Dr Lisa McHugh
Dr

Lisa McHugh

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Background

Dr Lisa McHugh is a perinatal and infectious diseases epidemiologist at the UQ School of Public Health (SPH). A Level C Senior Research Fellow and NHMRC Emerging Leader (EL1) Investigator Grant recipient, Lisa leads her own small team of researchers through her 5-year program ‘VaxiMums’, which is evaluating the uptake, effectiveness and equity of maternal vaccinations and respiratory infections.

Lisa is currently a CI on an Industry funded national study evaluating RSV hospitalisations in children <5yrs of age. She contributes her expertise from existing epidemiological RSV research.

She is a CI on a project with Qld Health looking at the acceptability of new RSV strategies among parents.

Lisa is currently leading a pilot project investigating pregnancy loss after receiving influenza and COVID-19 vaccinations in early pregnancy-the first study of its kind in Australia, and one of only a few internationally. Lisa’s extensive collaborations involve Primary Health Care Networks, First Nations midwives, maternal and child health nurse immunisers, consumers, Queensland Health, and national and international experts in the field.

Lisa has supervised 3 MEpi students to completion-all with the highest GPA of 7. She is currently the primary advisor of 2 PhD students, 2 MEpi students and a MBiostats student.

Projects currently being investigated by her and her students include:

  • Effectiveness of influenza, pertussis & COVID vaccinations in pregnancy against adverse maternal-infant outcomes
  • RSV hospitalisations among First Nations children aged <2yrs (Lisa leading thie collaboration with UQCCR)
  • Adverse birth outcomes among NT mother-infant pairs after maternal vaccinations
  • Pertussis vaccine effectiveness among preterm infants
  • Vaccine failures after influenza + pertussis vaccination in pregnancy

Lisa is the Academic Integrity Officer for SPH, and mentors 2 academics in the SPH Mentoring Program. Her research expertise and interests include clinical midwifery, First Nations health, infectious diseases, pregnancy and birth outcomes, and maternal vaccination. She has been a member of the Public Health Association of Australia since 2014, and Immunisation Special Interest Group working group member, contributing to the latest Immunisation Policy Review (2026).

Lisa is also member of the Australasian Epidemiological Association and Editor for the Aust and New Zealand Journal of Public Health.

She reviews for NHMRC grant applications.

When not working Lisa can be found (or not found) trail running, hiking in the middle of nowhere and swimming.

Availability

Dr Lisa McHugh is:
Not available for supervision
Media expert

Fields of research

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing Biomedical and Clinical Sciences Clinical midwifery Disease surveillance Epidemiological methods Epidemiology Health Sciences Health equity Major global burdens of disease Midwifery Public health

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Applied Science (Nursing), University of Sydney
  • Doctor of Philosophy, Charles Darwin University
  • Masters (Research), Australian National University
  • Certificate of Midwifery, Royal Hospital for Women

Research interests

  • Vaccines in pregnancy

    Influenza, pertussis, Covid & RSV vaccinations in pregnancy, First Nations mother-infant pairs, RSV, Adverse perinatal outcomes,

  • Infectious disease epidemiology

    Influenza, Pertussis, RSV, COVID-19.

  • Perinatal epidemiology

    Adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes, Pregnancy loss, First Nations mother-infant pairs.

Research impacts

With a career total of 36 publications (9 published during her PhD), 86% (31/36) have met UN sustainable development goals. Post-doc, Lisa has successfully acquired >$4.1M in NHMRC & MRFF Category 1 funding alone.

Prior to Lisa's research, there was minimal evidence about the uptake, safety, effectiveness and equity of vaccines in pregnancy. During her EL1 Grant, she has built her own research group from the ground up and led multiple projects which have contributed new evidence to the maternal vaccination field. Specifically 2 that have recently attracted widespread media interest and interviews:

  • the 1st study globally to investigate vaccine safety in twin pregnancies
  • Spatial analysis of climate and community-level determinants of RSV notifications among Qld infants

Lisa was a chief-investigator on the multi-jurisdictional NHMRC-funded project grant 'Links2HealthierBubs' which created the largest linked cohort of individual mother-infant pairs. Lisa has investigated the equity, geographical, ethnic and socio-economic influences of influenza and pertussis vaccine uptake in pregnancy, and the effectiveness of maternal pertussis vaccination among First Nations infants.

