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
2017
Journal Article
New evidence for endemic circulation of Ross River virus in the Pacific Islands and the potential for emergence
Lau, Colleen, Aubry, Maite, Musso, Didier, Teissier, Anita, Paulous, Sylvie, Despres, Philippe, de-Lamballerie, Xavier, Pastorino, Boris, Cao-Lormeau, Van-Mai and Weinstein, Philip (2017). New evidence for endemic circulation of Ross River virus in the Pacific Islands and the potential for emergence. International Journal of Infectious Diseases, 57, 73-76. doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2017.01.041
2017
Journal Article
A stitch in time: unrecognized retained foreign bodies after a needlefish injury
Lau, Colleen L., Sweet, Mark and Weinstein, Philip (2017). A stitch in time: unrecognized retained foreign bodies after a needlefish injury. Journal of Travel Medicine, 24 (2) taw092. doi: 10.1093/jtm/taw092
2017
Journal Article
Assessing the social and environmental determinants of pertussis epidemics in Queensland, Australia: a Bayesian spatio-temporal analysis
Huang, X., Lambert, S., Lau, C., Soares Magalhaes, R. J., Marquess, J., Rajmokan, M., Milinovich, G. and Hu, W. (2017). Assessing the social and environmental determinants of pertussis epidemics in Queensland, Australia: a Bayesian spatio-temporal analysis. Epidemiology and Infection, 145 (6), 1-10. doi: 10.1017/S0950268816003289
2017
Journal Article
Measuring the effect of soil-transmitted helminth infections on cognitive function in children: systematic review and critical appraisal of evidence
Owada, Kei, Nielsen, Mark, Lau, Colleen L., Clements, Archie C. A., Yakob, Laith and Soares Magalhaes, Ricardo J. (2017). Measuring the effect of soil-transmitted helminth infections on cognitive function in children: systematic review and critical appraisal of evidence. Advances in Parasitology, 98, 1-37. doi: 10.1016/bs.apar.2017.05.002
2017
Conference Publication
Using geographically-weighted regression to understand spatial variation in the influence of environmental drivers on Leptospirosis transmission in Fiji
Mayfield, Helen, Lowry, John, Watson, Conall, Karma, Mike, Nilles, Eric and Lau, Colleen (2017). Using geographically-weighted regression to understand spatial variation in the influence of environmental drivers on Leptospirosis transmission in Fiji. 10th International Leptospirosis Society Meeting, Palmerston North, New Zealand, 27 November - 1 December 2017. International Leptospirosis Society.
2017
Conference Publication
Predictive risk mapping of Human Leptospirosis in Fiji using spatial Bayesian networks
Mayfield, Helen, Smith, Carl, Lowry, John, Watson, Conall, Karma, Mike, Nilles, Eric and Lau, Colleen (2017). Predictive risk mapping of Human Leptospirosis in Fiji using spatial Bayesian networks. 10th International Leptospirosis Society Meeting, Palmerston North, New Zealand, 27nd November-01 December 2017.
2016
Journal Article
The molecular epidemiology and antimicrobial resistance of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in Australia: a nationwide cross-sectional study, 2012
Trembizki, Ella, Wand, Handan, Donovan, Basil, Chen, Marcus, Fairley, Christopher K., Freeman, Kevin, Guy, Rebecca, Kaldor, John M., Lahra, Monica M., Lawrence, Andrew, Lau, Colleen, Pearson, Julie, Regan, David G., Ryder, Nathan, Smith, Helen, Stevens, Kerrie, Su, Jiunn-Yih, Ward, James and Whiley, David M. (2016). The molecular epidemiology and antimicrobial resistance of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in Australia: a nationwide cross-sectional study, 2012. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 63 (12), 1591-1598. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciw648
2016
Journal Article
Lymphatic filariasis elimination in American Samoa: evaluation of molecular xenomonitoring as a surveillance tool in the endgame
Lau, Colleen L., Won, Kimberly Y., Lammie, Patrick J. and Graves, Patricia M. (2016). Lymphatic filariasis elimination in American Samoa: evaluation of molecular xenomonitoring as a surveillance tool in the endgame. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 10 (11) e0005108, e0005108. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005108
2016
Journal Article
The impact of an 8-year mass drug administration programme on prevalence, intensity and co-infections of soil-transmitted helminthiases in Burundi
Ortu, Giuseppina, Assoum, Mohamad, Wittmann, Udo, Knowles, Sarah, Clements, Michelle, Ndayishimiye, Onesime, Basanez, Maria-Gloria, Lau, Colleen, Clements, Archie, Fenwick, Alan and Magalhaes, Ricardo J. Soares (2016). The impact of an 8-year mass drug administration programme on prevalence, intensity and co-infections of soil-transmitted helminthiases in Burundi. Parasites & Vectors, 9 (1) 513, 1-17. doi: 10.1186/s13071-016-1794-9
2016
Journal Article
Absence of serological evidence of Rickettsia spp., Bartonella spp., Ehrlichia spp. and Coxiella burnetii infections in American Samoa
Lau, Colleen, Musso, Didier, Fournier, Pierre-Edouard, Parola, Philippe, Raoult, Didier and Weinstein, Philip (2016). Absence of serological evidence of Rickettsia spp., Bartonella spp., Ehrlichia spp. and Coxiella burnetii infections in American Samoa. Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases, 7 (5), 703-705. doi: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2016.02.019
2016
Journal Article
Bayesian networks in infectious disease ecoepidemiology
