Dr Michael Meehan ~ Senior Research Fellow, Infectious Diseases Modelling and Epidemiology
Australian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine
- About
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- Interests
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- Research
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- Mathematical Biology - infectious disease dynamics: transmission; spread; and control
- Population genetics - molecular evolution; phylogenetics and phyloepidemiology
- Machine learning - supervised and supervised learning with applications in medicine and public health
- Cosmology - dark matter, dark energy and early-universe (thermo)dynamics
- Teaching
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- Statistics - introductory, intermediate and advanced statistical theory, applications and programming
- Experience
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- 2021 to present - Senior Research Fellow, AITHM, James Cook University (Townsville)
- 2018 to 2020 - Research Fellow, AITHM, James Cook University (Townsville)
- 2016 to 2017 - Postdoctoral Research Fellow, AITHM, James Cook University (Townsville)
- 2015 - Associate Lecturer, James Cook University (Townsville)
- 2013 to 2015 - Casual Lecturer, James Cook University (Townsville)
- Research Disciplines
- Socio-Economic Objectives
I am currently a mathematician working within the Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine (AITHM) at James Cook University (JCU) modelling the spread of infectious diseases. Prior to my appointment at AITHM, I received my PhD from the School of Engineering at JCU. My doctoral research in theoretical astrophysics and cosmology focused on the outstanding problem of the nature of dark matter and dark energy and their density in alternative cosmological models.
At present, I am working to advance: understanding of COVID-19 transmission and epidemiology; genomic-driven infectious disease modelling methodologies and applying these to the emergence, evolution and transmission of drug-resistant pathogens – with a particular focus on tuberculosis in the tropics; machine learning approaches to improve medical diagnostics; ecological models of Wolbachia introduction for dengue control; and cost-effectiveness analyses of novel treatments for drug-resistant infections. Many of these projects are being investigated in partnership with national and international academic and industry partners, and are funded through a variety of external funding bodies.
I also work as a statistical consultant for the graduate research school at JCU where I analyse field data for student and staff research projects and coordinate / deliver postgraduate statistical courses.
- Honours
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- Awards
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- 2020 - Research Excellence Award, James Cook University
- 2015 - Inclusive Practice Teaching Award, James Cook University
- 2013 - Best Student Presentation (Australian National Institute of Theoretical Astrophysicists)
- 2010 - Australian Postgraduate Award
- 2009 - Academic Medal, James Cook University
- 2008 - HJ Priestley Memorial Prize, James Cook University
- Fellowships
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- 2021 to 2023 - Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA) ($596,743)
- 2020 to 2021 - Centre of Research Excellence in Tuberculosis Control on Both Sides of Our Border Postdoctoral Fellowship ($180,000)
- 2018 to 2019 - Centre of Research Excellence in Policy Relevant Infectious diseases Simulation and Modelling (PRISM) Early Career Fellowship ($75,000)
- Other
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- 2019 - Centre of Research Excellence in Policy Relevant Infectious diseases Simulation and Modelling (PRISM) Teaching Grant Grant ($33,841)
- 2018 - Centre of Research Excellence in Policy Relevant Infectious diseases Simulation and Modelling (PRISM) Seed Funding Grant ($20,000)
- 2016 - Centre of Research Excellence in Policy Relevant Infectious diseases Simulation and Modelling (PRISM) Seed Funding Grant ($9,367)
- Publications
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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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- Ogunlade S, Adekunle A, Meehan M and McBryde E (2023) Quantifying the impact of Wolbachia releases on dengue infection in Townsville, Australia. Scientific Reports, 13.
- Ogunlade S, Meehan M, Adekunle A and McBryde E (2023) A Systematic Review of Mathematical Models of Dengue Transmission and Vector Control: 2010–2020. Viruses, 15 (1).
- Hughes A, Ragonnet R, Jayasundara P, Ngo H, de Lara-Tuprio E, Estuar M, Teng T, Boon L, Peariasamy K, Chong Z, Ghazali I, Fox G, Nguyen T, Le L, Abayawardana M, Shipman D, McBryde E, Meehan M, Caldwell J and Trauer J (2022) COVID-19 collaborative modelling for policy response in the Philippines, Malaysia and Vietnam. The Lancet Regional Health - Western Pacific, 29.
- Kuddus M, McBryde E, Adekunle A, White L and Meehan M (2022) Mathematical analysis of a two-strain tuberculosis model in Bangladesh. Scientific Reports, 12.
- Kuddus M, McBryde E, Adekunle A and Meehan M (2022) Analysis and simulation of a two-strain disease model with nonlinear incidence. Chaos, Solitons & Fractals, 155.
- Ogunlade S, Adekunle A, McBryde E and Meehan M (2022) Modelling the ecological dynamics of mosquito populations with multiple co-circulating Wolbachia strains. Scientific Reports, 12.
