Lee is part of the One Health Research Group of senior and postdoctoral scientists and PhD students https://www.facebook.com/onehealthresearchgroup for more information. 

The group is led by Dr Lee Skerratt and use methods from veterinary science, ecology, and biochemistry to investigate wildlife diseases that impact biodiversity, humans or livestock. We work closely with zoos, environment departments  and NGOs to develop improved wildlife management, in particular for frog conservation.  

Lee commenced her PhD in 1995,  with the aim of diagnosing the cause of the mysterious amphibian declines that were occurring in protected areas of Queensland.  She discovered chytridiomycosis, now recognised as the worst disease to impact biodiversity as it has caused hundreds of amphibian species to decline globally.  Since having 3 kids she has continued  research on this disease part time with her salary funded by an ARC postdoctoral fellowship and an ARC Future Fellowship.  This has  enabled further discoveries on pathogenesis, distribution, disease ecology, diagnosis,  conservation management  and immunity resulting in over 100 publications, 10,000 citations  and an H-index of 40.  During 2017 -2018 she was Associate Dean, Research for the College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences.

Recent support for the group until 2016 has come from an ARC Discovery Project and an ARC Linkage with Taronga Zoo and NSW OEH. We are currently looking for funds to use proven methods from aquaculture to improve resistance in endangered frogs.

 

Interests

Research

• Wildlife disease and its management, Amphibian pathology, Conservation
• Amphibian chytridiomycosis, including pathogenesis, immunity, treatment, virulence, diagnosis and control

Experience

• 2017 to 2018 - Associate Dean, Research, CPHMVS, JCU (Townsville)
• 2011 to 2016 - ARC Future Fellow, JCU (Townsville)
• 2004 to 2010 - ARC Aust Post Doc, JCU (Townsville)
• 2002 to 2003 - Amphibian Pathologist, National Wildlife Health Centre (Madison, Wisconsin, USA)
• 1994 to 1995 - Veterinarian, RSPCA (Melbourne)

Research Disciplines

• Zoology (3109)
• Microbiology (3107)
• Veterinary sciences (3009)

Socio-Economic Objectives

• Terrestrial systems and management (1806)

Awards

• 2018 - Frank Fenner Life Scientist of the Year
• 2016 - Tom Thorne and Beth Williams Memorial Award, awarded by the Wildlife Disease Association and the American Association of Wildlife Veterinarians
• 2009 - James Cook University Research Excellence Team Award to Wildlife Biosecurity Team
• 2009 - Book dedication for contributions to research on amphibian decline : Amphibian Biology Vol 9. Amphibian Decline: diseases, parasites, maladies and pollution
• 2007 - Ian Clunies Ross Award for academic veterinary achievement, from the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists
• 2000 - CSIRO Medal for excellence in research, awarded to the Amphibian Disease Research Team

