Top infectious diseases expert joins AITHM

One of Australia’s leading infectious disease experts has joined James Cook University’s Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine (AITHM) to lead research into tuberculosis and hospital-acquired infections.

Professor Emma McBryde joins AITHM from Melbourne where she was the Head of Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases at the Royal Melbourne Hospital and Head of Modeling and Biostatistics at the Burnett Institute. She also held an NHMRC research fellowship at the University of Melbourne.

Tuberculosis and other infectious diseases have extremely high prevalence in our region, including in Papua New Guinea. Northern Queensland and the Torres Strait have a pressing need to respond to these biosecurity threats.

Professor McBryde is also an infectious diseases physician, receiving the University Medal for her medical degree at the University of Queensland in 1994 and her FRACP qualification in 2003. She is still active treating patients and is keen to work with hospitals throughout Northern Queensland.

Professor Louis Schofield, Director of AITHM said “Emma is a fantastic appointment to our new Institute. She is arguably Australia’s leading TB epidemiologist and is ideally suited to be working on one of the key biosecurity challenges facing Northern Australia.”

Professor Ian Wronski, Deputy Vice Chancellor of the Division of Tropical Health and Medicine, also commented on Professor McBryde’s appointment. “Her research and clinical experience combined with her leadership will be an asset to Northern Queensland,” he said.

Professor McBryde grew up in Queensland and has been keen to return Northern Queensland.

“I am excited to start working with people passionate about improving the lives of the people of Far North Queensland and the Asia-Pacific region. There are many challenges ahead but there is also great commitment and support from everyone at AITHM, JCU, and government at all levels,” she said.

Professor McBryde said her goal was to build AITHM into a hugely collaborative, world class, quantitative and qualitative research centre.

Contact: Professor Emma McBryde
P: (07) 4781 6547
E: emma.mcbryde@jcu.edu.au

JCU Media Office, 21 July 2015