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
- Fellow, Australasian College of Tropical Medicine, Australasian College of Tropical Medicine
- Board Member, 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
2018
Journal Article
The extensive networks of frequent population mobility in the Samoan Islands and their implications for infectious disease transmission
Xu, Zhijing, Lau, Colleen L., Zhou, Xiaoyan, Fuimaono, Saipale, Soares Magalhães, Ricardo J. and Graves, Patricia M. (2018). The extensive networks of frequent population mobility in the Samoan Islands and their implications for infectious disease transmission. Scientific Reports, 8 (1) 10136, 10136. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-28081-x
2018
Journal Article
A systematic review of human and animal leptospirosis in the Pacific Islands reveals pathogen and reservoir diversity
Guernier, Vanina, Goarant, Cyrille, Benschop, Jackie and Lau, Colleen L. (2018). A systematic review of human and animal leptospirosis in the Pacific Islands reveals pathogen and reservoir diversity. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 12 (5) e0006503, e0006503. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006503
2018
Journal Article
Use of geographically weighted logistic regression to quantify spatial variation in the environmental and sociodemographic drivers of leptospirosis in Fiji: a modelling study
Mayfield, Helen J., Lowry, John H., Watson, Conall H., Kama, Mike, Nilles, Eric J. and Lau, Colleen L. (2018). Use of geographically weighted logistic regression to quantify spatial variation in the environmental and sociodemographic drivers of leptospirosis in Fiji: a modelling study. The Lancet Planetary Health, 2 (5), e223-e232. doi: 10.1016/S2542-5196(18)30066-4
2018
Journal Article
Another emerging mosquito-borne disease? Endemic ross river virus transmission in the absence of marsupial reservoirs
Flies, Emily J., Lau, Colleen L., Carver, Scott and Weinstein, Philip (2018). Another emerging mosquito-borne disease? Endemic ross river virus transmission in the absence of marsupial reservoirs. Bioscience, 68 (4), 288-293. doi: 10.1093/biosci/biy011
2018
Journal Article
Leptospirosis: an important zoonosis acquired through work, play and travel
Lau, Colleen L., Townell, Nicola, Stephenson, Eloise, van den Berg, Debra and Craig, Scott B. (2018). Leptospirosis: an important zoonosis acquired through work, play and travel. Australian Journal of General Practice, 47 (3), 105-110. doi: 10.31128/AFP-07-17-4286
2018
Journal Article
Role of environmental factors in shaping spatial distribution of salmonella enterica Serovar Typhi, Fiji
de Alwis, Ruklanthi, Watson, Conall, Nikolay, Birgit, Lowry, John H., Thieu, Nga Tran Vu, Van, Tan Trinh, Ngoc, Dung Tran Thi, Rawalai, Kitione, Taufa, Mere, Coriakula, Jerimaia, Lau, Colleen L., Nilles, Eric J., Edmunds, W. John, Kama, Mike, Baker, Stephen and Cano, Jorge (2018). Role of environmental factors in shaping spatial distribution of salmonella enterica Serovar Typhi, Fiji. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 24 (2), 284-293. doi: 10.3201/eid2402.170704
2018
Conference Publication
EVIDENCE OF SHORT-TERM CROSS-IMMUNITY BETWEEN DENGUE AND ZIKA VIRUSES INFERRED USING LONGITUDINAL SEROLOGICAL AND SURVEILLANCE DATA FROM FIJI, 2013-2017
Henderson, Alasdair, Kama, Mike, Cao-Lormeau, Van-Mai, Lau, Colleen, Edmunds, John, Watson, Conall and Kucharski, Adam (2018). EVIDENCE OF SHORT-TERM CROSS-IMMUNITY BETWEEN DENGUE AND ZIKA VIRUSES INFERRED USING LONGITUDINAL SEROLOGICAL AND SURVEILLANCE DATA FROM FIJI, 2013-2017. 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.
