Our Population Health Program and its team is dedicated to understanding the factors influencing the health and wellbeing outcomes of all Australians and our regional neighbours.

Drawing on the expertise of our clinical scientists, epidemiologists, health economists, and specialist researchers, we examine the causes of disease, their transmission, and identify patterns and changes in the health of the population. This knowledge is used to develop measures to control and prevent diseases, increase early detection and improve treatments to ensure the best possible health outcomes.

The research we do is diverse. It ranges from examining the role of vitamin D supplementation in health outcomes to reducing the incidence of mosquito-borne illnesses and other tropical diseases; and from identifying environmental and genetic risk factors for disease to improving the wellbeing of those caring for cancer patients and evaluating the social and economic consequences of disease.

Our studies are helping develop treatment guidelines to ensure all patients receive the best possible care, prevent hospital admissions, improve well-being and reduce mortality.

The Population Health program is guided by the ultimate goal of preventing ill-health in communities and improving patient care, quality of life, and survival rates, so that all Australians and our regional neighbours have the opportunity to enjoy good health.

Professor Darren Gray, Program Director

Professor Darren Gray is Program Director of Population Health at QIMR Berghofer. He is an infectious disease epidemiologist specialising in tropical diseases and heads up the Global Health & Tropical Medicine group within the Population Health Program.

Professor Gray leads a research program that investigates the transmission and control of tropical infectious diseases and diseases of poverty, including some of the most prevalent and important infections that cause much suffering and economic loss worldwide. He aims to develop new public health interventions against these diseases that will lead to their sustainable control and eventual elimination. Prof Gray has worked in tropical health since 2004 particularly Southeast Asia (China, Philippines, Indonesia, Myanmar, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Lao PDR, PNG, Bhutan, Fiji and Timor-Leste).