About

Emma McBryde is an infectious diseases physician who did her PhD in mathematics; specifically Mathematical and Statistical modelling of disease transmission in hospitals. Since then, she has moved into modelling infectious diseases of global significance, including influenza, SARS and tuberculosis. Emma has led consultancies for AusAID, DFAT, the Commonwealth Department of Health and participated in Gates funded work on modelling to guide policy in tuberculosis. She is developing work on allocative efficiency for tuberculosis program development in partnership with the Global Fund and the World Bank. 

Emma moved to Townsville from Melbourne, leaving the position of Head of Epidemiology at the Victorian Infectious Diseases Service. She continues to collaborate with many researchers in Melbourne across University of Melbourne and the Burnet Institute, but is looking forward to new collaborations in the Tropics; across James Cook University and further afield with regional partners. 

Emma has published over 80 peer reviewed publications on epidemiology and modelling; has supervised 4 PhD students (1 to completion and 3 to submission status) and is currently supervising 3 additional PhD students. She has numerous grants from both ARC and NHMRC, including a current centre for research excellence (NHMRC-CRE) in modelling infectious diseases to inform public health policy. Emma is actively collaborating across James Cook University with research areas of health systems, basic science (microbiology and immunology), health economics, genomics and across Australia in epidemiology and modelling and specifically in tuberculosis research. She is an elected official of the Australasian Tuberculosis Forum and an affiliate of the CRE in TB research.

Teaching
  • MD3012: Introduction to Clinical Healthcare Part 2 of 2 (Level 3; TSV)
Research Disciplines
Socio-Economic Objectives
Publications

These are the most recent publications associated with this author. To see a detailed profile of all publications stored at JCU, visit ResearchOnline@JCU. Hover over Altmetrics badges to see social impact.

Journal Articles
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ResearchOnline@JCU stores 173+ research outputs authored by Prof Emma McBryde from 2002 onwards.

Current Funding

Current and recent Research Funding to JCU is shown by funding source and project.

National Health & Medical Research Council - Centres of Research Excellence

Supporting Participatory Evidence generation to Control Transmissible diseases in our Region Using Modelling (SPECTRUM)

Indicative Funding
$268,793 over 6 years (administered by University of Melbourne)
Summary
SPECTRUM is a centre for research excellence in decision science and includes chief investigators from the University of Melbourne, Australian National University and University of Adelaide. It focusses on data synthesis for policy decision making, particularly in relation to pandemic planning, emerging infectious diseases and other infectious dieases threats.
Investigators
Jodie McVernon, Iadine Chades, Emma McBryde, ross andrews and Joshua Ross (The University of Melbourne, Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation, Australian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine, Australian National University and University of Adelaide)
Keywords
Decision Science; Mathematical Modelling

National Health & Medical Research Council - Centres of Research Excellence

Centre of Research Excellence in Tuberculosis Control on both sides of our border.

Indicative Funding
$198,529 over 5 years (administered by University of Sydney)
Summary
This is a capacity building project on tuberculosis research including clinical trials, genomics, immunology and modelling for policy decision support. It involves researchers at USyd, U Melb, Monash and JCU. My role is in mathematical modelling of tuberculosis and this work will provide a network of tuberculosis researchers with which to collaborate.
Investigators
Warwick Britton, Barend (Ben) Marais, Gregory Fox, Vitali Sintchenko, James Triccas, Guy Marks, Stephen Graham, Emma McBryde, Bernadette Saunders and Justin Denholm (The University of Sydney, The University of New South Wales, The University of Melbourne, Australian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine, University of Technology, Sydney and Melbourne Health)
Keywords
Tuberculosis; Public health policy; Epidemiology; Mathematical modelling; Biiostatistics

National Health & Medical Research Council - TB CRE Seed Funding

Geospatial analysis and modelling support.

