboratory comparison of STANDARD Q Filariasis Antigen Test (QFAT) with Bioline Filariasis Test Strip (FTS) for the detection of Lymphatic Filariasis in Samoa, 2023
Scott, Jessica L., Mayfield, Helen J., Sinclair, Jane E., Martin, Beatris Mario, Howlett, Maddison, Muttucumaru, Ramona, Won, Kimberly Y., Thomsen, Robert, Viali, Satupaitea, Tofaeono-Pifeleti, Rossana, Graves, Patricia M. and Lau, Colleen L. (2024). Field laboratory comparison of STANDARD Q Filariasis Antigen Test (QFAT) with Bioline Filariasis Test Strip (FTS) for the detection of Lymphatic Filariasis in Samoa, 2023. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 18 (8) e0012386, 1-13. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0012386
Featured
2024
Journal Article
Ongoing transmission of lymphatic filariasis in Samoa 4.5 years after one round of triple-drug mass drug administration
Mayfield, Helen J., Sartorius, Benn, Sheridan, Sarah, Howlett, Maddison, Mario Martin, Beatris, Thomsen, Robert, Tofaeono-Pifeleti, Rossana, Viali, Satupaitea, Graves, Patricia M. and Lau, Colleen L. (2024). Ongoing transmission of lymphatic filariasis in Samoa 4.5 years after one round of triple-drug mass drug administration. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 18 (6) e0012236, e0012236. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0012236
Featured
2024
Journal Article
Novel chikungunya and dengue vaccines: travel medicine applications
Steffen, Robert, Hamer, Davidson H., Chen, Lin H., Caumes, Eric and Lau, Colleen L. (2024). Novel chikungunya and dengue vaccines: travel medicine applications. Journal of Travel Medicine, 31 (4) taae064. doi: 10.1093/jtm/taae064
Featured
2023
Journal Article
Using regional sero-epidemiology SARS-CoV-2 Anti-S antibodies in the Dominican Republic to inform targeted public health response
Mario Martin, Beatris, Cadavid Restrepo, Angela, Mayfield, Helen, Then Paulino, Cecilia, De St Aubin, Micheal, Duke, William, Jarolim, Petr, Zielinski Gutiérrez, Emily, Skewes Ramm, Ronald, Dumas, Devan, Garnier, Salome, Etienne, Marie Caroline, Peña, Farah, Abdalla, Gabriela, Lopez, Beatriz, de la Cruz, Lucia, Henríquez, Bernarda, Baldwin, Margaret, Sartorius, Benn, Kucharski, Adam, Nilles, Eric James and Lau, Colleen L. (2023). Using regional sero-epidemiology SARS-CoV-2 Anti-S antibodies in the Dominican Republic to inform targeted public health response. Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease, 8 (11) 493, 1-17. doi: 10.3390/tropicalmed8110493
Featured
2023
Journal Article
The impact of COVID-19 on knowledge, beliefs, and practices of Ni-Vanuatu health workers regarding antibiotic prescribing and antibiotic resistance, 2018 and 2022: a mixed methods study
Foxlee, Nicola D., Taleo, Siti Aishah, Mathias, Agnes, Townell, Nicola, McIver, Lachlan and Lau, Colleen L. (2023). The impact of COVID-19 on knowledge, beliefs, and practices of Ni-Vanuatu health workers regarding antibiotic prescribing and antibiotic resistance, 2018 and 2022: a mixed methods study. Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease, 8 (10) 477, 1-19. doi: 10.3390/tropicalmed8100477
Featured
2023
Journal Article
Scabies prevalence after ivermectin-based mass drug administration for lymphatic filariasis, Samoa 2018–2019
Willis, Gabriela A., Kearns, Therese, Mayfield, Helen J., Sheridan, Sarah, Thomsen, Robert, Naseri, Take, David, Michael C., Engelman, Daniel, Steer, Andrew C., Graves, Patricia M. and Lau, Colleen L. (2023). Scabies prevalence after ivermectin-based mass drug administration for lymphatic filariasis, Samoa 2018–2019. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 17 (8) e0011549, 1-15. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011549
Featured
2023
Journal Article
A decision support tool for risk–benefit analysis of Japanese encephalitis vaccine in travellers
