A/Prof Paul Horwood is an Associate Professor, Virology and Viral Diseases, in the College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, Townsville campus.

Paul’s research is focused on emerging tropical diseases in the Asia-Pacific region, including research into understanding the molecular epidemiology of tropical diseases and improving laboratory diagnostics. As a virologist with strong skills in molecular biology, bacteriology and public health, he has led multidisciplinary teams in challenging developing country settings in Papua New Guinea and Cambodia.

Paul conducts ‘One-Health’ research on the transmission of zoonotic diseases in high-risk interfaces where humans, domestic animals and wildlife interact. He also conducts research to better understand the wildlife and environmental reservoirs of important outbreak-prone diseases.

Paul previously worked for 3 years (2013-2016) at the Institut Pasteur in Cambodia as the Deputy-Head of Virology Unit. In this role, Paul was also the Director of the WHO H5 Reference Laboratory and National Influenza Centre. Paul continues research activities in Cambodia and Laos with projects focused on the emergence and persistence of avian influenza viruses in live bird markets and investigating the emergence of zoonotic pathogens from high-risk settings such as wildlife animal markets and areas undergoing rapid land-use change.

Paul worked at the Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research for 4 years (from 2010-2013) as a Principal Research Fellow. He established a successful research group, the Environmental and Emerging Diseases Unit, to investigate the epidemiology of outbreak-prone diseases. Paul’s research group investigated and described maiden outbreaks of chikungunya and cholera in Papua New Guinea. While in Papua New Guinea, Paul was Head of the WHO National Influenza Centre and also coordinated national surveillance for rotavirus.

Paul embraces cross-disciplinary research, using laboratory, clinical and social research tools to improve our understanding of important diseases in low-income settings. He has ongoing research activities in numerous tropical developing countries including Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Cambodia and Laos.

Current grants

Co-investigator: Wildlife Health Australia, National Avian Influenza Wild Bird Surveillance:  Monitoring of avian influenza in samples collected from aquatic birds in North Queensland (2020): $13,200 AUD

Co-investigator: Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Global Grand Challenges: Determining the ‘Environmental Typhoid Mary’, and Conditions that Favour Persistence (2019-2021) - $100,000 USD

Co-investigator: Woolworths Centre for Childhood Nutrition Research: Large-scale identification of maternal biomarkers indicative of infant risk for disease susceptibility (2019-2023) - $900,000 AUD

Co-investigator: Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR): A one-health approach to establish surveillance strategies for Japanese encephalitis and zoonotic arboviruses in Papua New Guinea (2019-2021) - $150,000 AUD

Co-investigator: Global Challenges Research Fund, UK Research and Innovation: CANARIES: Consortium of Animal market Networks to Assess Risks of emerging Infectious diseases through Enhanced Surveillance (2019-2020) - £25,000

Co-investigator: COCKPI-T Grant, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company: SPECiFIC - Study of Pathobionts of Enterobacteriaceae in a Cohort Focusing on IBD-patients and Controls (2018-2020) - $98,851 AUD

Associate investigator: Australian Government, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Stronger Systems for Health Security: Stronger Surveillance and Systems Support for Rapid Identification and Containment of Resurgent or Resistant Vector Borne Pathogens in Papua New Guinea (2019-2021) - $3,000,000 AUD

Principal investigator: HOT NORTH pilot project grant, Menzies School of Health Research: Genomics for Undiagnosed Infectious Disease Evaluation and Diagnosis in Northern Australia (2017-2019) - $36,500 AUD

Co-investigator: FNQ Hospitals Foundation: Influence of maternal pathogen infections in the composition of the infant gut microbiome and immune health (2018-2019) - $5,000 AUD

Co-investigator: Vedanta Biosciences: The Gut Microbiota of Children in Papua New Guinea and Susceptibility to Gastrointestinal Infections (2017-2019) - $137,000 AUD

Research group

PhD student: God'spower Okoh

PhD student: Andrew Adamu

PhD student: Casey Toft

PhD student: Juciliane Haidamak

PhD student: Estefania Erazo Mera

MPhil student: Holly Dever

PhD student: Elisheba Malau (Federation University)

PhD student: Donald Tahani (Federation University)

Former students:

Annika Suttie (PhD), Huy Sreang Heng (PharmD), Sopheak Thet (PharmD), Jill-Lea Ramassamy (MPH), Deirdre Collins (MID), Marinjho Jonduo (Hons), Grace Bande (Hons), Monalisa Kas (Hons), Valentine Siba (Hons)

