Multi-pathogen serosurveillance in the Asia-Pacific
Strengthening routine surveillance of infectious diseases is a high priority in the region. This project supports locally led, integrated multi-pathogen serosurveillance to strengthen data-informed disease control and elimination.
A major challenge for surveillance is the lack of cost-effective point of care diagnostics and the range of samples required for direct detection of pathogens through molecular techniques. Integrated serological surveillance is a complementary approach that can provide a cost-effective laboratory-based solution to strengthening surveillance.
Integrated serological surveillance is capable of detecting antibodies to multiple pathogens simultaneously, for diseases including:
- malaria
- respiratory viruses (such as COVID-19)
- neglected tropical diseases (such as lymphatic filariasis, dengue, chikungunya, zika and strongyloides)
- vaccine preventable diseases (such as measles and polio).
Student opportunities
Multi-pathogen serological assays for surveillance
Join our project on multi-pathogen serological assays for surveillance.
This project will use bead-based multiplex Luminex® assays capable of measuring antibodies to many antigens from the same sample to optimise and validate a fit-for-purpose multi-pathogen serological assay for use in the region. This will be conducted using existing cross-sectional and longitudinal surveys that have been conducted in areas where endemic or epidemic transmission of these pathogens coexists.
The incorporation of integrated multi-pathogen serosurveillance into an ongoing program of febrile illness sentinel surveillance will strengthen the breadth and quality of data available for programmatic decision-making.
Open to
- Honours
- PhD
Supervisors
Project contacts
Professor Leanne Robinson
Program Director, Health Security and Pandemic Preparedness; Senior Principal Research Fellow, Group Leader, Vector-Borne Diseases and Tropical Public Health
Dr Fiona Angrisano
Deputy Working Group Head, Vector-borne Diseases and Tropical Public Health; Transmission Biology Team Lead
Project team
Professor Leanne Robinson
Program Director, Health Security and Pandemic Preparedness; Senior Principal Research Fellow, Group Leader, Vector-Borne Diseases and Tropical Public Health
Dr Fiona Angrisano
Deputy Working Group Head, Vector-borne Diseases and Tropical Public Health; Transmission Biology Team Lead
Why study at Burnet
When you study with us, you broaden your impact working across our 3 institute-wide programs:
- Disease Elimination
- Health Security and Pandemic Preparedness
- Women's, Children's and Adolescents' Health.
Train with internationally recognised experts in a structured student support system.
Gain a holistic research experience along the way.