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.

 

Interests

Research

• 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

• Statistics - introductory, intermediate and advanced statistical theory, applications and programming

Experience

• 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

• Epidemiology (4202)
• Applied mathematics (4901)

Socio-Economic Objectives

• Public health (2004)
• Evaluation of health and support services (2002)

Awards

• 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

• 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

• 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)

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

• 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

ResearchOnline@JCU stores 35+ research outputs authored by Dr Michael Meehan from 2006 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

• 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

• 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)

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.