In 2025, Lisa was invited to participate as the Qld representative in a national roundtable of experts in maternal vaccination to address the declining uptake of vaccination in pregnancy. As a recognised expert in her field, this meeting was commissioned by the Federal Government, organised by Industry, and resulted in the co-authorship and publication of a Whitepaper (Maternal Immunisation in Australia - Biointelect) attracting subsequent media coverage.

Lisa's invited review by the Australian College of Midwives described the recommendations for maternal vaccination and strategies aimed at midwives and vaccine providers.to increase their uptake. Lisa invited 3 First Nations collaborators and a consumer representative to co-write this piece (2025).

Lisa's contribution to maternal vaccination has provided unique methodological and clinical knowledge to national immunisation policy recommendations and to the international evidence base. Her work has sustained stakeholder engagement across all levels of government, Industry and health care service providers-advocating for the protection for pregnant women and infants against life-threatening respiratory infections.

Search Professor Lisa McHugh’s works on UQ eSpace

36 works between 2001 and 2026
All (36) Journal Article (35) Conference Publication (1)

21 - 36 of 36 works

2020

Journal Article

Acute lower respiratory infections in Indigenous infants in Australia's Northern Territory across three eras of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine use (2006–15): a population-based cohort study

Binks, Michael J., Beissbarth, Jemima, Oguoma, Victor M., Pizzutto, Susan J., Leach, Amanda J., Smith-Vaughan, Heidi C., McHugh, Lisa, Andrews, Ross M., Webby, Rosalind, Morris, Peter S. and Chang, Anne B. (2020). Acute lower respiratory infections in Indigenous infants in Australia's Northern Territory across three eras of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine use (2006–15): a population-based cohort study. The Lancet Child and Adolescent Health, 4 (6), 425-434. doi: 10.1016/S2352-4642(20)30090-0

Acute lower respiratory infections in Indigenous infants in Australia's Northern Territory across three eras of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine use (2006–15): a population-based cohort study

2020

Journal Article

Safety, equity and monitoring: a review of the gaps in maternal vaccination strategies for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women

McHugh, Lisa, Crooks, Kristy, Creighton, Amy, Binks, Michael and Andrews, Ross M (2020). Safety, equity and monitoring: a review of the gaps in maternal vaccination strategies for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women. Human Vaccines and Immunotherapeutics, 16 (2), 371-376. doi: 10.1080/21645515.2019.1649552

Safety, equity and monitoring: a review of the gaps in maternal vaccination strategies for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women

2019

Journal Article

Influenza vaccination in pregnancy among a group of remote dwelling Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mothers in the Northern Territory: the 1+1 Healthy Start to Life study

McHugh, Lisa, Binks, Michael J., Gao, Yu, Andrews, Ross M., Ware, Robert S., Snelling, Tom and Kildea, Sue (2019). Influenza vaccination in pregnancy among a group of remote dwelling Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mothers in the Northern Territory: the 1+1 Healthy Start to Life study. Communicable Diseases Intelligence, 43. doi: 10.33321/cdi.2019.43.33

Influenza vaccination in pregnancy among a group of remote dwelling Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mothers in the Northern Territory: the 1+1 Healthy Start to Life study

2019

Journal Article

‘Links2HealthierBubs’ cohort study: protocol for a record linkage study on the safety, uptake and effectiveness of influenza and pertussis vaccines among pregnant Australian women

Sarna, Mohinder, Andrews, Ross, Moore, Hannah, Binks, Michael J., McHugh, Lisa, Pereira, Gavin F., Blyth, Christopher C., Van Buynder, Paul, Lust, Karin, Effler, Paul, Lambert, Stephen B., Omer, Saad B., Mak, Donna B., Snelling, Thomas, D’Antoine, Heather A., McIntyre, Peter, de Klerk, Nicholas, Foo, Damien and Regan, Annette K. (2019). ‘Links2HealthierBubs’ cohort study: protocol for a record linkage study on the safety, uptake and effectiveness of influenza and pertussis vaccines among pregnant Australian women. BMJ Open, 9 (6) e030277, e030277. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-030277

‘Links2HealthierBubs’ cohort study: protocol for a record linkage study on the safety, uptake and effectiveness of influenza and pertussis vaccines among pregnant Australian women

