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 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. Please note that due to the current COVID-19 pandemic we cannot accept applications from international students who are not already residing within Australia.

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

Socio-Economic Objectives

Honours

Memberships

2021 - present - Associate Editor, Malaria Journal
2021 - present - Malaria Terminology Group, World Health Organization
2020 - present - Guidelines Development Group for vector control for malaria, World Health Organization
2020 - present - Malaria Elimination Advisory Group, Ministry of Health Vanuatu
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 - Lead author for Manual for Surveillance and Control of Aedes Vectors in the Pacific, The Pacific Community and World Health Organization
2020 - Contribution to the Manual on Practical Entomolgy, World Health Organization

Publications

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

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).
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.
Swan T, Russell T, Burkot T, Liu J, Ritchie S and Staunton K (2021) The effect of sound lure frequency and habitat type on male Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) capture rates with the male Aedes sound trap. Journal of Medical Entomology, 58 (2). pp. 708-716
van de Straat B, Russell T, Staunton K, Sinka M and Burkot T (2021) A global assessment of surveillance methods for dominant malaria vectors. Scientific Reports, 11.
Farlow R, Russell T and Burkot T (2020) Nextgen vector surveillance tools: sensitive, specific, cost-effective and epidemiologically relevant. Malaria Journal, 19 (432).

More: ResearchOnline@JCU stores 70+ research outputs authored by Dr Tanya Russell from 2008 onwards.

Current Funding

Current and recent Research Funding to JCU is shown by funding source and project.

Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research - Livestock Systems

Establishing a network for surveillance of zoonotic malaria in Indonesia (ZOOMAL)

Indicative Funding: $517,020 over 3 years (administered by Menzies School of Health Research)
Summary: Aim: The overall aim of this project is to strengthen surveillance of zoonotic malaria in Indonesia, including evaluating the disease burden and associated agricultural land use changes associated with transmission, in order to inform public health control efforts. Objectives: 1. To strengthen national public health system surveillance detection and reporting methods; 2. To determine the distribution and burden of disease due to P. knowlesi and other macaque related Plasmodium species in Indonesia; 3. To evaluate agricultural, environmental, mosquito, macaque and human factors associated with zoonotic malaria transmission and land use change.
Investigators: Tom Burkot and Tanya Russell in collaboration with Matthew Grigg, Rintis Novivanti, Inke Lubis, Farah Coutrier, Nicholas Anstey and Bridget Barber (Australian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine, Menzies School of Health Research, Eijkman Institute and University of Sumatera Utara)
Keywords: Plasmodium knowlesi; Anopheles; Indonesia

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) - Pacific Infectious Disease Prevention (PIDP) Program

Building Capacity for Evidence Based Sustainable Vector Surveillance and Control in the Pacific

Indicative Funding: $4,974,884 over 3 years
Summary: This proposal will build the capacity of country-led programs for Aedes and anopheline borne disease control across Pacific Island countries to implement sustainable best practice surveillance and response plans based on a foundation of improved capacity and community engagement
Investigators: Tom Burkot, Tanya Russell, Stephan Karl, Kyran Staunton, Tessa Knox, Rabindra Abeyasinghe, Angela Merianos, Gregor Devine, Michael Nunan, Gerard Kelly, Lisa Natoli, Veronica Bell, Moses LAMAN, Adam Craig, Nigel Beebe and Leanne Robinson (Australian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine, College of Public Health, Medical & Vet Sciences, World Health Organisation (Switzerland), QIMR Berghofer, Beyond Essential Systems, Red Cross Australia, Institute of Medical Research (PNG), The University of New South Wales, The University of Queensland and Burnet Insitute)
Keywords: Dengue; Aedes; Capacity Building; Ministry of Health; Pacific region; Anopheles

Tropical Australian Academic Health Centre Limited - Research Seed Grants

Protecting north Queensland from Aedes albopictus, an exotic dengue vector, with Attractive Targeted Sugar Baits (ATSB)

Indicative Funding: $50,000 over 2 years
Summary: Aedes albopictus, a documented vector of dengue, Zika and chikungunya, is one of the fastest spreading invasive species worldwide, and was first detected in the Torres Strait in 2005. This pilot project will lay the foundation required to assess the feasibility of Attractive Targeted Sugar Baits (ATSB) to control Aedes albopictus. The overall objective is to determine the frequency that mosquitos? sugar feed, a parameter critical to the success of ATSBs. This pilot data will be leveraged for funding to trial the use of ATSBs to stop Ae. albopictus from reaching the mainland.
Investigators: Tanya Russell, Tom Burkot, Kyran Staunton, Scott Ritchie and Thomas Swan in collaboration with Mutizwa Muzari (Australian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine, College of Public Health and Medical & Vet Sciences)
Keywords: Aedes Albopictus; Attractive Toxic Sugar Bait; Torres Strait; Dengue

Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research - Research Grant

Establishing a network for surveillance of zoonotic malaria in Indonesia (ZOOMAL)

Indicative Funding: $517,020 over 3 years (administered by Menzies School of Health Research)
Summary: Aim: The overall aim of this project is to strengthen surveillance of zoonotic malaria in Indonesia, including evaluating the disease burden and associated agricultural land use changes associated with transmission, in order to inform public health control efforts. Objectives: 1. To strengthen national public health system surveillance detection and reporting methods; 2. To determine the distribution and burden of disease due to P. knowlesi and other macaque related Plasmodium species in Indonesia; 3. To evaluate agricultural, environmental, mosquito, macaque and human factors associated with zoonotic malaria transmission and land use change.
Investigators: Tom Burkot and Tanya Russell (Australian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine)
Keywords: Plasmodium knowlesi; Anopheles; Indonesia

Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation - Research Grant

Stopping the Asian Tiger Mosquito from reaching mainland Australia with sugar baits

Indicative Funding: $5,000 over 1 year
Summary: Aedes albopictus, a documented vector of dengue, Zika and chikungunya, is one of the fastest spreading invasive species worldwide, and was first detected in the Torres Strait in 2005. This pilot project will lay the foundation required to assess the feasibility of Attractive Targeted Sugar Baits (ATSB) to control Aedes albopictus. The overall objective is to determine the frequency that mosquitos? sugar feed, a parameter critical to the success of ATSBs. This pilot data will be leveraged for funding to trial the use of ATSBs to stop Ae. albopictus from reaching the mainland.
Investigators: Tanya Russell, Tom Burkot, Kyran Staunton and Thomas Swan (Australian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine)
Keywords: Aedes Albopictus; Attractive Toxic Sugar Bait; Torres Strait; Dengue

Supervision

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)

Data

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

Collaboration

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.