Lau, Colleen L., Mills, Deborah J., Mayfield, Helen, Gyawali, Narayan, Johnson, Brian J., Lu, Hongen, Allel, Kasim, Britton, Philip N., Ling, Weiping, Moghaddam, Tina and Furuya-Kanamori, Luis (2023). A decision support tool for risk–benefit analysis of Japanese encephalitis vaccine in travellers. Journal of Travel Medicine, 30 (7) taad113. doi: 10.1093/jtm/taad113
Featured
2023
Journal Article
Spatial predictive risk mapping of lymphatic filariasis residual hotspots in American Samoa using demographic and environmental factors
Cadavid Restrepo, Angela M., Martin, Beatris M., Fuimaono, Saipale, Clements, Archie C. A., Graves, Patricia M. and Lau, Colleen L. (2023). Spatial predictive risk mapping of lymphatic filariasis residual hotspots in American Samoa using demographic and environmental factors. PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 17 (7) e0010840, e0010840. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010840
Featured
2023
Journal Article
Immunogenicity of a single fractional intradermal dose of Japanese encephalitis live attenuated chimeric vaccine
Furuya-Kanamori, Luis, Gyawali, Narayan, Mills, Deborah J., Mills, Christine, Hugo, Leon E, Devine, Gregor J. and Lau, Colleen L. (2023). Immunogenicity of a single fractional intradermal dose of Japanese encephalitis live attenuated chimeric vaccine. Journal of Travel Medicine, 30 (2) taac122, 1-8. doi: 10.1093/jtm/taac122
Featured
2022
Journal Article
SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence, cumulative infections, and immunity to symptomatic infection – A multistage national household survey and modelling study, Dominican Republic, June–October 2021
Nilles, Eric J., Paulino, Cecilia Then, de St. Aubin, Michael, Restrepo, Angela Cadavid, Mayfield, Helen, Dumas, Devan, Finch, Emilie, Garnier, Salome, Etienne, Marie Caroline, Iselin, Louisa, Duke, William, Jarolim, Petr, Oasan, Timothy, Yu, Jingyou, Wan, Huahua, Peña, Farah, Iihoshi, Naomi, Abdalla, Gabriela, Lopez, Beatriz, Cruz, Lucia de la, Henríquez, Bernarda, Espinosa-Bode, Andres, Puello, Yosanly Cornelio, Durski, Kara, Baldwin, Margaret, Baez, Amado Alejandro, Merchant, Roland C., Barouch, Dan H., Skewes-Ramm, Ronald ... Lau, Colleen L. (2022). SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence, cumulative infections, and immunity to symptomatic infection – A multistage national household survey and modelling study, Dominican Republic, June–October 2021. Lancet Regional Health - Americas, 16 100390, 1-13. doi: 10.1016/j.lana.2022.100390
Featured
2013
Journal Article
Dengue surveillance by proxy: travellers as sentinels for outbreaks in the Pacific Islands
Lau, C. L., Weinstein, P. and Slaney, D. (2013). Dengue surveillance by proxy: travellers as sentinels for outbreaks in the Pacific Islands. Epidemiology and Infection, 141 (11), 2328-2334. doi: 10.1017/S0950268813000058
Featured
2012
Journal Article
Leptospirosis in American Samoa - estimating and mapping risk using environmental data
Lau, Colleen L., Clements, Archie C. A., Skelly, Chris, Dobson, Annette J., Smythe, Lee D. and Weinstein, Philip (2012). Leptospirosis in American Samoa - estimating and mapping risk using environmental data. Plos Neglected Tropical Diseases, 6 (5) e1669, e1669. 1-e1669. 11. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0001669
Featured
2012
Other Outputs
Environmental drivers of human Leptospirosis infection in American Samoa - emergence, risk analysis, and disease mapping
Lau, Colleen (2012). Environmental drivers of human Leptospirosis infection in American Samoa - emergence, risk analysis, and disease mapping. PhD Thesis, School of Population Health, The University of Queensland.
Featured
2010
Journal Article
Climate change, flooding, urbanisation and leptospirosis: Fuelling the fire?