- Steinig E, Aglua I, Duchene S, Meehan M, Yoannes M, Firth C, Jaworski J, Drekore J, Urakoko B, Poka H, Wurr C, Ebos E, Nangen D, Muller E, Mulvey P, Jackson C, Blomfeldt A, Vangstein Aamot H, Laman M, Manning L, Earls M, Coleman D, Greenhill A, Ford R, Stegger M, Ali Syed M, Jamil B, Monecke S, Ehricht R, Smith S, Pomat W, Horwood P, Tong S and McBryde E (2022) Phylodynamic signatures in the emergence of community-associated MRSA. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 119 (45).
- Wong Y, Meehan M, Burrows S, Doolan D and Miles J (2022) Estimating the global burden of Epstein–Barr virus?related cancers. Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology, 148. pp. 31-46
- Caldwell J, Le X, McIntosh L, Meehan M, Ogunlade S, Ragonnet R, O'Neill G, Trauer T and McBryde E (2021) Vaccines and variants: modelling insights into emerging issues in COVID-19 epidemiology. Paediatric Respiratory Reviews, 39. pp. 32-39
- Jayasundara P, Peariasamy K, Law K, Abd Rahim K, Lee S, Ghazali I, Abayawardana M, Linh-Vi L, Khalaf R, Razali K, Le X, Chong Z, McBryde E, Meehan M, Caldwell J, Ragonnet R and Trauer J (2021) Sustaining effective COVID-19 control in Malaysia through large-scale vaccination. Epidemics, 37.
- Kuddus M, Meehan M, Sayem M and McBryde E (2021) Scenario analysis for programmatic tuberculosis control in Bangladesh: a mathematical modelling study. Scientific Reports, 11.
- Kuddus M, McBryde E, Adekunle A, White L and Meehan M (2021) Mathematical analysis of a two-strain disease model with amplification. Chaos Solitons and Fractals, 143.
- More
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ResearchOnline@JCU stores 35+ research outputs authored by Dr Michael Meehan from 2006 onwards.
- Current Funding
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Current and recent Research Funding to JCU is shown by funding source and project.
Australian Research Council - Discovery Early Career Researcher Award
Improving Australia?s health and biosecurity through a greater marriage of infectious diseases modelling and genomic surveillance
- Indicative Funding
- $364,981 over 3 years
- Summary
- Emerging infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance are among the greatest threats to the Australian health system, and current surveillance tools may fail to detect and mitigate infectious disease outbreaks in real time. This project will develop advanced phylodynamic methods (i.e. mathematical models of infectious disease transmission and pathogen evolution) to enable real-time surveillance of infectious disease outbreaks as they emerge and monitor levels of drug resistance.
- Investigators
- Michael Meehan (Australian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine)
- Keywords
- Pathogen genomics; Mathematical modelling; Infectious disease; Sequencing; Phylodynamic; Computational biology
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 (University of Melbourne and Australian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine)
- Keywords
- COVID-19; Modelling; SARS-CoV-2; Coronavirus
National Health & Medical Research Council - Centres of Research Excellence
Developing phylodynamic models of bacterial evolution to investigate the tuberculosis (TB) outbreak in Daru, Papua New Guinee
- Indicative Funding
- $75,000 over 1 year
- Summary
- Australia's nearest neighbour, Papua New Guinea (PNG), is listed by the WHO as one of 30 high TB-burden countries, and Daru Island, off the southern coast of PNG, has been identified as a major TB hotspot. Given the immediate and porous border between Daru and Far-North Queensland (FNQ), cross-border transmission of drug-resistance tuberculosis into mainland Australia is a major public health concern. Here we use phylodynamic models (i.e mathematical models of infectious disease transmission supplemented with genetic data) to investigate the scale and severity of TB transmission in Daru and prevent similar outbreaks among FNQ communities.
- Investigators
- Michael Meehan in collaboration with Emma McBryde, Eike Steinig, Sebastian Duchene and Steven Tong (Australian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine and University of Melbourne)
- Keywords
- Tuberculosis; Phylodynamics; Infectious Diseases; Asia-Pacific; Evolutionary Biology; Mathemetical biology
- Supervision
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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
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- Genomic Modelling of Infectious Diseases in Commercial Aquaculture Settings (PhD , Primary Advisor)
- To develop a mathematic formula that will compare current and past pathology results to predict wrong blood in tube (WBIT). (Masters , Primary Advisor)
- Completed
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- Modeling the potential of introducing different Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes to control Aedes-borne arboviral infections (2023, PhD , Secondary Advisor)
- Using mathematical models to develop tuberculosis control strategies in Bangladesh (2021, PhD , Secondary Advisor)
- Collaboration
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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)
Connect with me
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- Location
- Advisory Accreditation
- Primary Advisor
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My research areas
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A/PROF Roslyn HicksonAustralian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine
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Prof Emma McBrydeAustralian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine