Background
Associate Professor Suman Majumdar is a Deputy Program Director (Health Security and Know-C19), Co-head of the Tuberculosis Elimination and Implementation Science Working Group and a Principal Research Fellow at Burnet Institute. An infectious diseases physician, public health practitioner and researcher, he has extensive experience in global health and in clinical care and public health in Australia. He has appointments at the Alfred Hospital, Epworth HealthCare and Monash University and is a currently a Deputy Chief Health Officer in the Victorian Department of Health.
Suman aims to contribute to health equity by working in partnership with people, communities, organisations and Governments, integrating care delivery, public health and research.
Suman has expertise in infectious diseases and global health security and a focus in the technical areas of tuberculosis and drug-resistance, COVID-19, anti-microbial resistance, and health systems strengthening. He has skills in research (operational and implementation), program design and evaluation, program management and technical direction, training and capacity building and leadership, policy and advocacy. He has experience in in multiple health system contexts, including in Australian urban, rural, tropical medicine and Indigenous health and internationally in Asia, the Pacific, Africa, Central America and Central Asia.
Suman co-leads a multidisciplinary and highly collaborative group that aims to generate knowledge and develop solutions to respond to multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) and ultimately, towards ending TB with a focus on the Asia-Pacific region. Through strong collaboration with Australian and global partners, in particular in PNG, the group has supported the implementation of effective models of care for TB whilst strengthening health systems and building capacity to conduct operational research.
Appointments
- 2022 – ongoing: Adjunct Associate Professor (Research), Planetary Health, School of Public Health and Preventative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University
- 2021 – ongoing: Principal Research Fellow, Burnet Institute
- 2021 – ongoing: Editorial Board, PLOS Global Public Health (Academic Editor)
- 2020 – ongoing: Senior Advisor & Executive officer, Know-C19 Strategic Flagship Program, Burnet Institute
- 2020: Member, Local Public Health Unit Expert Advisory Committee, Department of Health and Human Services, Victorian Government
- 2020 – ongoing: Steering Committee, Australasian Clinical Tuberculosis Network, ACT-Net
- 2019 – ongoing: Associate Editor, Public Health Action
- 2017- ongoing: Deputy Program Director (Health Security), Burnet Institute
- 2017- ongoing: Working group Head, Burnet Institute
- 2014-2018: Member of National Emergency Response Taskforce for M/XDR-TB, Papua New Guinea National Department of Health
- 2014-2018: Member, TB Technical Working Group, National Department of Health. Papua New Guinea
- 2014-2018, Honorary Consultant, Department of Infectious Diseases, Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
- 2014-2021 Adjunct Senior Lecturer in the Department of Epidemiology & Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health & Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Australia
- 2014-2020, Senior Fellow, Burnet Institute
Positions
- 2021 (current): Deputy Chief Health Officer, Victorian Department of Health
- 2020 (current): Medical Advisory Lead, COVID-19 and Infection Prevention and Control, Epworth HealthCare, Melbourne
- 2020: Principal Medical Advisor, Australian Government Department of Health. Lead, Strategic Intelligence & Planning, Victorian Aged Care Response Centre for COVID-19 (VACRC)
- 2017 (current): Deputy Program Director, Health Security, Burnet Institute
- 2017 (current): Working group head, tuberculosis elimination and implementation science, Burnet Institute
- 2013(current): Consultant Infectious Diseases Physician, Alfred Health, Melbourne
- 2013 (current): Consultant Infectious Diseases Physician, Epworth HealthCare, Melbourne
- 2014 – 2018: Infectious Diseases Physician, First Step Program, Melbourne
- 2013-2017: Infectious Diseases Specialist, Centre for International Health, Burnet Institute
- 2013 – 2015: Consultant infectious diseases physician, International Travel Health Clinic, Alfred Hospital Melbourne & Fairfield Travel Health, Royal Melbourne Hospital
- 2013: TB/HIV Program Implementer – Médecins Sans Frontières, Manson Unit, MSF UK
