Background

Julia joined the Malaria and Infectious Disease Epidemiology group in 2013 as a postdoctoral scientist.

Her current research interests include the epidemiology and immunology of malaria, with a particular emphasis on correlates of immunity and susceptibility to malaria.

In 2012 she completed her doctorate at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research/University of Melbourne, focussing on the innate immune response and human severe malaria.

During her PhD, Julia was involved in a large collaborative study of peripheral blood mononuclear cell cytokine and chemokine responses and disease outcome in a severe malaria case control study in Papua New Guinean children.

As well as her research pursuits, Julia has a keen interest in science communication and community engagement, having been involved in a University of Melbourne Mentoring Program for gifted secondary school students, CSIRO Education’s Scientists in Schools Program, the “Einstein A-Go-Go” science radio program, and teaching at the Gene Technology Access Centre at University High School.

Julia is currently completing a Master of Public Health at Monash University.

Positions

• 2013: Research Officer, Malaria and Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Burnet Institute
• 2011-2012: Research Assistant, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
• 2006-2007: Research Assistant, The Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research

Qualifications

• 2012: DPhil, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute/University of Melbourne
• 2006: Bachelor of Science (Honours), Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research/University of Melbourne
• 2006: Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science, The University of Melbourne

Projects (7)

Current (6)

• co-EC Study: Eliminating hepatitis C/HIV coinfection
  Eliminating hepatitis C transmission by enhancing care and treatment among HIV co-infected individuals.
• Evaluation of Malaria Case-Based Reporting using a mobile phone application in Myanmar
  Evaluating the effectiveness of a mobile phone-based application to improve the reporting and surveillance of malaria in Myanmar
• Host and parasite factors that predict Artemisinin Resistance reservoirs
  Understanding how population immunity seeds transmission of malaria infectious reservoirs, including drug resistant parasites
• Impact of declining transmission on immunity and risk of malaria rebound
  As malaria transmission falls, it is critical to understand how changing immunity affects risk of malaria.
• Optimal community-delivered malaria elimination models for the Greater Mekong Sub-region
  Developing an elimination model that is acceptable, operational, and cost-effective across GMS countries
• Serological surveillance to identify mosquito exposure and malaria transmission
  Identifying and understanding “hot spots” and “hot pops” of malaria transmission are crucial to target interventions for elimination.

Past (1)

• Effectiveness of repellent on malaria incidence in SE Myanmar
  A project to determine whether repellent delivered by volunteers will reduce malaria incidence.

Publications (4)

2018 (1)

• Effectiveness of repellent delivered through village health volunteers on malaria incidence in villages in South-East Myanmar: a stepped-wedge cluster-randomised controlled trial protocol.
  Win Han Oo, Cutts JC, Agius PA, Kyaw Zayar Aung, Poe Poe Aung, Aung Thi, Nyi Nyi Zaw, Htin Kyaw Thu, Wai Yan Min Htay, Ataide R, O'Flaherty K, Ai Pao Yawn, Aung Paing Soe, Beeson JG, Crabb B, Pasricha N, Fowkes FJI
  BMC Infect Dis. 2018 Dec; 18(1):663

2016 (1)

• A Toll-like receptor-1 variant and its characteristic cellular phenotype is associated with severe malaria in Papua New Guinean children.
  Manning L, Cutts J, Stanisic DI, Laman M, Carmagnac A, Allen S, O'Donnell A, Karunajeewa H, Rosanas-Urgell A, Siba P, Davis TM, Michon P, Schofield L, Rockett K, Kwiatkowski D, Mueller I
  Genes Immun. 2016 Jan; 17(1):52-59

2014 (2)

• Immunological markers of P. vivax exposure and immunity: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
  Cutts J, Powell R, Agius PA, Beeson JG, Simpson JA, Fowkes FJI
  BMC Medicine. 2014 Aug; 12(1):150
• γδ T cells and CD14+ monocytes are predominant cellular sources of cytokines and chemokines associated with severe malaria.
  Stanisic DI, Cutts J, Eriksson E, Fowkes FJ, Rosanas-Urgell A, Siba P, Laman M, Davis TM, Manning L, Mueller I, Schofield L
  J Infect Dis. 2014 Feb; 210(2):295-305

News Articles (1)

2014 (1)

• Burnet researchers uncover proteins crucial for effective malaria vaccines