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
- Journal Editorial Board Member, PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases
- 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
2025
Journal Article
Recurrence of microfilaraemia after triple-drug therapy for lymphatic filariasis in Samoa: recrudescence or reinfection?
Mayfield, Helen J., Muttucumaru, Ramona, Sartorius, Benn, Sheridan, Sarah, Ward, Selina, Martin, Beatris Mario, Hedtke, Shannon M., Thomsen, Robert, Viali, Satupaitea, Fatupaito, Glen, Lau, Colleen L. and Graves, Patricia M. (2025). Recurrence of microfilaraemia after triple-drug therapy for lymphatic filariasis in Samoa: recrudescence or reinfection?. International Journal of Infectious Diseases, 152 107809, 1-7. doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2025.107809
2024
Journal Article
Epidemiology of lymphatic filariasis antigen and microfilaria in Samoa, 2019: 7–9 months post triple-drug mass administration
Mayfield, Helen J., Lawford, Harriet, Sartorius, Benn, Graves, Patricia M., Sheridan, Sarah, Kearns, Therese, Hedtke, Shannon M., Gass, Katherine, Naseri, Take, Thomsen, Robert and Lau, Colleen L. (2024). Epidemiology of lymphatic filariasis antigen and microfilaria in Samoa, 2019: 7–9 months post triple-drug mass administration. Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease, 9 (12) 311, 1-13. doi: 10.3390/tropicalmed9120311
2024
Journal Article
Seroepidemiology of human leptospirosis in the Dominican Republic: A multistage cluster survey, 2021
Nilles, Eric J., Paulino, Cecilia Then, Galloway, Renee, de St. Aubin, Michael, Mayfield, Helen J., Cadavid Restrepo, Angela, Dumas, Devan, Garnier, Salome, Etienne, Marie Caroline, Duke, William, Peña, Farah, Iihoshi, Naomi, Abdalla, Gabriela, Lopez, Beatriz, de la Cruz, Lucia, Henríquez, Bernarda, Durski, Kara, Baldwin, Margaret, Loevinsohn, Gideon, Rees, Eleanor M., Martin, Beatris, Sartorius, Benn, Skewes-Ramm, Ronald, Gutiérrez, Emily Zielinski, Kucharski, Adam and Lau, Colleen L. (2024). Seroepidemiology of human leptospirosis in the Dominican Republic: A multistage cluster survey, 2021. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 18 (12) e0012463, 1-17. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0012463
2024
Journal Article
Perspectives on the implementation of post-validation surveillance for lymphatic filariasis in the Pacific Islands: A nominal group technique-based study protocol
Craig, Adam T., Lawford, Harriet, Viali, Satupaitea, Tuitama, George and Lau, Colleen L. (2024). Perspectives on the implementation of post-validation surveillance for lymphatic filariasis in the Pacific Islands: A nominal group technique-based study protocol. PLoS One, 19 (12) e0313957, 1-9. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0313957
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
2024
Journal Article
Molecular xenomonitoring as an indicator of microfilaraemia prevalence for lymphatic filariasis in Samoa in 2019
Howlett, Maddison, Mayfield, Helen J., McPherson, Brady, Rigby, Lisa, Thomsen, Robert, Williams, Steven A., Pilotte, Nils, Hedtke, Shannon M., Graves, Patricia M., Kearns, Therese, Naseri, Take, Sheridan, Sarah, McLure, Angus and Lau, Colleen L. (2024). Molecular xenomonitoring as an indicator of microfilaraemia prevalence for lymphatic filariasis in Samoa in 2019. Parasites and Vectors, 17 (1) 382. doi: 10.1186/s13071-024-06463-7
2024
Journal Article
Chikungunya outbreak risks after the 2014 outbreak, Dominican Republic
Loevinsohn, Gideon, Then Paulino, Cecilia, Spring, Jessica, Hughes, Holly R., Cadavid Restrepo, Angela, Mayfield, Helen, de St. Aubin, Michael, Laven, Janeen, Panella, Amanda, Duke, William, Etienne, Marie Caroline, Abdalla, Gabriela, Garnier, Salome, Iihoshi, Naomi, Lopez, Beatriz, de la Cruz, Lucia, Henríquez, Bernarda, Baldwin, Margaret, Peña, Farah, Kucharski, Adam J., Vasquez, Marietta, Zielinski Gutiérrez, Emily, Brault, Aaron C., Skewes-Ramm, Ronald, Lau, Colleen L. and Nilles, Eric J. (2024). Chikungunya outbreak risks after the 2014 outbreak, Dominican Republic. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 30 (12), 2679-2683. doi: 10.3201/eid3012.240824
2024
Journal Article
Investigating behaviours and attitudes regarding recommended vaccination in adults 50 years and above in Australia
Dyda, Amalie, Lawford, Harriet, Lau, Colleen L. and Sampson, Kim (2024). Investigating behaviours and attitudes regarding recommended vaccination in adults 50 years and above in Australia. Australian Journal of Primary Health, 30 (6) PY24055, 1-9. doi: 10.1071/PY24055
2024
Journal Article
Measles secondary vaccine failure in a childcare setting: an outbreak report
Barnekow, Donna, Neucom, Debbie, Tout, Wendy, Williams, Dustylee, Thomas, Michael J., Pyke, Alyssa, Roser, Madisen S., Tranter, Isaac, Dyda, Amalie, Lau, Colleen L. and Smoll, Nicolas R. (2024). Measles secondary vaccine failure in a childcare setting: an outbreak report. Communicable Diseases Intelligence, 48 61. doi: 10.33321/cdi.2024.48.61
2024
Journal Article
Using health literacy principles to improve understanding of evolving evidence in health emergencies: Optimisation and evaluation of a COVID-19 vaccination risk-benefit calculator
Bonner, Carissa, Taba, Melody, Fajardo, Michael Anthony, Batcup, Carys, Newell, Ben R., Li, Amy X., Mayfield, Helen J., Lau, Colleen L. and Litt, John C.B. (2024). Using health literacy principles to improve understanding of evolving evidence in health emergencies: Optimisation and evaluation of a COVID-19 vaccination risk-benefit calculator. Vaccine, 42 (24) 126296, 126296. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2024.126296
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. doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2024.107194
2024
Journal Article
Convergence of SARS-CoV-2 spike antibody levels to a population immune setpoint