- 2011-2013: Clinical advisor and associate, Centre for International Health, Burnet Institute
- 2011-2013: Infectious diseases registrar, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Royal Darwin Hospital and The Alfred
- 2010: Drug-resistant TB doctor, Abkhazia/Georgia, Médecins Sans Frontières
- 2007-2009: Physician trainee; The Alfred Melbourne, Alice Springs Hospital, John Hunter Hospital Newcastle
- 2007: Project doctor, Timor-Leste, Australian Aid International
- 2006: Resident Medical Officer; Monash Medical Centre Melbourne
- 2005-2006: Intern, St Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney
- 2000-2004: Laboratory assistant, Queensland Medical Laboratory, Brisbane
Qualifications
- 2013: FRACP, Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (Infectious Diseases)
- 2010: MRCP (UK), Member of the Royal College of Physicians, London
- 2007: MPH&TM, Master of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, James Cook University, Australia
- 2004: Bachelor of Medicine, University of Newcastle, Australia
Awards
- 2020: National Health and Medical Research Council Postgraduate Scholarship
- 2020: Royal Australian College of Physicians NHMRC Awards for Excellence, Woolcock Scholarship
- 2019: Gust-McKenzie Medal for an outstanding mid-career staff member in recognition of excellence in research and/or public health, Burnet Institute
- 2015: Outstanding Early Career Alumni, College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Science, James Cook University
- 2014: Young Physician Leaders Programme, Interacademy Medical Panel
- 2013: ASID International travel award, Australasian Society for Infectious Diseases
- 2004: UMAP Scholarship, University mobility in Asia and the Pacific
- 1998: Dean’s Commendation for High Achievement, University of Queensland
Projects (16)
Current (14)
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ANCP – Kickstarting antimicrobial resistance responses in PNG (KICK AMR)
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Australia Awards Fellowship: KICK-AMR to Address Antimicrobial Resistance
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Building a Centre of Excellence for Research and Training for DR-TB in Daru, Papua New Guinea
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Demonstrating the impact of next generation Cepheid tools in TB
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ESCAPE-TB: Enhanced screening and preventive therapy for TB in Daru, PNG
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Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies
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PRIME-TB: Papua New Guinea & Republic of Indonesia for the Micro Elimination of TB
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Rapid and accurate diagnosis of TB: New trial in PNG
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RID-TB Patient Education and Counselling
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RID-TB: Reducing the Impact of Drug-Resistant TB in Western Province, PNG
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Tackling TB and HIV Together in Papua New Guinea
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The EZARET Study: Exploring Zoonotic Association and Risks for Extrapulmonary Tuberculosis in PNG
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The Optimise Study: Optimising Isolation, Quarantine and Distancing for COVID-19
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The Social and Cultural Determinants of TB in Daru [SCuD-TB Daru – Study 1]
Publications (57)
2023 (1)
- Contact screening and management in a high-transmission MDR-TB setting in Papua New Guinea: Progress, challenges and future directions
Majumdar SS, Islam S, Huang GKL, Morris L, Bauri M, Chan G, Kama G, Keam T, Peacock-Smith A, Finch S, Marukutira T, Bhatt S, Drewett G, Wratten M, Murray A, Pank N, Masah C, Bala R, Umali S, Kalon S, Greig J, Chani K, Kal M and Graham SM
Front. Trop. Dis. 2023 Jan; 3:1085401.
2022 (4)
- COVID-19 and its impacts on primary health services
and public health infectious disease programs in Papua New Guinea. (PUBLIC HEALTH REPORT)
Newland J, Neuendorf N, , Vallely L, Mek A, Vengiau G, Farquhar R, Boli-Neo R, Seymour M, Wratten M, Aeno H, Nake Trumb R, Kerry Z, Huang KL, Maalsen A, Homer C, Robinson L, , Majumdar S, Vallely A, Laman M, Pomat W, Kelly-Hanku A
WHO Papua New Guinea Commisioned Report. 2022 Dec
- Detecting Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection in Children Migrating to Australia.
