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Dr Brian Forde
Dr

Brian Forde

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 344 36245

Overview

Background

Brian Forde is a fellow in microbial bioinformatics and Advance Queensland Industry Research Fellow at the University of Queensland (UQ) Centre for Clinical Research (CCR). Brian was awarded a PhD from University College Cork, Ireland, in 2013 and developed his interest in bacterial genomics as a postdoctoral fellow at the UQ School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences (SCMB). Currently, his work is primarily focused on clinical microbial genomics, including: the evolution of antibiotic resistance, genomic epidemiology, genomic surveillance of Infectious Diseases and translating genomic research into clinical practice. Since 2017 he has been part of a multidisciplinary team, including researchers, infectious diseases clinicians and infection control professionals, leading the introduction of WGS to investigate hospital-acquired infection in Queensland (https://www.queenslandgenomics.org). In 2020, Brian was awarded Advance Queensland Industry Research Fellowship to explore the application of Artificial Intelligence to genomic surveillance and transmission dynamics.

Availability

Dr Brian Forde is:
Available for supervision

Qualifications

  • Bachelor (Honours) of Science (Advanced), University College Cork
  • Doctor of Philosophy, National University of Ireland

Research impacts

Since 2010 Brian has co-authored 52 journal articles, with 13 as first, co-first or senior author. His has been cited 1430 times, resulting in a h-index of 19 and an i10-index of 25 (Google Scholar 28/10/2020). Brians work is regularly published in leading specialist microbiology or infectious disease journals including MBio, AAC and JAC and have also featured in high impact journals such as Nat Comm, Nat Micro, PNAS, CID and CMR. Recent work include a longitudinal study describing a unique comprehensive genomic analysis of a clonal lineage within a single individual over a 5-year period (Forde et al. Nat Comm, 2019). This work provided the framework for the utilization of genomics to help manage and treat patients suffering from debilitating chronic infections.

As part of Queensland Genomics Brian has led and assisted in projects that apply genomics to characterise and resolve infectious outbreaks in clinical settings (Chapman & Forde et al. JCM, 2020; Roberts et al. Nat Comm, 2020; Roberts et al. bioRxiv, 2018). In his current role as lead Bioinformatician for the Queensland Genomics (QG) infectious diseases (ID) project, Brian has developed pipelines for surveillance of priority bacterial pathogens. These tools, which included the development of an outbreak detection and visualisation tool, CATHAI (https:cathai.beatsonlab.com), are used by infection control professional in large Brisbane metropolitan hospitals.

Works

Search Professor Brian Forde’s works on UQ eSpace

113 works between 2010 and 2025

81 - 100 of 113 works

2019

Journal Article

Whole-genome sequencing as an improved means of investigating Neisseria gonorrhoeae treatment failures

Buckley, Cameron, Beatson, Scott A., Limnios, Athena, Lahra, Monica M., Whiley, David M. and Forde, Brian M. (2019). Whole-genome sequencing as an improved means of investigating Neisseria gonorrhoeae treatment failures. Sexual Health, 16 (5), 500-507. doi: 10.1071/SH19012

Whole-genome sequencing as an improved means of investigating Neisseria gonorrhoeae treatment failures

2019

Journal Article

Population dynamics of an Escherichia coli ST131 lineage during recurrent urinary tract infection

Forde, Brian M., Roberts, Leah W., Phan, Minh-Duy, Peters, Kate M., Fleming, Brittany A., Russell, Colin W., Lenherr, Sara M., Myers, Jeremy B., Barker, Adam P., Fisher, Mark A., Chong, Teik-Min, Yin, Wai-Fong, Chan, Kok-Gan, Schembri, Mark A., Mulvey, Matthew A. and Beatson, Scott A. (2019). Population dynamics of an Escherichia coli ST131 lineage during recurrent urinary tract infection. Nature Communications, 10 (1) 3643, 3643. doi: 10.1038/s41467-019-11571-5

Population dynamics of an Escherichia coli ST131 lineage during recurrent urinary tract infection

2019

Journal Article

SMRT sequencing reveals differential patterns of methylation in two O111:H- STEC isolates from a hemolytic uremic syndrome outbreak in Australia

Forde, Brian M., McAllister, Lauren J., Paton, James C., Paton, Adrienne W. and Beatson, Scott A. (2019). SMRT sequencing reveals differential patterns of methylation in two O111:H- STEC isolates from a hemolytic uremic syndrome outbreak in Australia. Scientific Reports, 9 (1) 9436, 9436. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-45760-5

SMRT sequencing reveals differential patterns of methylation in two O111:H- STEC isolates from a hemolytic uremic syndrome outbreak in Australia

