The Spatial Epidemiology Lab (SpatialEpi) is a medical geography and disease ecology research group based at the University of Queensland

Who is the SpatialEpiLab?
The SpatialEpiLab is a One Health medical geography research group based at the School of Veterinary Science at the University of Queensland, Australia, headed by Associate Professor Ricardo Soares Magalhães. With a diversity of backgrounds and perspectives, we have broad expertise in health sciences, mathematical modelling, social sciences, ecology and epidemiology.

What research is carried out at the SpatialEpiLab?
Research at the SpatialEpiLab lies at the interface between animal and human public health and aims to inform disease control policy by identifying major determinants of the geographical distributions of infections and their associated morbidities. We work with a range of international partners to blend our multidisciplinary expertise and deliver in-depth investigations for many important pathogens around the world.

Our work is routinely published in high impact peer reviewed journals in the international literature (our most recent publications are shown below, see our full list of publications here). Most of the risk-maps and analytical tools derived from our research are available to other researchers and disease control programme managers.

Browse around to find out more
Please navigate the content on these pages to access more information about the studies that we are currently involved in and some of the outputs we are producing. If you are interested in our work and would like to discuss potential projects, please see our research opportunities and our contact details. We also readily welcome visitors to our lab, especially for our monthly lab chats, so let us know if you’re keen for a visit.

Some of our most recent publications
Title Journal Authors
Double Burden of Underweight and Overweight among Women in South and Southeast Asia: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Advances in Nutrition T Biswas, RJS Magalhaes, N Townsend, et al
Effect of Increased Influenza and Pneumococcal Vaccine Coverage on the Burden of Influenza among Elderly People in Hong Kong Versus Brisbane: Abridged Secondary Publication Hong Kong Med j L Yang, WB Hu, CM Wong, et al
Parasite Associations Predict Infection Risk: Incorporating Co-Infections in Predictive Models for Neglected Tropical Diseases Parasites & Vectors NJ Clark, K Owada, E Ruberanziza, et al
Modelling the Impact of Maup on Environmental Drivers for Schistosoma Japonicum Prevalence Parasites & Vectors ALA Navas, F Osei, RJS Magalhães, et al
Conservation Epidemiology of Predators and Scavengers to Reduce Zoonotic Risk The Lancet Planetary Health CJ O’Bryan, AR Braczkowski, RJS Magalhães, et al
Profiling the Public Health Risk of Canine Rabies Transmission in Kogi State, Nigeria One Health SS Okeme, GS Kia, PP Mshelbwala, et al
Geographical Variation in the Risk of H7n9 Human Infections in China: Implications for Risk-Based Surveillance Scientific Reports X Zhou, L Gao, Y Wang, et al
Unravelling Animal Exposure Profiles of Human q Fever Cases in Queensland, Australia using Natural Language Processing Transboundary and Emerging Diseases NJ Clark, S Tozer, C Wood, et al
Spatial Distribution of Leptospirosis Incidence in the Upper Yangtze and Pearl River Basin, China: Tools to Support Intervention and Elimination Science of the Total Environment PW Dhewantara, W Zhang, A Al Mamun, et al
An Inverse Latitudinal Gradient in Infection Probability and Phylogenetic Diversity for Leucocytozoon Blood Parasites in New World Birds J of Animal Ecology A Fecchio, JA Bell, M Bosholn, et al
Microbial Associations and Spatial Proximity Predict North American Moose (Alces Alces) Gastrointestinal Community Composition J of Animal Ecology NM Fountain‐Jones, NJ Clark, AC Kinsley, et al
Genetic Analysis of Porcine Circovirus Type 2 (Pcv2) in Queensland, Australia Australian Veterinary J NK Mone, NJ Clark, M Kyaw‐Tanner, et al
Rapid Winter Warming Could Disrupt Coastal Marine Fish Community Structure Nature Climate Change NJ Clark, JT Kerry, CI Fraser
Robust Geographical Determinants of Infection Prevalence and a Contrasting Latitudinal Diversity Gradient for Haemosporidian Parasites in Western Palearctic Birds Molecular Ecology NJ Clark, SV Drovetski, G Voelker
Unravelling Animal Exposure Profiles of Human q Fever Cases in Queensland, Australia, using Natural Language Processing Transboundary and Emerging Diseases NJ Clark, S Tozer, C Wood, et al
Variation of Preventive Practices and Its Association with Malaria Infection in Eastern Indonesia: Findings from Community-Based Survey Plos One M Ipa, M Widawati, AD Laksono, et al
Effects of El Niño Southern Oscillation and Dipole Mode Index on Chikungunya Infection in Indonesia Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease H Harapan, A Michie, A Yufika, et al
Spatial Epidemiological Approaches to Monitor and Measure the Risk of Human Leptospirosis P Dhewantara
Faktor-Faktor Yang Mempengaruhi Praktik Keamanan Dalam Penggunaan Insektisida Rumah Tangga Di Kecamatan Pangandaran Aspirator-J of Vector-Borne Disease Studies NH Kusumastuti, PW Dhewantara, N Pramestuti
Identification of Filarial Parasites in Animals in Human Lymphatic Filariasis Endemic Areas in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia N Rahayu, Y Suryatinah, M Ipa, et al
Detection Dna Brugia Malayi Post Transmission Assessment Survey in North Hulu, Sungai District, South Kalimantan Province, Indonesia N Rahayu, Y Suryatinah, MR Ridha, et al
Towards Sustainable Tb Control in Ethiopia–profiling High-Risk Geographical Areas using Spatial Modelling Y Gelaw
Global Variation in the Prevalence of Bullying Victimisation Amongst Adolescents: Role of Peer and Parental Supports Eclinicalmedicine T Biswas, JG Scott, K Munir, et al
Prevalence and Correlates of the Composite Index of Anthropometric Failure among Children under 5 Years Old in Bangladesh Maternal & Child Nutrition MS Islam, T Biswas
Global Variation in the Prevalence of Suicidal Ideation, Anxiety and their Correlates among Adolescents: a Population Based Study of 82 Countries Anxiety and their Correlates among Adolescents: a Population Based Study of T Biswas, JG Scott, K Munir, et al
Patterns and Determinants of the Double Burden of Malnutrition at the Household Level in South and Southeast Asia European J of Clinical Nutrition T Biswas, N Townsend, RJS Magalhaes, et al
Double Burden of Malnutrition among Women of Reproductive Age in Low-and Middle-Income Countries: Progress Achieved and Opportunities for Meeting the Global Target Current Developments in Nutrition MM Hasan, S Ahmed, RJS Magalhaes, et al
Qualitative Risk Assessment of Transmission Pathways of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (Hpai) Virus at Live Poultry Markets in Dhaka City, Bangladesh Zoonoses and Public Health SKS Islam, H Akwar, MM Hossain, et al
Bat and Lyssavirus Exposure among Humans in Area that Celebrates Bat Festival, Nigeria, 2010 and 2013 Emerging Infectious Diseases NM Vora, MOV Osinubi, MA Lora Davis, et al
Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Rabies in El Jadida Region, Morocco Veterinary Sciences K Bouaddi, A Bitar, M Bouslikhane, et al