Laemmle-Ruff I, Graham SM, Williams B, Horyniak D, Majumdar SS, Paxton GA, Soares Caplice LV, Hellard ME, Trauer JM
Emerg Infect Dis. 2022 Sep; 28(9):1833-1841
- Exploring Tuberculosis Riskscapes in a Papua New Guinean 'Hotspot'.
Jops P, Kupul M, Nake Trumb R, Cowan J, Graham SM, Bell S, Majumdar S, Nindil H, Pomat W, Marais B, Marks G, Vallely AJ, Kaldor J, Kelly-Hanku A
Qual Health Res. 2022 Aug; 32(11):1747-1762
- Evolution and spread of a highly drug resistant strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Papua New Guinea.
Bainomugisa A, Lavu E, Pandey S, Majumdar S, Banamu J, Coulter C, Marais B, Coin L, Graham SM, du Cros P
BMC Infect Dis. 2022 May; 22(1):437
2021 (14)
- Person-centred care in TB.
Horter S, Daftary A, Keam T, Bernays S, Bhanushali K, Chavan D, Denholm J, Furin J, Jaramillo E, Khan A, Lin YD, Lobo R, Loveday M, Majumdar SS, Mistry N, Patel H, Rane S, Swaminathan A, Triasih R, Venkatesan N, Viney K, du Cros P
Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2021 Oct; 25(10):784-787
- COVID-19 Global Trends and Analyses Volume 2:- Vaccine and Viral Variants Update. (Public Health Report July Update)
Toole M, Drummer H, Tachedjian G, Umali S, Majumdar S
Know-C19. 2021 Aug; Update 1:1-23
- COVID-19 Global Trends and Analyses Volume 1:- Global Epidemiology and Trends - Technical Snapshots. (Public Health Report July Update)
Toole M, Umali S, Majumdar S
Know-C19. 2021 Aug; Update 1:1-24
- COVID-19 Global Trends and Analyses Volume 1:- Global Epidemiology and Trends - Research Snapshots. (Public Health Report)
Toole M, Umali S, van Gemert-Doyle , Majumdar S
Know-C19. 2021 Jul; June(Update 1):1-24
- COVID-19 Global Trends and Analyses Volume 2:- Vaccine and Viral Variants Update. (PUBLIC HEALTH REPORT)
Toole M, Drummer H, Tachedjian G, Umali S, Majumdar S
Know-C19. 2021 Jul; June(Update 1):1-24
- Adapting active case-finding for TB during the COVID-19 pandemic in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
Chan G, Triasih R, Nababan B, du Cros P, Wilks N, Main S, Huang GKL, Lin D, Graham SM, Majumdar SS, Bakker M, Khan A, Khan FA, Dwihardiani B
Public Health Action. 2021 Jun; 11(2):41-49
- COVID-19 Global Trends and Analyses Volume 2:- Vaccine and Viral Variants Update. (Public Health Report)
Toole M, Drummer H, Tachedjian G, Umali S, Majumdar S
Know-C19. 2021 May; Update 1:1-27
- COVID-19 Global Trends and Analyses Volume 1:- Global Epidemiology and Trends - Science Snapshots. (Public Health Report)
Toole M, Umali S, van Gemert-Doyle , Majumdar S
Know-C19. 2021 May; Update 1:1-21
- COVID-19 Global Trends and Analyses Volume 1:- Global Epidemiology and Trends - Global Technical. (Public Health Report)
Toole M, Umali S, van Gemert-Doyle , Majumdar S
Know-C19. 2021 Apr; Update 1:1-22
- COVID-19 Global Trends and Analyses Volume 2:- Vaccine and Viral Variants Update. (Public Health Report)
Toole M, Drummer H, Tachedjian G, Umali S, Majumdar S
Know-C19. 2021 Apr; Update 1:1-24
- Tuberculosis in migrants to Australia: Outcomes of a national screening program.