2019

Journal Article

Novel insights into pasteurellosis in captive pinnipeds

Crawford, Rebecca L., Blyde, David, Blackall, Patrick J., Forde, Brian M., Beatson, Scott A., Harris, Louise M., Turni, Conny and Omaleki, Lida (2019). Novel insights into pasteurellosis in captive pinnipeds. Veterinary Microbiology, 231, 232-237. doi: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2019.03.017

Novel insights into pasteurellosis in captive pinnipeds

2019

Journal Article

Detection of epidemic scarlet fever group A Streptococcus in Australia

Walker, Mark J., Brouwer, Stephan, Forde, Brian M., Worthing, Kate A., McIntyre, Liam, Sundac, Lana, Maloney, Sam, Roberts, Leah W., Barnett, Timothy C., Richter, Johanna, Cork, Amanda J., Irwin, Adam D., You, Yuanhai, Zhang, Jianzhong, Dougan, Gordon, Yuen, K. Y., Nizet, Victor, Beatson, Scott A., Grimwood, Keith and Davies, Mark R. (2019). Detection of epidemic scarlet fever group A Streptococcus in Australia. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 69 (7), 1232-1234. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciz099

Detection of epidemic scarlet fever group A Streptococcus in Australia

2019

Conference Publication

SRA down under: cache and analysis platform for infectious disease

Cuddihy, Thom, Forde, Brian, Rhodes, Nicholas, Paterson, David, Gorse, Dominique, Beatson, Scott and Harris, Patrick (2019). SRA down under: cache and analysis platform for infectious disease. Australian national conference for Health Informatics (HIC 2019), Melbourne, Australia, 12-14 August 2019. Amsterdam, Netherlands: IOS Press. doi: 10.3233/SHTI190776

SRA down under: cache and analysis platform for infectious disease

2018

Journal Article

Discovery of mcr-1-mediated colistin resistance in a highly virulent Escherichia coli lineage

Forde, Brian M., Zowawi, Hosam M., Harris, Patrick N. A., Roberts, Leah, Ibrahim, Emad, Shaikh, Nissar, Deshmukh, Anand, Sid Ahmed, Mazen A., Al Maslamani, Muna, Cottrell, Kyra, Trembizki, Ella, Sundac, Lana, Yu, Heidi H., Li, Jian, Schembri, Mark A., Whiley, David M., Paterson, David L. and Beatson, Scott A. (2018). Discovery of mcr-1-mediated colistin resistance in a highly virulent Escherichia coli lineage. mSphere, 3 (5) e00486-18. doi: 10.1128/msphere.00486-18

Discovery of mcr-1-mediated colistin resistance in a highly virulent Escherichia coli lineage

2018

Journal Article

Discovery of new genes involved in curli production by a uropathogenic Escherichia coli strain from the highly virulent O45:K1:H7 lineage

Nhu, Nguyen Thi Khanh, Phan, Minh-Duy, Peters, Kate M., Lo, Alvin W., Forde, Brian M., Min Chong, Teik, Yin, Wai-Fong, Chan, Kok-Gan, Chromek, Milan, Brauner, Annelie, Chapman, Matthew R., Beatson, Scott A. and Schembri, Mark A. (2018). Discovery of new genes involved in curli production by a uropathogenic Escherichia coli strain from the highly virulent O45:K1:H7 lineage. mBio, 9 (4) e01462-18. doi: 10.1128/mbio.01462-18

Discovery of new genes involved in curli production by a uropathogenic Escherichia coli strain from the highly virulent O45:K1:H7 lineage

2018

Journal Article

Use of whole genome sequencing to investigate an increase in Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection among women in urban areas of Australia

Buckley, Cameron, Forde, Brian M., Trembizki, Ella, Lahra, Monica M., Beatson, Scott A. and Whiley, David M. (2018). Use of whole genome sequencing to investigate an increase in Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection among women in urban areas of Australia. Scientific Reports, 8 (1) 1503, 1-7. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-20015-x

Use of whole genome sequencing to investigate an increase in Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection among women in urban areas of Australia

2017

Journal Article

Genome-wide discovery of genes required for capsule production by uropathogenic Escherichia coli

Goh, Kelvin G. K., Phan, Minh-Duy, Forde, Brian M., Chong, Teik Min, Yin, Wai-Fong, Chan, Kok-Gan, Ulett, Glen C., Sweet, Matthew J., Beatson, Scott A. and Schembri, Mark A. (2017). Genome-wide discovery of genes required for capsule production by uropathogenic Escherichia coli. MBio, 8 (5) e01558-17. doi: 10.1128/mBio.01558-17

Genome-wide discovery of genes required for capsule production by uropathogenic Escherichia coli

2017

Journal Article

Complete Genome Sequence of Serotype III Streptococcus agalactiae Sequence Type 17 Strain 874391