2019

Journal Article

Birth outcomes in Aboriginal mother–infant pairs from the Northern Territory, Australia, who received 23-valent polysaccharide pneumococcal vaccination during pregnancy, 2006–2011: the PneuMum randomised controlled trial

McHugh, Lisa, Binks, Michael, Ware, Robert S., Snelling, Tom, Nelson, Sandra, Nelson, Jane, Dunbar, Melissa, Mulholland, E. Kim and Andrews, Ross M. (2019). Birth outcomes in Aboriginal mother–infant pairs from the Northern Territory, Australia, who received 23-valent polysaccharide pneumococcal vaccination during pregnancy, 2006–2011: the PneuMum randomised controlled trial. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 60 (1) ajo.13002, 82-87. doi: 10.1111/ajo.13002

Birth outcomes in Aboriginal mother–infant pairs from the Northern Territory, Australia, who received 23-valent polysaccharide pneumococcal vaccination during pregnancy, 2006–2011: the PneuMum randomised controlled trial

2019

Journal Article

Baseline incidence of adverse birth outcomes and infant influenza and pertussis hospitalisations prior to the introduction of influenza and pertussis vaccination in pregnancy: a data linkage study of 78 382 mother–infant pairs, Northern Territory, Australia, 1994–2015

McHugh, L., Andrews, R. M., Leckning, B., Snelling, T. and Binks, M. J. (2019). Baseline incidence of adverse birth outcomes and infant influenza and pertussis hospitalisations prior to the introduction of influenza and pertussis vaccination in pregnancy: a data linkage study of 78 382 mother–infant pairs, Northern Territory, Australia, 1994–2015. Epidemiology and Infection, 147 e233, e233. doi: 10.1017/S0950268819001171

Baseline incidence of adverse birth outcomes and infant influenza and pertussis hospitalisations prior to the introduction of influenza and pertussis vaccination in pregnancy: a data linkage study of 78 382 mother–infant pairs, Northern Territory, Australia, 1994–2015

2017

Journal Article

Pertussis epidemiology prior to the introduction of a maternal vaccination program, Queensland Australia

McHugh, L., Viney, K. A., Andrews, R. M. and Lambert, S. B. (2017). Pertussis epidemiology prior to the introduction of a maternal vaccination program, Queensland Australia. Epidemiology and Infection, 146 (2), 1-11. doi: 10.1017/S0950268817002722

Pertussis epidemiology prior to the introduction of a maternal vaccination program, Queensland Australia

2017

Journal Article

Birth outcomes for Australian mother-infant pairs who received an influenza vaccine during pregnancy 2012–2014: The FluMum study

McHugh, Lisa, Andrews, Ross M. and Ware, Robert S. (2017). Birth outcomes for Australian mother-infant pairs who received an influenza vaccine during pregnancy 2012–2014: The FluMum study. Vaccine, 35 (35), 4492-4493. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2017.06.008

Birth outcomes for Australian mother-infant pairs who received an influenza vaccine during pregnancy 2012–2014: The FluMum study

2017

Journal Article

Birth outcomes for Australian mother-infant pairs who received an influenza vaccine during pregnancy, 2012-2014: the FluMum study

McHugh, Lisa, Andrews, Ross M., Lambert, Stephen B., Viney, Kerri A., Wood, Nicholas, Perrett, Kirsten P., Marshall, Helen S., Richmond, Peter and O'Grady, Kerry-Ann F. (2017). Birth outcomes for Australian mother-infant pairs who received an influenza vaccine during pregnancy, 2012-2014: the FluMum study. Vaccine, 35 (10), 1403-1409. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2017.01.075

Birth outcomes for Australian mother-infant pairs who received an influenza vaccine during pregnancy, 2012-2014: the FluMum study

2015

Journal Article

Medically-attended respiratory illnesses amongst pregnant women in Brisbane, Australia

Rufus Ashiedu, Precious, Andrews, Ross M., Lambert, Stephen B., McHugh, Lisa, LeGros-Wilson, Sallyanne, Zenchyson, Judith, Arnold, Daniel, Shevell, Clementine and O'Grady, Kerry-Ann F. (2015). Medically-attended respiratory illnesses amongst pregnant women in Brisbane, Australia. Communicable diseases intelligence quarterly report, 39 (3), E319-E322. doi: 10.33321/cdi.2015.39.35