2018
Conference Publication
A novel quantitative PCR assay for the detection of Ross River virus
Kuzma, Rebecca, Grant, Jessica, Pilotte, Nils, Hugo, Leon, Devine, Gregor, Lau, Colleen and Williams, Steven (2018). A novel quantitative PCR assay for the detection of Ross River virus. 67th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTHM), New Orleans, LA, United States, 28 October - 1 November 2018. Arlington, VA, United States: American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.
2018
Journal Article
A large Leptospirosis outbreak following successive severe floods in Fiji, 2012
Togami, Eri, Kama, Mike, Goarant, Cyrille, Craig, Scott B., Lau, Colleen, Ritter, Jana M., Imrie, Allison, Ko, Albert I. and Nilles, Eric J. (2018). A large Leptospirosis outbreak following successive severe floods in Fiji, 2012. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 99 (4), 849-851. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.18-0335
2018
Conference Publication
Modelling lymphatic filariasis transmission in American Samoa long-term population dynamics and spatially heterogeneous risks
Xu, Zhijing, Glass, Kathryn, Lau, Colleen, Geard, Nicholas, Graves, Patricia and Clements, Archie (2018). Modelling lymphatic filariasis transmission in American Samoa long-term population dynamics and spatially heterogeneous risks. 67th Annual Meeting of the American-Society-of-Tropical-Medicine-and-Hygiene (ASTHM), New Orleans, LA, United States, 28 October - 1 November 2018. Deerfield, IL, United States: American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.
2018
Conference Publication
Lymphatic filariasis elimination in American Samoa - household clustering of seropositive persons and implications for surveillance strategies
Lau, Colleen, Sheel, Meru, Sheridan, Sarah, Gass, Katherine, Won, Kimberly, Fuimaono, Saipale and Graves, Patricia (2018). Lymphatic filariasis elimination in American Samoa - household clustering of seropositive persons and implications for surveillance strategies. 67th Annual Meeting of the American-Society-of-Tropical-Medicine-and-Hygiene (ASTHM), New Orleans, LA, United States, 28 October - 1 November 2018. Deerfield, IL, United States: American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.
2018
Conference Publication
Identifying residual transmission of lymphatic filariasis after mass drug administration - comparing school-based versus community-based surveillance, American Samoa, 2016
Sheel, Meru, Sheridan, Sarah, Gass, Katherine, Won, Kimberly, Fuimaono, Saipale, Kirk, Martyn, Gonzales, Amor, Hedtke, Shannon, Graves, Patricia and Lau, Colleen (2018). Identifying residual transmission of lymphatic filariasis after mass drug administration - comparing school-based versus community-based surveillance, American Samoa, 2016. 67th Annual Meeting of the American-Society-of-Tropical-Medicine-and-Hygiene (ASTHM), New Orleans, LA, United States, 28 October - 1 November 2018. Deerfield, IL, United States: American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.
2018
Conference Publication
Using paired serology and surveillance data to quantify dengue transmission and control during a large outbreak in Fiji
Kucharski, Adam, Kama, Mike, Watson, Conall, Aubry, Maite, Funk, Sebastian, Henderson, Alasdair, Brady, Oliver, Vanhomwegen, Jessica, Manuguerra, Jean-Claude, Lau, Colleen, Edmunds, John, Aaskov, John, Nilles, Eric, Cao-Lormeau, Van-Mai, Hue, Stephane and Hibberd, Martin (2018). Using paired serology and surveillance data to quantify dengue transmission and control during a large outbreak in Fiji. 67th Annual Meeting of the American-Society-for-Tropical-Medicine-and-Hygiene (ASTHM), New Orleans, LA, United States, 28 October - 1 November 2018. Deerfield, IL, United States: American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.