Sullivan, Matthew J, Forde, Brian M, Prince, Darren W, Ipe, Deepak S, Ben Zakour, Nouri L, Davies, Mark R, Dougan, Gordon, Beatson, Scott A and Ulett, Glen C (2017). Complete Genome Sequence of Serotype III Streptococcus agalactiae Sequence Type 17 Strain 874391. Genome Announcements, 5 (42) e01107-17. doi: 10.1128/genomeA.01107-17

Complete Genome Sequence of Serotype III Streptococcus agalactiae Sequence Type 17 Strain 874391

2017

Journal Article

Modifications in the pmrB gene are the primary mechanism for the development of chromosomally encoded resistance to polymyxins in uropathogenic Escherichia coli

Phan, Minh-Duy, Nhu, Nguyen Thi Khanh, Achard, Maud E. S., Forde, Brian M., Hong, Kar Wai, Chong, Teik Min, Yin, Wai-Fong, Chan, Kok-Gan, West, Nicholas P., Walker, Mark J., Paterson, David L., Beatson, Scott A. and Schembri, Mark A. (2017). Modifications in the pmrB gene are the primary mechanism for the development of chromosomally encoded resistance to polymyxins in uropathogenic Escherichia coli. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, 72 (10), 2729-2736. doi: 10.1093/jac/dkx204

Modifications in the pmrB gene are the primary mechanism for the development of chromosomally encoded resistance to polymyxins in uropathogenic Escherichia coli

2017

Journal Article

Identification of IncA/C plasmid replication and maintenance genes and development of a plasmid multi-locus sequence-typing scheme

Hancock, Steven J., Phan, Minh-Duy, Peters, Kate M., Forde, Brian M., Chong, Teik Min, Yin, Wai-Fong, Chan, Kok-Gan, Paterson, David L., Walsh, Timothy R., Beatson, Scott A. and Schembri, Mark A. (2017). Identification of IncA/C plasmid replication and maintenance genes and development of a plasmid multi-locus sequence-typing scheme. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, 61 (2) e01740. doi: 10.1128/AAC.01740-16

Identification of IncA/C plasmid replication and maintenance genes and development of a plasmid multi-locus sequence-typing scheme

2016

Journal Article

Draft genome sequences of Helicobacter pylori strains 17874 and P79

Clancy, Ceara D., Forde, Brian M., Moore, Stanley A. and O'Toole, Paul W. (2016). Draft genome sequences of Helicobacter pylori strains 17874 and P79. Journal of Bacteriology, 198 (13), 1902-1902. doi: 10.1128/JB.00307-16

Draft genome sequences of Helicobacter pylori strains 17874 and P79

2016

Journal Article

Mechanisms involved in acquisition of blaNDM genes by IncA/C2 and IncFIIY plasmids

Wailan, Alexander M., Sidjabat, Hanna E., Yam, Wan Keat, Alikhan, Nabil-Fareed, Petty, Nicola K., Sartor, Anna L., Williamson, Deborah A., Forde, Brian M., Schembri, Mark A., Beatson, Scott A., Paterson, David L., Walsh, Timothy R. and Partridge, Sally R. (2016). Mechanisms involved in acquisition of blaNDM genes by IncA/C2 and IncFIIY plasmids. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, 60 (7), 4082-4088. doi: 10.1128/AAC.00368-16

Mechanisms involved in acquisition of blaNDM genes by IncA/C2 and IncFIIY plasmids

2016

Conference Publication

Multi-hospital spread of a pan-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae clone with an ISEcp1-directed blaOXA-181 insertion into the mgrB gene in the AE

Pal, Tibor , Sonnevend, Agnes Maria , Ghazawi, Akela , Haidermota, Aliashgher , Girgis, Safinaz , Alfaresi, Mubarak , Omar, Mohammed , Paterson, David L. , Beatson, Scott , Forde, Brian and Zowawi, Hosam M. (2016). Multi-hospital spread of a pan-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae clone with an ISEcp1-directed blaOXA-181 insertion into the mgrB gene in the AE. The 26th European Congress on Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID), Amsterdam, Netherlands, 9-12 April 2016.