Teaching

• MI3071: Molecular Analysis of Tropical Microbes (Level 3; TSV)
• MI5071: Molecular Analysis of Tropical Microbes (Level 5; TSV)
• TM5600: Introduction to One Health (Level 5; TSV)
• TV2002: Integrated Animal Structure and Function 2 (Level 2; TSV)
• TV3001: Transitions from Health to Disease 1 (Level 3; TSV)

Interests

Professional

• Associate Editor, BMC Infectious Diseases (2019-current)
• Associate Editor, Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease (2020-current)
• International Network Steering Committee, CANARIES (The Consortium of Animal market Networks to Assess Risk of emerging Infectious diseases through Enhanced Surveillance) (2019-current) https://www.canarieshmhp.org/
• Member, National Avian Influenza Wild Bird Surveillance Program Steering Group, Wildlife Health Australia (2020-current)

Research

• The molecular epidemiology of emerging infectious diseases
• Zoonotic disease emergence
• The influence of the human gut microbiota on infectious disease outcomes
• Improving diagnostic methods for low income settings

Experience

• 2021 to present - Associate Professor, College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences (Townsville, Australia)
• 2017 to present - Adjunct Senior Research Fellow, Federation University (Churchill, Australia)
• 2019 to 2021 - Senior Lecturer, College of Public Health, Medical & Vet Sciences, James Cook University (Townsville, Australia)
• 2017 to 2019 - Senior Research Fellow, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University (Cairns, Australia)
• 2013 to 2016 - Director, Cambodian WHO H5 Reference Laboratory and National Influenza Centre (Phnom Penh, Cambodia)
• 2013 to 2016 - Deputy-Head of Virology Unit, Institut Pasteur in Cambodia (Phnom Penh, Cambodia)
• 2010 to 2013 - Director, Papua New Guinean WHO National Influenza Centre (Goroka, Papua New Guinea)
• 2010 to 2013 - Principal Research Fellow, Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research (Goroka, Papua New Guinea)
• 2003 to 2010 - Biotechnologist, Queensland Primary Industries & Fisheries (Brisbane, Australia)

Research Disciplines

• Clinical sciences (3202)
• Veterinary sciences (3009)

Awards

• 2019 - Research Excellence Award Winner, Veterinary Science, James Cook University
• 2018 - Australian Research Field Leader in Health & Medical Sciences - Epidemiology, The Australian
• 2012 - Bursary Award, Wellcome Trust
• 2010 - Travel Scholarship, Pfizer/Wyeth

Fellowships

• 1999 to 2002 - Australian Postgraduate Awards

Memberships

• 2020 - Higher Degree by Research (HDRES) Committee, James Cook University
• 2019 - Research and Postgraduate Committee, Veterinary Discipline, James Cook University
• 2019 - Veterinary Science Curriculum Review and Assessment Committee, James Cook University
• 2018 - Centre for Tropical Bioinformatics and Molecular Biology, James Cook University
• 2017 - Australian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine
• 2017 - Research Committee, College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University
• 2015 - WHO Consultancy, Informal Consultancy on Surveillance for Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) using the Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS) Platform, Geneva, Switzerland
• 2015 to 2016 - Advisory Board for Cambodian Veterinary Epidemiology Training (CAVET)
• 2014 to 2016 - Cambodian National Advisory Committee for IHR/APSED
• 2013 to 2016 - Cambodian Zoonotic Technical Working Group
• 2012 to 2013 - Institutional Ethics Review Board (IRB), Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research
• 2012 to 2013 - Safety and Security Committee, Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research
• 2012 to 2013 - Papua New Guinea Emerging Infectious Diseases and Health Emergencies Workplan Committee
• 2011 to 2013 - Papua New Guinea National Advisory Committee for APSED

