Research profile

Dr Tanya Russell is an Australian medical entomologist and ecologist co-leading the Mosquito-Borne Diseases Group at James Cook University. The aim of her research is to stop the transmission of mosquito-borne diseases globally, but with a particular focus on the Asia-Pacific. She has pioneered numerous large-scale field experiments across the Pacific, Asia and Africa demonstrating how the ecology of the mosquito vectors plays a significant role in disease transmission. Dr Russell’s research experience is extensive and ranges from field trials, experimental huts, semi-field systems and laboratory bioassays. She maintains an extensive network of national and international research collaborators, and engages at international conferences. Her research leadership has been recognised with an invitation to become a member of the World Health Organization Guidelines Development Group for vector control for malaria as well as the Malaria Elimination Advisory Group by the Ministry of Health Vanuatu. Dr Russell has 60+ publications, reviews for various international journals, acts as an Associate Editor for Malaria Journal and Current Research in Parasitology & Vector-Borne Diseases and supervises higher degree research students.

Find out more about our research group here: https://www.aithm.jcu.edu.au/research/research-projects-and-groups/mosquito-borne-diseases-group/

Find out more about the PacMOSSI consortium here: https://pacmossi.org/

Postgraduate opportunities

Potential Honours, MSc and PhD candidates from the Pacific or SE Asia are welcomed to join us. For possible scholarships and other funding opportunities (internal and external), see JCU’s scholarships database. Students interested in undertaking a PhD or Masters project should contact Tanya to discuss potential projects. Funding can be applied for through the Research Training Program (RTP), the James Cook University Postgraduate Research Scholarships, or an equivalent national or international scheme. Information and application forms can be obtained from the Graduate Research School. Closing Dates: 30th September of each year.

Teaching

• TM5518: Medical Entomology (Level 5; CNS)

Interests

Research

• The underlying broad-scale ecological process influencing malaria and dengue transmission
• Support evidence-based control of malaria and dengue vectors
• To improve vector surveillance systems in malaria endemic countries

Experience

• 2011 to present - Principal Research Fellow, James Cook University (Cairns and Solomon Islands)
• 2010 to 2011 - Senior Research Fellow, University of Queensland (Vanuatu and Solomon Islands)
• 2009 - Research Fellow, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (Ifakara Health Institute, Tanzania)
• 2007 to 2008 - Research Fellow, University of Durham (Ifakara Health Institute, Tanzania)
• 2003 to 2006 - PhD Research Student, Queensland Institute of Medical Research (Brisbane)

Research Disciplines

• Epidemiology (4202)
• Public health (4206)
• Health services and systems (4203)

Socio-Economic Objectives

• Public health (2004)

Memberships

• 2021 - present - Malaria Terminology Group, World Health Organization
• 2021 - present - Associate Editor, Malaria Journal
• 2020 - present - Malaria Elimination Advisory Group, Ministry of Health Vanuatu
• 2020 - present - Guidelines Development Group for vector control for malaria, World Health Organization
• 2020 - present - Associate Editor, Current Research in Parasitology & Vector-Borne Diseases
• 2019 - present - Indo-Pacific Initiative Advisory Group, Innovative Vector Control Consortium
• 2006 - present - Mosquito Control Association of Australia
• 2016 to 2020 - Associate Editor, Parasites & Vectors

Other

• 2020 - Contribution to the Manual on Practical Entomolgy, World Health Organization
• 2020 - Lead author for Manual for Surveillance and Control of Aedes Vectors in the Pacific, The Pacific Community and World Health Organization