Multi-hospital spread of a pan-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae clone with an ISEcp1-directed blaOXA-181 insertion into the mgrB gene in the AE

2015

Journal Article

Lineage-specific methyltransferases define the methylome of the globally disseminated Escherichia coli ST131 clone

Forde, Brian M., Phan, Minh-Duy, Gawthorne, Jayde A., Ashcroft, Melinda M., Stanton-Cook, Mitchell, Sarkar, Sohinee, Peters, Kate M., Chan, Kok-Gan, Chong, Teik Min, Yin, Wai-Fong, Upton, Mathew, Schembri, Mark A. and Beatson, Scott A. (2015). Lineage-specific methyltransferases define the methylome of the globally disseminated Escherichia coli ST131 clone. MBio, 6 (6) e01602-15, e01602-15. doi: 10.1128/mBio.01602-15

Lineage-specific methyltransferases define the methylome of the globally disseminated Escherichia coli ST131 clone

2015

Journal Article

Transfer of scarlet fever-associated elements into the group A Streptococcus M1T1 clone

Ben Zakour, Nouri L., Davies, Mark R., You, Yuanhai, Chen, Jonathan H. K., Forde, Brian M., Stanton-Cook, Mitchell, Yang, Ruifu, Cui, Yujun, Barnett, Timothy C., Venturini, Carola, Ong, Cheryl-lynn Y., Tse, Herman, Dougan, Gordon, Zhang, Jianzhong, Yuen, Kwok-Yung, Beatson, Scott A. and Walker MJ (2015). Transfer of scarlet fever-associated elements into the group A Streptococcus M1T1 clone. Scientific Reports, 5 (1) 15877, 15877.1-15877.7. doi: 10.1038/srep15877

Transfer of scarlet fever-associated elements into the group A Streptococcus M1T1 clone

2015

Journal Article

Stepwise evolution of pandrug-resistance in Klebsiella pneumoniae.

Zowawi, Hosam M., Forde, Brian M., Alfaresi, Mubarak, Alzarouni, Abdulqadir, Farahat, Yasser, Chong, Teik-Min, Yin, Wai-Fong, Chan, Kok-Gan, Li, Jian, Schembri, Mark A., Beatson, Scott A. and Paterson, David L. (2015). Stepwise evolution of pandrug-resistance in Klebsiella pneumoniae.. Scientific Reports, 5 (Art No.: 15082) 15082, 15082. doi: 10.1038/srep15082

Stepwise evolution of pandrug-resistance in Klebsiella pneumoniae.

2015

Journal Article

Molecular characterization of the multidrug resistant escherichia coli ST131 clone

Schembri, Mark A., Ben Zakour, Nouri L., Minh-Duy Phan, Forde, Brian M., Stanton-Cook, Mitchell and Beatson, Scott A. (2015). Molecular characterization of the multidrug resistant escherichia coli ST131 clone. Pathogens, 4 (3), 422-430. doi: 10.3390/pathogens4030422

Molecular characterization of the multidrug resistant escherichia coli ST131 clone

Funding

Current funding

  • 2025 - 2030
    Integrating sequencing technologies for bloodstream infection and sepsis diagnostics in critically-ill patients
    NHMRC MRFF Genomics Health Futures Mission
    Open grant
  • 2025 - 2030
    ROAD RCT: Resistance Optimised Antibiotic Dosing in critically ill patients - a Randomised Controlled Trial
    NHMRC MRFF CTA - Clinical Trials Activity
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2028
    Unlocking the gut microbiome to track the spread of AMR genes and pathogens
    MRFF - Global Health Initiative
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2025
    A Rapid, Routine Genomics Service for Clinical Haematology (QLD Health Targeted CRF led by RBWH Metro North Health)
    Metro North Hospital and Health Service
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2027
    Accelerating pathogen detection and antibiotic resistance prediction in children with suspected sepsis
    The Children's Hospital Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2027
    A Faster Cure for Tuberculosis: Revealing Adjunctive Antimicrobial Solutions
    NHMRC IDEAS Grants
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2023 - 2025
    Development of Wastewater-based epidemiology as a complementary approach for antimicrobial resistance surveillance
    Heidi-CSIRO IDR and AMR Projects
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2024
    The 3,000 Genomes project: using machine learning and artificial intelligence for robust culture-independent susceptibility testing
    Heidi-CSIRO IDR and AMR Projects
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2023
    Automating Infectious Disease Surveillance with Artificial Intelligence
    Advance Queensland Industry Research Fellowships
    Open grant

Supervision

Availability

Dr Brian Forde is:
Available for supervision

Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose a supervisor.

Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Malaria and Infections Diseases in military personnel in the Asia Pacific Region

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Genomic approaches to the surveillance and control of multidrug resistant Enterobacterales.

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Patrick Harris

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Genomic and molecular characterisation of antibiotic resistance mechanisms

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Mark Schembri

  • Doctor Philosophy

    New diagnostic strategies for antibiotic-resistant infections

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Adam Irwin, Dr Patrick Harris

  • Doctor Philosophy

    A Multidisciplinary Approach to Identifying Novel Vaccine and Drug Targets of Non-Tuberculous Mycobacteria

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Emily Strong, Professor Nick West

Completed supervision

Media

Enquiries

For media enquiries about Dr Brian Forde's areas of expertise, story ideas and help finding experts, contact our Media team:

communications@uq.edu.au