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

• 2018 to present - 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)

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

• 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, Article: 110594, DOI:10.1016/j.chaos.2020.110594.
• Ogunlade S, Meehan M, Adekunle A, Rojas Alvarez D, Adegboye O and McBryde E (2021) A review: Aedes-borne arboviral infections, controls and Wolbachia-based strategies. Vaccines, 9 (1), Article: 32, DOI:10.3390/vaccines9010032.
• Adekunle A, Meehan M, Rojas-Alvarez D, Trauer J and McBryde E (2020) Delaying the COVID‐19 epidemic in Australia: evaluating the effectiveness of international travel bans. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 44 (4), pp. 257-259, DOI:10.1111/1753-6405.13016.
• Kuddus M, Meehan M, White L, McBryde E and Adekunle A (2020) Modeling drug-resistant tuberculosis amplification rates and intervention strategies in Bangladesh. PLoS ONE, 15 (7), Article: e0236112, DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0236112.
• McBryde E, Meehan M, Adegboye O, Adekunle A, Caldwell J, Pak A, Rojas D, Williams B and Trauer J (2020) Role of modelling in COVID-19 policy development. Paediatric Respiratory Reviews, 35, pp. 57-60, DOI:10.1016/j.prrv.2020.06.013.
• Meehan M, Cope R and McBryde E (2020) On the probability of strain invasion in endemic settings: accounting for individual heterogeneity and control in multi-strain dynamics. Journal of Theoretical Biology, 487, Article: 110109, DOI:10.1016/j.jtbi.2019.110109.
• Meehan M, Rojas D, Adekunle A, Adegboye O, Caldwell J, Turek E, Williams B, Trauer J and McBryde E (2020) Modelling insights into the COVID-19 pandemic. Paediatric Respiratory Reviews, 35, pp. 64-69, DOI:10.1016/j.prrv.2020.06.014.
• Ogunlade S, Adekunle A, Meehan M, Rojas D and McBryde E (2020) Modeling the potential of wAu-Wolbachia strain invasion in mosquitoes to control Aedes-borne arboviral infections. Scientific Reports, 10, Article: 16812, DOI:10.1038/s41598-020-73819-1.
• Price D, Shearer F, Meehan M, McBryde E, Moss R, Golding N, Conway E, Dawson P, Cromer D, Wood J, Abbott S, McVernon J and Mccaw J (2020) Early analysis of the Australian COVID-19 epidemic. eLife, 9, Article: e58785, DOI:10.7554/eLife.58785.
• Adekunle A, Meehan M and McBryde E (2019) Mathematical analysis of a Wolbachia invasive model with imperfect maternal transmission and loss of Wolbachia infection. Infectious Disease Modelling, 4, pp. 265-285, DOI:10.1016/j.idm.2019.10.001.
• Doan T, Fox G, Meehan M, Scott N, Ragonnet R, Viney K, Trauer J and McBryde E (2019) Cost-effectiveness of 3 months of weekly rifapentine and isoniazid compared with other standard treatment regimens for latent tuberculosis infection: a decision analysis study. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, 74 (1), pp. 218-227, DOI:10.1093/jac/dky403.
• Meehan M, Cocks D, Mueller J and McBryde E (2019) Global stability properties of a class of renewal epidemic models. Journal of Mathematical Biology, 78 (6), pp. 1713-1725, DOI:10.1007/s00285-018-01324-1.

More

ResearchOnline@JCU stores 20+ 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:

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

• Using mathematical models to develop tuberculosis control strategies in Bangladesh (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
• To develop a mathematic formula that will compare current and past pathology results to predict wrong blood in tube (WBIT). (Masters , Primary Advisor)
• Control of Seasonal Dengue Viral Infections of Different Serotypes and Different Age Classes (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.