Medically-attended respiratory illnesses amongst pregnant women in Brisbane, Australia

2015

Journal Article

Uptake of influenza vaccination in pregnancy amongst Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women: a mixed-methods pilot study

O'Grady, Kerry-Ann F., Dunbar, Melissa, Medlin, Linda G., Hall, Kerry K., Toombs, Maree, Meiklejohn, Judith, McHugh, Lisa, Massey, Peter D., Creighton, Amy and Andrews, Ross M. (2015). Uptake of influenza vaccination in pregnancy amongst Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women: a mixed-methods pilot study. BMC Research Notes, 8 (169) 169, 1-8. doi: 10.1186/s13104-015-1147-3

Uptake of influenza vaccination in pregnancy amongst Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women: a mixed-methods pilot study

2014

Journal Article

FluMum: A prospective cohort study of mother-infant pairs assessing the effectiveness of maternal influenza vaccination in revention of influenza in early infancy

O'Grady, K.-A.F., McHugh, L., Nolan, T., Richmond, P., Wood, N., Marshall, H.S., Lambert, S.B., Chatfield, M. and Andrews, R.M. (2014). FluMum: A prospective cohort study of mother-infant pairs assessing the effectiveness of maternal influenza vaccination in revention of influenza in early infancy. BMJ Open, 4 (6) e005676, 1-7. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2014-005676

FluMum: A prospective cohort study of mother-infant pairs assessing the effectiveness of maternal influenza vaccination in revention of influenza in early infancy

2007

Journal Article

Predicting transformation from gestational hypertension to preeclampsia in clinical practice: a possible role for 24 hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring

Davis, Gregory K., Mackenzie, Callie, Brown, Mark A., Homer, Caroline S., Holt, Jane, McHugh, Lisa and Mangos, George (2007). Predicting transformation from gestational hypertension to preeclampsia in clinical practice: a possible role for 24 hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. Hypertension in Pregnancy, 26 (1), 77-87. doi: 10.1080/10641950601147952

Predicting transformation from gestational hypertension to preeclampsia in clinical practice: a possible role for 24 hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring

2004

Journal Article

Automated self-initiated blood pressure or 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in pregnancy?

Brown, M. A., McHugh, L., Mangos, G. and Davis, G. (2004). Automated self-initiated blood pressure or 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in pregnancy?. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 111 (1), 38-41. doi: 10.1046/j.1471-0528.2003.00008.x

Automated self-initiated blood pressure or 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in pregnancy?

2001

Journal Article

The prevalence and clinical significance of nocturnal hypertension in pregnancy

Brown, Mark A., Davis, Gregory K. and McHugh, Lisa (2001). The prevalence and clinical significance of nocturnal hypertension in pregnancy. Journal of Hypertension, 19 (8), 1437-1444. doi: 10.1097/00004872-200108000-00012

The prevalence and clinical significance of nocturnal hypertension in pregnancy

2001

Journal Article

Twenty-Four-Hour automated blood pressure monitoring as a predictor of preeclampsia

Brown, Mark A., Bowyer, Lucy, McHugh, Lisa, Davis, Gregory K., Mangos, George J. and Jones, Michael (2001). Twenty-Four-Hour automated blood pressure monitoring as a predictor of preeclampsia. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 185 (3), 618-622. doi: 10.1067/mob.2001.117664

Twenty-Four-Hour automated blood pressure monitoring as a predictor of preeclampsia

Current funding

  • 2023 - 2027
    Evaluation of antenatal vaccines and vaccination programs in pregnancy
    NHMRC Investigator Grants
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2018 - 2021
    Links2HealthierBubs: Influenza and pertussis vaccine effectiveness and safety in pregnancy (NHMRC Project Grant administered by Curtin University)
    Curtin University
    Open grant

Availability

Dr Lisa McHugh is:
Not available for supervision

Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Measuring the effectiveness of influenza, pertussis and COVID-19 vaccines in pregnancy against maternal and infant infections, hospitalisations, ICU admissions and deaths.

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Amalie Dyda

  • Doctor Philosophy

    The safety of maternal influenza, pertussis and COVID-19 vaccination against adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes

    Principal Advisor

Enquiries

Contact Dr Lisa McHugh directly for media enquiries about:

  • epidemiology
  • influenza and whooping cough vaccines in pregnancy
  • maternal vaccnation
  • pertussis

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