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

• Okoh G, Horwood P, Whitmore D and Ariel E (2021) Herpesviruses in reptiles. Frontiers Veterinary Science, 8, Article: 642897, DOI:10.3389/fvets.2021.642894.
• Abdad M, Soli K, Pham B, Bande G, Maure T, Jonduo M, Kisa D, Rai G, Phuanukoonnon S, Siba P, Horwood P and Greenhill A (2020) Diarrhoeal disease surveillance in Papua New Guinea: findings and challenges. Western Pacific Surveillance and Response, 11 (1), DOI:10.5365/wpsar.2018.9.2.006.
• Horwood P, Fabrizio T, Horm S, Metlin A, Ros S, Tok S, Trushar J, Seiler P, Y P, Rith S, Suttie A, Buchy P, Karlsson E, Webby R and Dussart P (2020) Transmission experiments support clade-level differences in the transmission and pathogenicity of Cambodian influenza A/H5N1 viruses. Emerging Microbes & Infections, 9 (1), pp. 1702-1711, DOI:10.1080/22221751.2020.1792353.
• Jonduo M, Wawae L, Masiria G, Suda W, Hattori M, Takayasu L, Abdad M, Greenhill A, Horwood P, Pomat W and Umezaki M (2020) Gut microbiota composition in obese and non-obese adult relatives from the highlands of Papua New Guinea. FEMS Microbiology Letters, 367 (19), Article: fnaa161, DOI:10.1093/femsle/fnaa161.
• Masuoka H, Suda W, Tomitsuka E, Shindo C, Takayasu L, Horwood P, Greenhill A, Hattori M, Umezaki M and Hirayama K (2020) The influences of low protein diet on the intestinal microbiota of mice. Scientific Reports, 10, Article: 17077, DOI:10.1038/s41598-020-74122-9.
• Moncla L, Bedford T, Dussart P, Horm S, Rith S, Buchy P, Karlsson E, Li L, Liu Y, Zhu H, Guan Y, Friedrich T and Horwood P (2020) Quantifying within-host diversity of H5N1 influenza viruses in humans and poultry in Cambodia. PLoS Pathogens, 16 (1), Article: e1008191, DOI:10.1371/journal.ppat.1008191.
• Officer K, Pruvot M, Horwood P, Denk D, Warren K, Hul V, Thy N, Broadis N, Dussart P and Jackson B (2020) Epidemiology and pathological progression of erythematous lip lesions in captive sun bears (Helarctos malayanus). PLoS ONE, 15 (12), Article: e0243180, DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0243180.
• Phiavong C, Pruvot M, Reinharz D, Mayxay M, Khammavong K, Milavong P, Rattanavong S, Horwood P, Dussart P, Douangngeun B, Theppangna W, Fine A, Robinson M and Newton P (2020) Perception of health risks in Lao market vendors. Zoonoses and Public Health, 67 (7), pp. 796-804, DOI:10.1111/zph.12759.
• Caly L, Horwood P, Vijaykrishna D, Lynch S, Greenhill A, Pomat W, Rai G, Kisa D, Bande G, Druce J and Abdad M (2019) Divergent Barmah Forest Virus from Papua New Guinea. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 25 (12), pp. 2266-2269, DOI:10.3201/eid2512.191070.
• Greenhill A, Mutreja A, Bulach D, Belousoff M, Jonduo M, Collins D, Kas M, Wapling J, Seemann T, Lafana A, Dougan G, Brown M and Horwood P (2019) Wave 2 strains of atypical Vibrio cholerae El Tor caused the 2009-2011 cholera outbreak in Papua New Guinea. Microbial Genomics, 5, DOI:10.1099/mgen.0.000256.
• Horwood P, Tarantola A, Goarant C, Matsui M, Klement E, Umezaki M, Navarro S and Greenhill A (2019) Health challenges of the Pacific Region: insights from history, geography, social determinants, genetics, and the microbiome. Frontiers in Immunology, 10, Article: 2184, DOI:10.3389/fimmu.2019.02184.
• Buchy P, Sar B, Ieng V, Deng Y, Hurt A, Chea K, Komadina N, Parry A, Dussart P, Barr I, Ly S, Tsuyouka R, Y P, Horwood P, Horm S, Heng S, Chin S, Darapheak C, Saunders D, Chanthap L, Rith S and Karlsson E (2019) Circulation and characterization of seasonal influenza viruses in Cambodia, 2012‐2015. Influenza and other Respiratory Viruse, 13 (5), pp. 465-476, DOI:10.1111/irv.12647.

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ResearchOnline@JCU stores 95+ research outputs authored by A/Prof Paul Horwood from 2004 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

• Identification and influence of intestinal parasites in the gut microbiome of mothers and infants from Papua New Guinea. (PhD , Secondary Advisor/AM)
• Development of a Universal Rapid Diagnostic Test for Influenza A, B and SARS-COV-2 (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
• A serological survey of canine herpesvirus and associated risk factors in the dog population of North Queensland. (Masters , Secondary Advisor)
• Investigating Herpesvirus Infection in Australian wildlife (PhD , Primary Advisor)
• Saving a cryptic tropical species: combining spatial and reproductive sciences to determine the future of the endangered pygmy hippopotamus (Choeropsis liberiensis) (PhD , Primary 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.