Indicative Funding
$15,000 over 1 year
Summary
One of the major inequities in delivery of health services and of health outcomes occurs at a subnational level with more remote parts of countries suffering poorer health outcomes and lower levels of services. For many diseases, including TB, this is made more difficult to assess owing to poor surveillance infrastructure in remote communities. Hence there are an estimated 3 million missing cases of tuberculosis each year. This can be addressed by geospatial analysis and modelling to identify hidden hotspots and areas of need. Increasingly, more unified and complete data collection systems are in place (DHIS2) allowing geospatial analysis of data sources for facility-based and community-based activities. Understanding the health systems along which these operate; such as referral pathways, and patient/medication/service transport networks allows for simulation of new programs.
Investigators
Emma McBryde, James Trauer, Barend (Ben) Marais and Jamie Sziklay (Australian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine, Monash University, The University of Sydney and ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies)
Keywords
Tuberculosis; Geospatial analysis; Health systems; Modelling

Tropical Australian Academic Health Centre Limited - Contract Research

Can portable genome sequencing provide a rapid, comprehensive, point-of-care diagnostic test for Far North Queensland hospitals and healthcare centres?

Indicative Funding
$49,987 over 2 years
Summary
Respiratory disease, fevers, and sepsis are common in FNQ and treatment often requires admission to hospital. These infections have many different causes, and diagnosing them requires multiple tests that take weeks to perform. Consequently, patients are treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics before a pathogen is identified, leading to poorer outcomes for the patient and contributing to the spread of antibiotic-resistant infections. We will trial new genome sequencing technology as a point-of-care diagnostic test for fever, sepsis, and pneumonia at Cairns Hospital, and test the hypothesis that this approach will increase the proportion of infections that are diagnosed and reduce the time-to-diagnosis.
Investigators
John McBride, Cadhla Firth, Simon Smith, Joshua Hanson, Matt Field, Emma McBryde, John Miles, Damon Eisen and Chris Heather (College of Medicine & Dentistry, Australian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine and Queensland Health)
Keywords
Genomics; Healthcare; pathogens

National Health & Medical Research Council - Partnership Projects

Implementation of quality improvement in Indigenous primary health care: Leveraging Effective Ambulatory Practices (LEAP)

Indicative Funding
$1,144,570 over 4 years, in partnership with North Queensland Primary Health Network ($315,000); Northern Territory Department of Health, Top End Health ($20,000); Northern Territory Primary Health Network (NTPHN) ($38,700) and Western Queensland Primary Care Collaborative Limited ($210,000)
Summary
Despite increased policy attention and funding, not all primary healthcare (PHC) services for Indigenous Australians show the desired improvements in quality of care. Practices which provide PHC services are complex systems and emerging evidence indicates many things affect quality improvement. There remains a knowledge gap regarding what is required for Indigenous PHCs to succeed in improving the quality of their services and, subsequently, health outcomes for their patients. This project will capitalise on emerging research and existing strong partnerships to provide a solid evidence base for interventions to improve quality of priority health services in Indigenous PHC settings.
Investigators
Sarah Larkins, Ross Baille, Catrina Felton-Busch, Paul Burgess, Emma McBryde, Kerry Copley, Rebecca Evans, V Matthews and Karen Carlisle in collaboration with Judy Taylor, Karla Canuto, Donald Whaleboat, S Thompson, Christine Connors and Roderick Wright (College of Medicine & Dentistry, The University of Sydney, Mt Isa Centre for Rural & Remote Health, Department of Health (NT), Australian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine, Aboriginal Medical Service, Apunipima Cape York Health Council, The University of Western Australia and Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council)
Keywords
Learning community; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander; Primary Health Care; Quality Improvement

Townsville Hospital and Health Service - Study Education Research Trust Account (SERTA)

Linkage of Queensland Health databases for description and research of infectious diseases affecting Queenslanders