Trauer JM, Williams B, Laemmie-Ruff I, Horyniak D, Soares Caplice LV, McBrtde ES, Majumdar SS, Graem SM, Hellard ME
Lancet Reg Health - West Pac. 2021 Mar; 10:100135
- COVID-19 Global Trends and Analyses Volume 2:- Vaccine and Viral Variants Update - COVID-19 Global Snapshots. (Public Health Report)
Toole M, Drummer H, Tachedjian G, Umali S, Majumdar S
Know-C19. 2021 Mar; Update 1:1-22
- COVID-19 Global Trends and Analyses Volume 1:- Global Epidemiology and Trends. (Public Health Report)
Toole M, Umali S, Majumdar S, Robinson L, Menon V
Know-C19. 2021 Mar; Update 1:1-17
- Active case‐finding in contacts of people with TB.
Fox GJ, Johnston JC, Nguyen TA, Majumdar SS. Denholm JT, Asldurf H, Nguyen CB, Marks GB, Velen K
Int J Tubercul Lung Dis. 2021 Feb; 25(2):95-105
2020 (8)
- Covid-19 Global Trends and Analysis - Global Epidemiology and Global Snapshots (Public Health Report)
Toole M, Homer C, Umali S, Majumdar S
Know-C19 Burnet Institute. 2020 Dec; Update 2(December):1-15
- Covid-19 Global Trends and Analysis - Volume 2: SARS-CoV-2 viral load dynamics and infectivity.
Tachedjian G, Hearps A, Majumdar S, Toole M, Umali S
Know-C19 Burnet Institute. 2020 Dec; Update 1(December):1-5
- Impact of Victoria's Stage 3 lockdown on COVID-19 case numbers
Saul A, Scott N, Crabb BS, Majumdar SS, Coghlan B, Hellard ME
MJA. 2020 Nov; 213(11):494-496
- The most promising treatments for COVID-19 (Updated 6th July 2020)
Lewin S, Copolov D, Crabb B, Cuthbertson A, Doherty P, Hoy W, Kelleher A, Majumdar S, Tachedjian G
Rapid Res Infor Forum. 2020 May
- The most promising vaccines for COVID-19. (Updated 17.6.2020)
Cunningham A, Chappell K, Copolov D, Crabb B, Cuthbertson A, Doherty P, Drummer H, Foley C, Godfrey D, Halton J, Kelleher A , Majumdar S, McDonald C, Munro T, Purcell D, Young P
Rapid Res Infor Forum. 2020 May
- Scaling up tuberculosis preventive therapy for contacts in high transmission settings
Majumdar SS, Triasih R, Grham SM
Lancet Glob Health. 2020 May; 8:e617-e618
- Shifting the paradigm: using disease outbreaks to build resilient health systems.
Durski KN, Osterholm M, Majumdar SS, Nilles E, Bausch DG, Atun R
BMJ Glob Health. 2020 May; 5(5):e002499
- A strategic framework to ease community-wide Covid-19 suppression measures.
Coghlan B, Majumdar SS, Pedrana A, Hellard ME, Crabb BS
MJA. 2020 Apr; Epub preprint
2019 (10)
- The SORT IT model for building operational research capacity: the experience of TB service providers in PNG.
Aia P, Majumdar SS, Pomat W, Tefuarani N, Graham SM, Dakulala P
Pub Health Act. 2019 Sep; 9(Supplement 1):S1-S2
- The emergency response to multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in Daru, Western Province, Papua New Guinea, 2014–2017
Morris L, Hiasihri S, Chan G, Honjepari A, Tugo O, Taune M, Aia P, Dakulala P, Majumdar, SS
Pub Health Act. 2019 Sep; 9(Supplement 1):S4-S11
- Successful implementation of bedaquiline for multidrug-resistant TB treatment in remote Papua New Guinea.