Nilles, Eric J., Roberts, Kathryn, de St Aubin, Michael, Mayfield, Helen, Restrepo, Angela Cadavid, Garnier, Salome, Abdalla, Gabriela, Etienne, Marie Caroline, Duke, William, Dumas, Devan, Jarolim, Petr, Oasan, Timothy, Peña, Farah, Lopez, Beatriz, Cruz, Lucia de la, Sanchez, Isaac Miguel, Murray, Kristy, Baldwin, Margaret, Skewes-Ramm, Ronald, Paulino, Cecilia Then, Lau, Colleen L. and Kucharski, Adam (2024). Convergence of SARS-CoV-2 spike antibody levels to a population immune setpoint. eBioMedicine, 108 105319. doi: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2024.105319
2024
Journal Article
Characterization of gram-negative bloodstream infections in hospitalised Australian children and their clinical outcomes
Wen, Sophie C. H., Harris, Patrick N. A., Forde, Brian, Permana, Budi, Chatfield, Mark D., Lau, Colleen L., Spurling, Geoffrey, Bauer, Michelle J., Balch, Ross, Chambers, Henry, Schlapbach, Luregn J., Clark, Julia E., Dougherty, Sonia, Blyth, Christopher C., Britton, Philip N., Clifford, Vanessa, Haeusler, Gabrielle M., McMullan, Brendan, Wadia, Ushma, Paterson, David L., Irwin, Adam D., on behalf of the PAEDS network, Carr, Jeremy, Vasilunas, Nan, Francis, Joshua R., Macartney, Kristine, Crawford, Nigel W., Wood, Nicholas, Buttery, Jim ... Glover, Catherine (2024). Characterization of gram-negative bloodstream infections in hospitalised Australian children and their clinical outcomes. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 79 (3), 734-743. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciae341
2024
Journal Article
Onward virus transmission after measles secondary vaccination failure
Tranter, Isaac, Smoll, Nicolas, Lau, Colleen L., Williams, Dusty-Lee, Neucom, Deborah, Barnekow, Donna and Dyda, Amalie (2024). Onward virus transmission after measles secondary vaccination failure. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 30 (9), 1747-1754. doi: 10.3201/eid3009.240150
2024
Journal Article
Effects of mobility, immunity and vaccination on SARS-CoV-2 transmission in the Dominican Republic: a modelling study
Finch, Emilie, Nilles, Eric J., Paulino, Cecilia Then, Skewes-Ramm, Ronald, Lau, Colleen L., Lowe, Rachel and Kucharski, Adam J. (2024). Effects of mobility, immunity and vaccination on SARS-CoV-2 transmission in the Dominican Republic: a modelling study. The Lancet Regional Health - Americas, 37 100860, 1-13. doi: 10.1016/j.lana.2024.100860
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
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, e0012386-8. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0012386
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
2024
Journal Article
Post-marketing surveillance of 10,392 herpes zoster vaccines doses in Australia
Muttucumaru, Ramona, Lau, Colleen L., Leeb, Alan, Mills, Deborah J., Wood, Nicholas and Furuya-Kanamori, Luis (2024). Post-marketing surveillance of 10,392 herpes zoster vaccines doses in Australia. Vaccine, 42 (13), 3166-3171. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2024.03.066
2024
Journal Article
Definition and classification of 'travellers' in research: a bibliometric analysis
Shiferaw, Wondimeneh, Dean, Judith A., Mills, Deborah, Lau, Colleen and Furuya-Kanamori, Luis (2024). Definition and classification of 'travellers' in research: a bibliometric analysis. Journal of Travel Medicine, 31 (4) taae048, 1-3. doi: 10.1093/jtm/taae048
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Colleen Lau is:
- Available for supervision
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Available projects
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Epidemiology of notifiable diseases in Australia
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Vaccine preventable diseases in travellers
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Risk benefit analysis and decision support tools for vaccines
Supervision history
Current supervision
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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
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
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
The long-term cardiovascular complications of COVID-19
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Helen Mayfield, Professor Nathan Palpant, Professor Kirsty Short
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Doctor Philosophy
The long-term cardiovascular complications of COVID-19
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Helen Mayfield, Professor Nathan Palpant, Professor Kirsty Short
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Doctor Philosophy
Delivering human and ecosystem health co-benefits through integrated watewater management: improving disease prevention, fisheries, and marine environments in Fiji
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
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
Enhancing infectious disease surveillance through the integration of routinely collected data
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Amalie Dyda
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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
Delivering human and ecosystem health co-benefits through integrated watewater management: improving disease prevention, fisheries, and marine environments in Fiji
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Amelia Wenger, Dr Helen Mayfield, Associate Professor Carissa Klein
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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
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
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
Gram-negative bloodstream infections in Australian children
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Geoff Spurling, Mr Mark Chatfield, Associate Professor Adam Irwin
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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