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

• Furlong M, Adamu A, Hickson R, Horwood P, Golchin M, Hoskins A and Russell T (2022) Estimating the Distribution of Japanese Encephalitis Vectors in Australia Using Ecological Niche Modelling. Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease, 7 (12).
• Kerr G, Robinson L, Russell T and Macdonald J (2022) Lessons for improved COVID-19 surveillance from the scale-up of malaria testing strategies. Malaria Journal, 21.
• Matthews R, Kaluthotage I, Russell T, Knox T, Horwood P and Craig A (2022) Arboviral disease outbreaks in the Pacific Islands countries and areas, 2014 to 2020: a systematic literature and document review. Pathogens, 11 (1).
• Russell T, Horwood P, Harrington H, Apairamo A, Kama N, Bobogare A, Maclaren D and Burkot T (2022) Seroprevalence of dengue, Zika, chikungunya and Ross River viruses across the Solomon Islands. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 16 (2).
• Swan T, Russell T, Staunton K, Field M, Ritchie S and Burkot T (2022) A literature review of dispersal pathways of Aedes albopictus across different spatial scales: implications for vector surveillance. Parasites & Vectors, 15 (1).
• Van de Straat B, Sebayang B, Grigg M, Staunton K, Garjito T, Vythilingham I, Russell T and Burkot T (2022) Zoonotic malaria transmission and land use change in Southeast Asia: what is known about the vectors. Malaria Journal, 21.
• Ambrose L, Ortiz-Barrientos D, Cooper R, Lobo N, Burkot T, Russell T and Beebe N (2021) Gene flow between island populations of the malaria mosquito, Anopheles hinesorum, may have contributed to the spread of divergent host preference phenotypes. Evolutionary Applications, 14 (9). pp. 2244-2257
• Reyes-Villanueva F, Russell T and Rodríguez-Pérez M (2021) Estimating contact rates between Metarhizium anisopliae–exposed males with female Aedes aegypti. Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology, 11.
• Rodriguez-Perez M, Russell T, Olguin-Rodriguez O, Laredo-Tiscareño S, Garza-Hernández J and Reyes-Villanueva F (2021) Dengue serotypes circulating in Aedes aegypti and humans in a poor or peripheral neighborhood at Reynosa, Mexico. Southwestern Entomologist, 45 (4). pp. 1025-1038
• Russell T, Grignard L, Apairamo A, Kama N, Bobogare A, Drakeley C and Burkot T (2021) Getting to zero: micro-foci of malaria in the Solomon Islands requires stratified control. Malaria Journal, 20.
• Sebayang B, Russell T, Staunton K, Townsend M, Paton C, Lehmann T and Burkot T (2021) Australian mosquito assemblages vary between ground and sub-canopy habitats. Parasites & Vectors, 14.
• Swan T, Ritmejeryte E, Sebayang B, Jones R, Devine G, Graham M, Zich F, Staunton K, Russell T and Burkot T (2021) Sugar prevalence in Aedes albopictus differs by habitat, sex and time of day on Masig Island, Torres Strait, Australia. Parasites & Vectors, 14.

More

ResearchOnline@JCU stores 73+ research outputs authored by Dr Tanya Russell from 2008 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

• Strengthening community empowerment approaches to Aedes species mosquito management in a high-income country setting: comparative case studies within Queensland, Australia. (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
• Evaluating Zoonotic Malaria Transmission in North Sumatra, Indonesia (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
• Defining the risk to Humans of Emerging Zoonotic Malaria in Indonesia (PhD , Secondary Advisor)

Completed

• Ecology and population genomics of Aedes Albopictus in the Torres Strait, Australia (2022, PhD , Secondary Advisor)
• When worlds collide: where and when anophelines and humans interact (2020, 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.

• Swan, T. (2020) Dataset for: The effect of sound lure frequency and habitat type on male Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) capture rates with the Male Aedes Sound Trap. James Cook University
• Russell, T. (2019) Dataset for: A global analysis of national malaria control programme vector surveillance by elimination and control status in 2018. James Cook University
• Russell, T. (2019) Dataset for: Defining the larval habitat: abiotic, biological and chemical parameters associated with Anopheles farauti productivity . James Cook University
• McLaughlin, K. (2019) Dataset describing the longitudinal density and wing length of anophelines in Solomon Islands. James Cook University
• Russell, T. (2018) Dataset of entomological indicators for all Anopheles species caught in Western Province, Solomon Islands . James Cook University
• Russell, T. (2016) Dataset describing the biting profile, seasonality and feeding cycle of Anopheles farauti in Haleta village, Solomon Islands. James Cook University
• Russell, T. (2016) Dataset examining host feeding parameters of Anopheles farauti in Haleta village, Solomon Islands. James Cook University
• Russell, T. (2016) Dataset for mark-release-recapture experiments detailing the place and time of feeding by Anopheles farauti in Haleta village, Solomon Islands. James Cook University
• Russell, T. (2016) Data archive: Larval habitats of the Anopheles farauti and Anopheles lungae complexes in the Solomon Islands. James Cook University
• Russell, T. (2012) Changes in vector species composition and current vector biology and behaviour will favour malaria elimination in Santa Isabel Province, Solomon Islands. 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.