Taune M, Ustero P, Hiashiri S, Huang K, Aia P, Morris L, Main S, Chan G, du Cros P, Majumdar SS
Pub Health Act. 2019 Sep; 9(Supplement 1):S73-S79
- The effects of decentralisation of tuberculosis services in the East New Britain Province, Papua New Guinea.
Maha A, Majumdar SS, Main S, Phillip W, Witari K, Schulz J, du Cros P
Pub Health Act. 2019 Sep; 9(Supplement 1):S43-S49
- Implementation of screening and management of household contacts of tuberculosis cases in Daru, Papua New Guinea
Honjepari A, Madiowi S, Madjus S, Burkot C, Islam S, Chan G, Majumdar SS, Graham SM
Pub Health Act. 2019 Sep; 9(Supplement 1):S25-S31
- Impact of GxAlert on the management of rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis patients, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.
Banamu JK, Lavu E, Johnson K, Moke R, Majumdar SS, Takarinda KC, Commons RJ
Pub Health Act. 2019 Sep; 9(Supplement 1):S19-S24
- Drug-resistant tuberculosis diagnosis since Xpert® MTB/RIF introduction in Papua New Guinea, 2012–2017
Lavu EK, Johnson K, Banamu J, Pandey S, Carter R, Coulter C, Aia P, Majumdar SS, Marais BJ, Graham SM, Vince J
Pub Health Act. 2019 Sep; 9(Supplement 1):S12-S18
- Telemedicine in resource-limited settings to optimize care for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis.
Huang GKL, Pawape G, Taune M, Hiasihri S, Ustero P, O'Brien DP, du Cros P, Graham S, Wootton R, Majumdar S
Frontiers in Public Health. 2019 Aug; 7:222
- Training for Tuberculosis Elimination in Indonesia: Achievements, Reflections, and Potential for Impact.
Main S, Lestari T, Triasih R, Chan G, Davidson L, Majumdar S, Santoso D, Phung S, Laukkala J, Graham S, du Cros P, Ralph A
Trop Med Infect Dis. 2019 Jul; 4(3):E107
- Early success with retention in care among people living with HIV at decentralized ART satellite sites in Yangon, Myanmar, 2015–2016
Htet KM, Soe KT, Myo Minn Oo MM, Hone S, Majumdar SS, Oo HN
Front Pub Health. 2019 May; 7:124
2018 (3)
- Are death and loss to follow-up still high in people living with HIV on ART after national scale-up and earlier treatment initiation? A large cohort study in government hospital-based setting, Myanmar: 2013-2016.
Aung ZZ, Oo MM, Tripathy JP, Kyaw NTT, Hone S, Oo HN, Majumdar SS
PLoS One. 2018 Sep; 13(9):e0204550
- Evaluation of a tuberculosis active case finding project in peri-urban areas, Myanmar: 2014-2016.
Aye S, Majumdar SS, Oo MM, Tripathy JP, Satyanarayana S, Kyaw NTT, Kyaw KWY, Oo NL, Thein S, Thu MK, Soe KT, Aung ST
Int J Infect Dis. 2018 May; 70:93-100
- Multi-clonal evolution of multi-drug-resistant/extensively drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis in a high-prevalence setting of Papua New Guinea for over three decades.
Bainomugisa A, Lavu E, Hiashiri S, Majumdar S, Honjepari A, Moke R6, Dakulala P, Hill-Cawthorne GA, Pandey S, Marais BJ, Coulter C, Coin L
Microb Genom. 2018 Jan; 4(2):e000147
2017 (1)
2016 (6)
- Extending 'Contact Tracing' into the community within a 50-metre radius of an index tuberculosis patient Using Xpert MTB/RIF in urban, Pakistan: Did it increase case detection?