Indicative Funding
$21,050 over 4 years
Summary
It is possible to examine health data using stored information from Queensland Health databases. A standardised process of data-linkage is followed after approval of release of patient information under the Public Health Act. The resulting information is anonymised. Datasets containing de-identified information on patients admitted to hospital with sever infections would allow for the types of retrospective cohort studies needed to understand the reasons people have these infections and how they should be treated. Using information linked under the structure described in the Queensland Data Linkage Framework will allow us to perform observational analysis with large amounts of patient data.
Investigators
Damon Eisen and Emma McBryde in collaboration with Subashini Srirengam and Luke Vasanthakumar (College of Medicine & Dentistry, Australian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine and Townsville Hospital and Health Services)
Keywords
Infectious Diseases; inpatient; cohort; retrospective; Database; administrative data-linkage

The Global Fund - Contract Research

Allocative efficiency modelling to support National TB programs

Indicative Funding
$191,260 over 4 years
Summary
Tuberculosis (TB) has now been unequivocally identified as the world's leading infectious killer, with global control failing to make significant inroads into the huge burden of disease. TB in Australia is driven by this huge global burden, with around 60% of all TB cases occurring in our region and nearly 90% of Australia's cases occurring in the overseas born. Our group has an established track record of undertaking country-level simulations to better understand TB epidemiology and predict the effectiveness of programmatic interventions in the local context. These applications are linked to a program of theoretical and epidemiological research to improve understanding of TB transmission and strengthen model underpinnings. Recently, we have been working to develop our model into a flexible and robust platform by using principles of software engineering, including object-oriented and modular programming. This approach allows rapid adaptation of our tool ("AuTuMN") to new objectives without the need to modify many of the constituent modules. In this project, we will extend the AuTuMN structures to undertake country implementations in up to six additional countries, funded by The Global Fund Against AIDS, Malaria and tuberculosis (TGF). These countries are: Myanmar Timor L'este The Kingdom of Bhutan Cambodia The Philippines Sri Lanka This RFAF is an indicative budget, as airfares and other direct costs will only be paid upon submission of receipts. Additionally, TGF produces contracts in US dollar amounts so amounts below are subject to change. Which of the above countries elect to undertake this work has not yet been determineJCU will administer the grant but University of Melbourne and Monash University will send invoices for work undertaken as part of this grant.
Investigators
Emma McBryde, R Ragonnet, Nhut Tan Doan, James Trauer and Stephanie Topp in collaboration with Ross McLeod, Damon Eisen, Jennifer Ho, Tanya Diefenbach-Elstob, Kathryn Snow and Bosco Ho (Australian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine, The University of Melbourne, Monash University, College of Public Health, Medical & Vet Sciences, College of Medicine & Dentistry and Queensland Health)
Keywords
Tuberculosis; mathematical modelling; international health; disease simulation

World Diabetes Foundation - Research Grant

Increased awareness of and access to diabetes and tuberculosis care in New Ireland Province of Papua New Guinea

Indicative Funding
$307,331 over 5 years
Summary
The 3-year project is intended to (1) raise awareness of Diabetes and TB among the general populationin New Ireland Province (2) Train doctors, nurses, pharmacists and community health workers to effectively treat Diabetes and TB (3) Establish better monitoring of Diabetes and TB in remote areas with the help of electronic registry and mobile phone technology (4) conduct public health campaigns by the local health professionals and to screen and monitor the diseases with the help of mobile phone technology.
Investigators
Usman Malabu, Emma McBryde, Venkat Vangaveti, Matthew McLee and Frank Apamumu (Australian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine, College of Medicine & Dentistry and Kavieng General Hospital)

Department of Health and Ageing - Education and Research Grant

Modelling future testing needs for SARS-CoV-2

Indicative Funding
$42,770 (administered by University of Melbourne)
Summary
The Project will enable greater understanding of the current and projected future testing demand for severe acute respiratory acute syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus that causes coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) in Australia. The scope of this project is limited to assessing the demand for laboratory based, or near patient point-of-care, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing, the gold standard test to diagnose COVID-19.
Investigators
Jodie McVernon, James McCaw, Emma McBryde, Michael Meehan and Adeshina Adekunle (The University of Melbourne and Australian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine)
Keywords
COVID-19; Modelling; SARS-CoV-2; Coronavirus