Lau, Colleen L., Smythe, Lee D., Craig, Scott B. and Weinstein, Philip (2010). Climate change, flooding, urbanisation and leptospirosis: Fuelling the fire?. Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 104 (10), 631-638. doi: 10.1016/j.trstmh.2010.07.002
Featured
2010
Journal Article
Leptospirosis: An emerging disease in travellers
Lau, Colleen, Smythe, Lee and Weinstein, Philip (2010). Leptospirosis: An emerging disease in travellers. Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease, 8 (1), 33-39. doi: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2009.12.002
2025
Journal Article
Spatial multilevel analysis of individual, household, and community factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in the Dominican Republic
Kiani, Behzad, Sartorius, Benn, Martin, Beatris Mario, Cadavid Restrepo, Angela, Mayfield, Helen J., Paulino, Cecilia Then, Jarolim, Petr, De St Aubin, Micheal, Ramm, Ronald Skews, Dumas, Devan, Garnier, Salome, Etienne, Marie Caroline, Peña, Farah, Abdalla, Gabriela, Kucharski, Adam, Duke, William, Baldwin, Margaret, Henríquez, Bernarda, de la Cruz, Lucia, Nilles, Eric J. and Lau, Colleen L. (2025). Spatial multilevel analysis of individual, household, and community factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in the Dominican Republic. Scientific Reports, 15 (1) 11203, 11203. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-94653-3
2025
Journal Article
Measles without borders: how can travel medicine help limit global resurgence?
McGuinness, Sarah L, Lau, Colleen L and Leder, Karin (2025). Measles without borders: how can travel medicine help limit global resurgence?. Journal of Travel Medicine taaf056. doi: 10.1093/jtm/taaf056
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Colleen Lau is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Spatio-temporal epidemiology of vector-borne diseases in the Dominican Republic
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Helen Mayfield, Dr Angela Cadavid Restrepo, Associate Professor Benn Sartorius
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Doctor Philosophy
Machine learning in epidemiology research on African Swine Fever epidemic in the Philippines Outline
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Luis Furuya Kanamori, Associate Professor Yoni Nazarathy, Associate Professor Benn Sartorius
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Doctor Philosophy
Integrated Surveillance of Neglected Tropical Diseases and Vaccine-Preventable Diseases
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Benn Sartorius, Dr Harriet Lawford
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Doctor Philosophy
Effectiveness of digital Dengue early warning system (E-DENGUE) for Dengue control in the Mekong Delta Region
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Dung Phung
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Doctor Philosophy
The long-term cardiovascular complications of SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 vaccines
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Helen Mayfield, Professor Nathan Palpant, Professor Kirsty Short
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Doctor Philosophy
Assessing risk of importation of sexually transmitted infections into Australia by international travellers
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Judith Dean, Associate Professor Luis Furuya Kanamori
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Doctor Philosophy
Epidemiology and burden of rotavirus infections in Australia
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Luis Furuya Kanamori, Dr Behzad Kiani, Associate Professor Benn Sartorius
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Doctor Philosophy
Gram-negative bloodstream infections in Australian children
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Geoff Spurling, Mr Mark Chatfield, Associate Professor Adam Irwin
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Doctor Philosophy
Integrated watershed management for public and ecosystem health in the Pacific Islands: overlapping drivers and strategies to prevent leptospirosis and improve coral reef health
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Helen Mayfield, Dr Amelia Wenger, Associate Professor Carissa Klein
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Doctor Philosophy
A big-data approach to the epidemiology of foodborne and enteric zoonoses in Queensland
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Dwan Vilcins, Professor Ricardo Soares Magalhaes
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Doctor Philosophy
Enhancing infectious disease surveillance through the integration of routinely collected data
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Amalie Dyda
Completed supervision
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
Spatiotemporal impact of an eight-year mass drug administration programme on soil transmitted helminth infections and anaemia in Burundi.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Ricardo Soares Magalhaes
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
Spatial epidemiological approaches to quantify the role of soil-transmitted helminths (STH) in cognitive dysfunction in school-aged population
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Mark Nielsen, Professor Ricardo Soares Magalhaes
Media
Enquiries
Contact Professor Colleen Lau directly for media enquiries about:
- Infectious diseases
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