2017
Journal Article
Social mixing in Fiji: Who-eats-with-whom contact patterns and the implications of age and ethnic heterogeneity for disease dynamics in the Pacific Islands
Watson, Conall H., Coriakula, Jeremaia, Ngoc, Dung Tran Thi, Flasche, Stefan, Kucharski, Adam J., Lau, Colleen L., Thieu, Nga Tran Vu, Le Polain De Waroux, Olivier, Rawalai, Kitione, Van, Tan Trinh, Taufa, Mere, Baker, Stephen, Nilles, Eric J., Kama, Mike and Edmunds, W. John (2017). Social mixing in Fiji: Who-eats-with-whom contact patterns and the implications of age and ethnic heterogeneity for disease dynamics in the Pacific Islands. PLoS ONE, 12 (12) e0186911, e0186911. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0186911
2017
Journal Article
A synthetic population for modelling the dynamics of infectious disease transmission in American Samoa
Xu, Zhijing, Glass, Kathryn, Lau, Colleen L., Geard, Nicholas, Graves, Patricia and Clements, Archie (2017). A synthetic population for modelling the dynamics of infectious disease transmission in American Samoa. Scientific Reports, 7 (1) 16725, 16725. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-17093-8
2017
Journal Article
Spatiotemporal distribution and population at risk of soil-transmitted helminth infections following an eight-year school-based deworming programme in Burundi, 2007-2014
Assoum, Mohamad, Ortu, Giuseppina, Basáñez, Maria-Gloria, Lau, Colleen, Clements, Archie C A, Halton, Kate, Fenwick, Alan and Soares Magalhães, Ricardo J (2017). Spatiotemporal distribution and population at risk of soil-transmitted helminth infections following an eight-year school-based deworming programme in Burundi, 2007-2014. Parasites & vectors, 10 (1) 583, 1-12. doi: 10.1186/s13071-017-2505-x
2017
Journal Article
ILC1 Confer Early Host Protection at Initial Sites of Viral Infection
Weizman, Orr-El, Adams, Nicholas M., Schuster, Iona S., Krishna, Chirag, Pritykin, Yuri, Lau, Colleen, Degli-Esposti, Mariapia A., Leslie, Christina S., Sun, Joseph C. and O'Sullivan, Timothy E. (2017). ILC1 Confer Early Host Protection at Initial Sites of Viral Infection. Cell, 171 (4), 795-+. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2017.09.052
2017
Conference Publication
Measuring the effect of soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections on cognitive function in children: systematic review and critical appraisal of evidence
Owada, Kei, Nielsen, Mark, Lau, Colleen, Clements, Archie, Yakob, Laith and Magalhaes, Ricardo J. Soares (2017). Measuring the effect of soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections on cognitive function in children: systematic review and critical appraisal of evidence. 65th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH), Atlanta, GA United States, 13-16 November, 2016. Deerfield, IL United States: American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.
2017
Conference Publication
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. (2017). Lymphatic filariasis elimination in American Samoa: evaluation of molecular xenomonitoring as a surveillance tool in the endgame. 65th Annual Meeting of the American-Society-of-Tropical-Medicine-and-Hygiene (ASTMH), Atlanta, GA, United States, 13-16 November 2016. Deerfield, IL, United States: American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.
2017
Conference Publication
LYMPHATIC FILARIASIS RESIDUAL TRANSMISSION HOTSPOTS IN AMERICAN SAMOA
Graves, Patricia M., Lau, Colleen, Roineau, Maureen, Ryan, Stephanie, Andreosso, Athena, Sheridan, Sarah, Fuimano, Saipale and Tufa, Joseph (2017). LYMPHATIC FILARIASIS RESIDUAL TRANSMISSION HOTSPOTS IN AMERICAN SAMOA. 65th Annual Meeting of the American-Society-of-Tropical-Medicine-and-Hygiene (ASTMH), Atlanta Ga, Nov 13-16, 2016. MCLEAN: AMER SOC TROP MED & HYGIENE.
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
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
Machine learning in epidemiology research on African Swine Fever epidemic in the Philippines Outline
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr 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
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: Dr Dung Phung
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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, Dr 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
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
The long-term cardiovascular complications of COVID-19
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Helen Mayfield, Dr Linda Gallo, Associate Professor Nathan Palpant, Associate 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
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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