Fatima R, Qadeer E, Yaqoob A, Haq MU, Majumdar SS, Shewade HD, Stevens R, Creswell J, Mahmood N, Kumar AM
PLoS One. 2016 Nov; 11(11):e0165813
- Dotting the Three I's for collaborative TB-HIV activities: evaluation of a pilot programme in Kathmandu, Nepal.
Sah SK, Sahu SK, Lamichhane B, Bhatta GK, Bhandari KB, Owiti P, Majumdar SS
Public Health Action. 2016 Sep; 6(3):169-175
- Mycobacterium Tuberculosis. (Book Chapter)
Majumdar S
in "HIV Management in Australasia" Australasian Society for HIV Medicine, Sydney, Australia.. 2016 Jul
- Workshop on Prioritising New Research Areas for Tuberculosis Control in Myanmar. (Report)
Aung ST, Saw S, Sein TT, Aung PP, Pastricha N, Chan G, Majumdar S
Ministry of Health, Myanmar. 2016 Jul
- The Spectrum of Chromobacterium violaceum Infections from a Single Geographic Location.
Lin YD, Majumdar SS, Hennessy J, Baird RW
Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2016 Feb; 94(4):710-716
- Combination of Vancomycin and beta-Lactam Therapy for Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia: A Pilot Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial.
Joshua S Davis, Archana Sud, Matthew V N O'Sullivan, James O Robinson, Patricia E Ferguson, Hong Foo, Sebastiaan J van Hal, Anna P Ralph, Benjamin P Howden, Paula M Binks, Adrienne Kirby, Steven Y C Tong, Steven Tong, Joshua Davis, Paula Binks, Suman Majumdar, Anna Ralph, Rob Baird, Claire Gordon, Cameron Jeremiah, Grace Leung, Anna Brischetto, Amy Crowe, Farshid Dakh, Kelly Whykes, Maria Kirkwood, Archana Sud, Mahesh Menon, Lucy Somerville, Shrada Subedi, Shirley Owen, Matthew O'Sullivan, Eunice Liu, Fei Zhou, Owen Robinson, Geoffrey Coombs, Patrician Ferguson, Anna Ralph, Eunice Liu, Simon Pollet, Sebastian Van Hal, Hong Foo, Sebastian Van Hal, Rebecca Davis
Clin Infect Dis. 2016 Jan; 62(2):173-180
2015 (3)
- Overview of viral hepatitis treatment research in China. (WHO Report)
El-Hayek C, Zou H, Hua B, Cheah S, Majumdar S, Hellard M
WHO China. 2015 Jul
- Neonatal mortality in India's rural poor: Findings of a household survey and verbal autopsy study in Rajasthan, Bihar and Odisha.
Dogra V, Khanna R, Jain A, Kumar AM, Shewade HD, Majumdar SS
J Trop Pediatr. 2015 Mar; 61(3):210-214
- Adoptive T cell immunotherapy for treatment of ganciclovir-resistant cytomegalovirus disease in a renal transplant recipient.
N Macesic, D Langsford, K Nicholls, P Hughes, D J Gottlieb, L Clancy, E Blyth, K Micklethwaite, B Withers, S Majumdar, S Fleming, J Sasadeusz
Am J Transplant. 2015 Mar; 15(3):827-832
2014 (2)
2013 (2)
2012 (1)
2011 (2)
- The 'frozen state' of drug-resistant tuberculosis: notes from the field in Abkhazia.
S Majumdar, D O'Brien, N Hurtado, C Hewison, P du Cros
Intern Med J. 2011 Dec; 41(12):805-808
- Drug-resistant tuberculosis in 9 high burden Asian countries. (Report)
Majumdar S, Kong F, du Cros P, O’Brien D, Reeder J, Elliott J
AusAID Health Resource Facility. Australian Government, Canberra. 2011 Jul
News Articles (70)
2022 (2)
2021 (12)
2020 (12)
2019 (12)
2018 (7)
2017 (13)
2016 (5)
2015 (4)
2014 (2)
2013 (1)