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

• Greenspan S, Roznik E, Edwards L, Duffy R, Berger L, Bower D, Pike D, Schwarzkopf L and Alford R (2023) Constant-temperature predictions underestimate growth of a fungal amphibian pathogen under individual host thermal profiles. Journal of Thermal Biology, 111 (January 2003).
• Kosch T, Waddle A, Cooper C, Zenger K, Garrick D, Berger L and Skerratt L (2022) Genetic approaches for increasing fitness in endangered species. Trends in Ecology & Evolution, 37 (4). pp. 332-345
• Webb R, Roberts A, Wylie S, Kosch T, Toledo L, Merces M, Skerratt L and Berger L (2022) Non-detection of mycoviruses in amphibian chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis) from Australia. Fungal Biology, 126 (1). pp. 75-81
• Brannelly L, Webb R, Jiang Z, Berger L, Skerratt L and Grogan L (2021) Declining amphibians might be evolving increased reproductive effort in the face of devastating disease. Evolution, 75 (10). pp. 2555-2567
• Shima A, Berger L and Skerratt L (2021) Haematological and serum biochemical reference intervals of free-ranging Lumholtz's tree-kangaroos (Dendrolagus lumholtzi). Australian Veterinary Journal, 99 (6). pp. 249-254
• Kosch T, Silva C, Brannelly L, Roberts A, Lau Q, Marantelli G, Berger L and Skerratt L (2019) Genetic potential for disease resistance in critically endangered amphibians decimated by chytridiomycosis. Animal Conservation, 22 (3). pp. 238-250
• Llewelyn V, Berger L and Glass B (2019) Effects of skin region and relative lipophilicity on percutaneous absorption in the toad Rhinella marina. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 38 (2). pp. 361-367
• Roberts A, Berger L, Robertson S, Webb R, Kosch T, McFadden M, Skerratt L, Glass B, Motti C and Brannelly L (2019) The efficacy and pharmacokinetics of terbinafine against the frog-killing fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis). Medical Mycology, 57 (2). pp. 204-214
• Shima A, Berger L and Skerratt L (2019) Conservation and health of Lumholtz's tree-kangaroo (Dendrolagus lumholtzi). Australian Mammalogy, 41 (1). pp. 57-64
• Brannelly L, Martin G, Llewelyn J, Skerratt L and Berger L (2018) Age- and size-dependent resistance to chytridiomycosis in the invasive cane toad Rhinella marina. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms, 131 (2). pp. 107-120
• Brannelly L, Webb R, Hunter D, Clemann N, Howard K, Skerratt L, Berger L and Scheele B (2018) Non-declining amphibians can be important reservoir hosts for amphibian chytrid fungus. Animal Conservation, 21 (2). pp. 91-101
• Fisher M, Ghosh P, Shelton J, Bates K, Brookes L, Wierzbicki C, Rosa G, Farrer R, Aanensen D, Alvarado-Rybak M, Bataille A, Berger L, Böll S, Bosch J, Clare F, Courtois E, Crottini A, Cunningham A, Doherty-Bone T, Gebresenbet F, Gower D, Höglund J, James T, Jenkinson T, Kosch T, Lambertini C, Laurila A, Lin C, Loyau A, Martel A, Meurling S, Miaud C, Minting P, Ndriantsoa S, O'Hanlon S, Pasmans F, Rakotonanahary T, Rabemananjara F, Ribeiro L, Schmeller D, Schmidt B, Skerratt L, Smith F, Soto-Azat C, Tessa G, Toledo L, Valenzuela-Sánchez A, Verster R, Vörös J, Waldman B, Webb R, Weldon C, Wombwell E, Zamudio K, Longcore J and Garner T (2018) Development and worldwide use of non-lethal, and minimal population-level impact, protocols for the isolation of amphibian chytrid fungi. Scientific Reports, 8.

More

ResearchOnline@JCU stores 126+ research outputs authored by Dr Lee Berger from 1997 onwards.

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

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

• Studies of Bellinger River Virus (PhD , Secondary Advisor)

Completed

• Percutaneous absorption in frogs: in vitro and in vivo studies. Developing models for disease treatment and environmental risk management (2019, PhD , Secondary Advisor)
• Population and Health Status of Lumholtz?s Tree-kangaroo (Dendrolagus lumholtzi) (2022, PhD , Secondary Advisor)
• The role of serotonin and glutathione in the pathogenesis of chytridiomycosis (2021, PhD , Primary Advisor)
• A One Health approach to investigating the health and prevalence of zoonotic pathogens in snow leopards, sympatric wildlife, domestic animals and humans in the South Gobi Desert in Mongolia (2019, PhD , Secondary Advisor)
• Novel tools to reduce the virulence of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (2022, PhD , Secondary Advisor)

These are the most recent metadata records associated with this researcher. To see a detailed description of all dataset records, visit Research Data Australia.

• Llewelyn, V. (2019) In vivo percutaneous absorption data for model chemicals in Rhinella marina: chemicals formulated in Amphibian Ringer’s Solution. James Cook University
• Llewelyn, V. (2019) In vivo percutaneous absorption data for chloramphenicol, formulated in 20% propylene glycol, in Rhinella marina. James Cook University
• Llewelyn, V. (2019) In vitro percutaneous absorption data for model chemicals in Litoria caerulea and Rhinella marina: chemicals formulated in Amphibian Ringer’s solution. James Cook University
• Llewelyn, V. (2019) In vitro percutaneous absorption data for model chemicals in Rhinella marina: chemicals formulated in penetration enhancers ethanol or propylene glycol. James Cook University

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.