Queensland Health - Queensland Genomics Health Alliance Project Fund

Pathogen Genomics North Queensland

Indicative Funding
$180,000 over 1 year (administered by University of Queensland)
Summary
This project will develop pathogen genomics to improve time to best treatment of serious infectious diseases. We aim to incorporate pathogen genomics into the workflow of clinical microbiology units in regional Queensland Health Hospitals for investigation of potential or known infectious disease.
Investigators
Emma McBryde and Damon Eisen in collaboration with John McBride, Matt Field, Luke Lawton, Geoff Gordon and Richard Stone (Australian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine, College of Medicine & Dentistry and Townsville Hospital and Health Services)
Keywords
Genomics; Sequencing; Infectious Disease; Microbiology

QLD Department of Environment and Science - Advance Queensland Research Fellowship

Combating antibiotic-resistant infections using a health system approach

Indicative Funding
$300,000 over 3 years
Summary
The march of antibiotic resistance across the globe is leading to what many are calling the ?post-antibiotic era?. This puts a massive, preventable burden both on patients and Queensland?s health system, costing millions of dollars each year. North Queensland is geographically vulnerable to emerging infectious diseases, located at the tropical Indo- Pacific gateway, with the highest rates of resistant tuberculosis, and incursions of dengue virus, for example. This project will generate an evidence base for cost and risks of infectious diseases in North Queensland; by linking several health system datasets, to synthesise prospective and retrospective cohorts. Professorial and Infectious Diseases Units at TTH are co-investigators of the project investing personnel to perform the research. Further, TTH infection control and executive policy-makers are the target end-user for translation of the research.
Investigators
Emma McBryde (Australian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine)
Keywords
Antibiotic resistance; Health systems; Decision support; Health economics; Mathematical models; Operations research

VIC Department of Health and Human Services - Contract Research

Cost-benefit analysis of latent tuberculosis treatment towards elimination

Indicative Funding
$46,410
Summary
We will develop the health economic aspect of the project, and interact with and build on to the model for TB elimination in low-burden settings being developed by Monash University. This will allow estimation of the impact of the proposed Victorian TB programs. Costing the data will be included in the model in three broad ways. 1 - each disease state in the model will accrue an associated cost; and 2 - programmatic interventions will be costed separately for braod programmatic interventions; and 3 - unit costs of programmatic diagnostic and therapeutic will be incorporated into the model.
Investigators
Emma McBryde and Ross McLeod (Australian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine and ESYS Development Pty Limited)
Keywords
Tuberculosis; Modelling
Supervision

Advisory Accreditation: I can be on your Advisory Panel as a Primary or Secondary Advisor.

These Higher Degree Research projects are either current or by students who have completed their studies within the past 5 years at JCU. Linked titles show theses available within ResearchOnline@JCU.

Current
  • An Automated approach to predict Sepsis in Adults from Electronic Medical Record (EMR) Data using Machine Learning and Natural Language Processing (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
  • Genomic epidemiology of community-associated Staphylococcus aureus in northern Australia and Papua New Guinea (PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
  • Epidemiological profile of tuberculosis patients from the Torres Strait Islands, including Treaty visitors from Papua New Guinea to the Torres Strait Protected Zone (PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
  • Control of Seasonal Dengue Viral Infections of Different Serotypes and Different Age Classes (PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
Completed
Collaboration

The map shows research collaborations by institution from the past 7 years.
Note: Map points are indicative of the countries or states that institutions are associated with.

  • 5+ collaborations
  • 4 collaborations
  • 3 collaborations
  • 2 collaborations
  • 1 collaboration
  • Indicates the Tropics (Torrid Zone)

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