Lau, Colleen L. and Smith, Carl S. (2016). Bayesian networks in infectious disease ecoepidemiology. Reviews on Environmental Health, 31 (1), 173-177. doi: 10.1515/reveh-2015-0050
2016
Journal Article
The tolerability of a combined hepatitis A and typhoid vaccine in children aged 2-16 years: an observational study
Lau, Colleen L., Streeton, Catherine L., David, Michael C., Sly, Peter D. and Mills, Deborah J. (2016). The tolerability of a combined hepatitis A and typhoid vaccine in children aged 2-16 years: an observational study. Journal of Travel Medicine, 23 (2) A278, 1-8. doi: 10.1093/jtm/tav023
2016
Journal Article
Human leptospirosis infection in Fiji: an eco-epidemiological approach to identifying risk factors and environmental drivers for transmission
Lau, Colleen L., Watson, Conall H., Lowry, John H., David, Michael C., Craig, Sarah B., Wynwood, Sarah J., Kama, Mike and Nilles, Eric J. (2016). Human leptospirosis infection in Fiji: an eco-epidemiological approach to identifying risk factors and environmental drivers for transmission. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 10 (1) e0004405, 1-25. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0004405
2016
Book Chapter
Human Leptospirosis in Oceania
Lau, Colleen L. (2016). Human Leptospirosis in Oceania. Neglected tropical diseases - Oceania. (pp. 177-192) edited by Alex Loukas. Cham, Switzerland: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-43148-2_7
2015
Journal Article
A systematic review and meta-analysis of management options for adults who respond poorly to hepatitis B vaccination
David, Michael C., Ha, Sung Hyun, Paynter, Stuart and Lau, Colleen (2015). A systematic review and meta-analysis of management options for adults who respond poorly to hepatitis B vaccination. Vaccine, 33 (48), 6564-6569. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2015.09.051
2015
Conference Publication
Mapping leptospirosis hotspots in Fiji using environmental, socioeconomic and livestock data: an eco-epidemiological approach to emerging infectious disease control
Lau, Colleen L., Watson, Conall H., Lowry, John H., David, Michael C., Kama, Mike and Nilles, Eric J. (2015). Mapping leptospirosis hotspots in Fiji using environmental, socioeconomic and livestock data: an eco-epidemiological approach to emerging infectious disease control. 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
Conference Publication
Mapping leptospirosis hotspots in Fiji using environmental, socioeconomic and livestock data: an eco-epidemiological approach to emerging infectious disease control
Lau, Colleen L., Watson, Conall H., Lowry, John H., David, Michael C., Kama, Mike and Nilles, Eric J. (2015). Mapping leptospirosis hotspots in Fiji using environmental, socioeconomic and livestock data: an eco-epidemiological approach to emerging infectious disease control. 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. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.2015.93.151
2015
Journal Article
The emergence of Leptospira borgpetersenii serovar Arborea in Queensland, Australia, 2001 to 2013
Lau, Colleen L., Skelly, Chris, Dohnt, Michael and Smythe, Lee D. (2015). The emergence of Leptospira borgpetersenii serovar Arborea in Queensland, Australia, 2001 to 2013. BMC Infectious Diseases, 15 (1) 230, 1-11. doi: 10.1186/s12879-015-0982-0
2015
Journal Article
Distribution of rickettsioses in Oceania: past patterns and implications for the future
Derne, Bonnie, Weinstein, Philip, Musso, Didier and Lau, Colleen (2015). Distribution of rickettsioses in Oceania: past patterns and implications for the future. Acta Tropica, 143, 121-133. doi: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2014.10.012
2015
Journal Article
Antibodies to Leptospira among blood donors in higher-risk areas of Australia: possible implications for transfusion safety
Faddy, Helen, Seed, Clive, Lau, Colleen, Racloz, Vanessa, Flower, Robert, Smythe, Lee, Burns, Mary-Anne, Dohnt, Michael, Craig, Scott, Harley, Robert and Weinstein, Philip (2015). Antibodies to Leptospira among blood donors in higher-risk areas of Australia: possible implications for transfusion safety. Blood Transfusion, 13 (1), 32-36. doi: 10.2450/2014.0012-14
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Colleen Lau is:
- Available for supervision
Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose a supervisor.
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
Integrated serological surveillance of neglected tropical diseases and vaccine preventable diseases in Samoa
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: 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
Epidemiology and clinical outcomes of gram-negative bloodstream infections in children
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Geoff Spurling, Mr Mark Chatfield, Associate Professor Adam Irwin
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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
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
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
Epidemiology and risk factors of overseas acquired infectious diseases in Australian travellers
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Benn Sartorius, Dr Alec Henderson, 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
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
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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