Darren Gray
Professor | Program Director | Population Health
Global Health & Tropical Medicine
+61 7 3362 0247darren.gray@qimrberghofer.edu.au
CAREER HISTORY
Professor Darren Gray, an infectious disease epidemiologist, is Program Director, Population Health Program at the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute. He is the former Acting Director of the National Centre for Epidemiology & Population Health/Research School of Population Health and Head of the Department of Global Health at the Australian National University. He has been on a rapidly increasing research and leadership trajectory becoming Professor, Head of Department and Deputy Head of School within 10 years of completing his PhD; and then Head of School. He has also held 3 consecutive research fellowships (including a Griffith University Postdoc, ARC DECRA and an NHMRC CDF). Prof Gray completed a Bachelor of Science (Microbiology) in 1999; Master of Science (Tropical Infectious Diseases) in 2001; Graduate Certificate in Public Health (Tropical Health) in 2003; and was awarded in 2008 a PhD (Population Health: Tropical Health) from the University of Queensland, Australia. Prof Gray currently 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).
CURRENT APPOINTMENTS
- Program Director, Population Health Program, QIMR Berghofer
- Head, Global Health & Tropical Medicine, QIMR Berghofer
- Honorary Professor, National Centre for Epidemiology & Population Health, Australian National University
- Honorary Professor, School of Population Health, University of Queensland
PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS
- 2016-2023: Head, Department of Global Health, ANU
- 2022-2022: Acting Director, National Centre for Epidemiology & Population Health, ANU
- 2021-2021: Acting Director, Research School of Population Health, ANU
- 2018-2021: Deputy Director, Research School of Population ANU
- 2015-2019: NHMRC Fellow, ANU
- 2014: Senior Fellow & ARC DECRA Fellow, ANU
- 2012-2014: ARC DECRA Fellow, School of Population Health, University of Queensland
- 2009 – 2012: Griffith University Research Fellow, School of Public Health, Griffith University & Queensland Institute of Medical Research
- 2008 – 2009: Postdoc, Queensland Institute of Medical Research
ORCID NUMBER
RESEARCHER ID
CURRENT AREA OF RESEARCH
- Neglected Tropical Diseases
- Diseases of Poverty
- Asia-Pacific Health
- Vector-Borne Diseases
- Infectious Disease & Spatial Epidemiology
- Tropical Parasitology
RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS
- Schistosomiasis japonica is approaching elimination in China (transmission interrupted in 95% of 450 endemic counties; and 67 counties achieving full elimination; benefiting >40 million people living in at risk areas) due to a multi-component integrated approach and key targeting of bovines which we identified as the major reservoir hosts for schistosomiasis japonica – underpinning the rationale for bovine-targeted interventions (including vaccines).
- RCT’s in China/Philippines have shown the Magic Glasses health education intervention unprecedentedly prevents intestinal worm infections and has received international acclaim, paving the way for novel use of media in child health education for infectious diseases. The Magic Glasses Philippines version will be piloted as part of the national control program for intestinal worms in Calabarzon, Philippines – region with >16 million people and >3500 schools.
- Our latrine intervention (BALatrine) prevents intestinal worm infection with ~80% efficacy. Research coupled with advocacy directly led to the Installation of a million latrines (BALatrines) across Indonesia impacting >5 million people. It also provided proof of principal for a major RCT
- Integration of interventions to augment treatment as part of a multi-component approach is now recommended by WHO for the global control/elimination of parasitic worms in their Neglected Tropical Diseases 2030 roadmap.
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
- Member, Australian Society for Parasitology
- Member, American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
- Member, Global Schistosomiasis Alliance
- Member, Coalition for Operational Research on NTDs (COR-NTD)
- Board Member, Regional Network for Asia Schistosomiasis and other Helminthiases (RNAS+)
- Member, Strongyloides Australia Inc.
- Advisor, Philippines Department of Health
- Technical Advisor, Asian Development Bank
- Member, CSIRO Asia Pacific Foresight Group
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
2008: Doctor of Philosophy (Population Health: Tropical Health), University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
2003: Graduate Certificate in Public Health (Tropical Health), University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
2002: Master of Science (Tropical Infectious Diseases), University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
2000: Certificate III Phlebotomy and Pathology Practices Mater Hospitals Laboratory Service, Brisbane, Australia
1999: Bachelor of Science (Microbiology) University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia