As part of Safer Care Victoria's Translational Research PhD Fellowship Pilot Program, Maxwell Braddick is exploring how surveillance systems can better detect and monitor mosquito-borne viruses in Victoria.
An infectious diseases physician and public health medicine trainee, Max is undertaking a PhD at the University of Melbourne focused on a One Health approach to surveillance of mosquito-borne viruses, including Murray Valley encephalitis virus and Japanese encephalitis virus.
His research brings together mosquito and serological surveillance data to build a clearer picture of where these viruses circulate and how existing information can be used to strengthen future surveillance systems.
The project stems from Max's experience working across the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity and the Victorian Department of Health during significant emerging infectious disease events, including outbreaks of Japanese encephalitis and mpox.
"Working alongside public health practitioners during disease outbreaks showed me how research can help answer questions that matter in real time. Through this project, I'm exploring how surveillance data can improve our understanding of mosquito-borne viruses and support earlier detection of disease activity."
Dr Max Braddick
Mosquito-borne viruses can cause serious illness, but transmission is often already occurring before human or animal cases are identified. Understanding how surveillance systems can detect signals of disease activity earlier is critical to informing timely public health responses.
Max's research aims to maximise the value of data already collected through Victoria's surveillance programs and identify opportunities to improve future approaches to disease monitoring.
The findings will help strengthen the evidence base for public health decision-making and may provide insights that can be applied to the surveillance of other emerging infectious diseases.
The Translational Research PhD Fellowship Pilot Program supports researchers to work closely with Safer Care Victoria and the Victorian Department of Health. Translational research bridges the gap between research and real-world practice, helping ensure new evidence informs healthcare policy, service delivery and population health initiatives. Through the program, researchers help address priority challenges facing Victoria's health system and improve health outcomes for Victorians.