
MBBS (1st Class Honours) University of Sydney 1988
Master of Applied Epidemiology, Australian National University 1992
PhD (Epidemiology) Australian National University 1998
Fellow, Royal Australasian College of Physicians (FRACP) 1994
Fellow, Australian Faculty of Public Health Medicine (FAFPHM) 1995
Professor Raina MacIntyre (MBBS Hons 1, FRACP, FAFPHM, M App Epid, PhD) is NHMRC Principal Research Fellow and Professor of Global Biosecurity. She heads the Biosecurity Program at the Kirby Institute, which conducts research in epidemiology, vaccinology, bioterrorism prevention, mathematical modelling, genetic epidemiology, public health and clinical trials in infectious diseases. Her research falls under 4 areas: Personal protective equipment, Vaccinology, Epidemic response and emerging infectious diseases, and Bioterrorism prevention. She is a dual-specialist physician with training in epidemiology and modelling. Her research is underpinned by her clinical training, vaccine program experience and extensive field outbreak investigation and surveillance experience. She is currently on the WHO Technical Advisory Group on COVID-19 Vaccine Composition (TAG-CO-VAC), WHO SAGE ad-hoc Working Group on Smallpox and Monkeypox, and is the focal point for WHO GOARN in the ARM Network and UNSW GOARN member groups. She has developed an automated rapid epidemic intelligence platform, EPIWATCH, which uses AI to scan open source data for early epidemic signals. She leads a MRFF Frontiers Stage 1 grant in 2021 to further develop EPIWATCH into a global hub of epidemic detection, prevention and mitigation, with a suite of real-time decision support and risk analysis tools. The EPIWATCH team includes data analysts, epidemiologists, machine learning experts and software engineers. A philanthropic gift from Vitalik Buterin’s Balvi Filantropic Fund in 2022 has allowed her to expand on EPIWATCH globally in low and middle income countries, making EPIWATCH accessible and equitable. This is called the Shiba Inu EPIWATCH OSINT project.
Raina has a 28-year track record in pandemics, epidemic infections, serious emerging infections, vaccines and control of respiratory viruses. She has worked as a clinician in hospitals, in health departments on outbreak control, and her PhD research was on screening, surveillance and contact tracing for TB and involved detailed tracking of the risk of infection in high risk contacts. She worked for 15 years at the National Centre for Immunisation Research, and has conducted many vaccine clinical trials and has expertise in vaccinology and vaccine programs, especially vaccination of adults, at-risk and immunosuppressed populations.
She is a graduate of the Australian Field Epidemiology Training program, the MAE at ANU, and has extensive experience in shoe-leather epidemiology of infectious diseases outbreaks. Her in-depth understanding of the science of outbreak investigation draws from this experience combined with her academic training through a Masters and PhD in Epidemiology. She is best known for research in the detailed understanding of the transmission dynamics and prevention of infectious diseases, particularly respiratory pathogens such as influenza, tuberculosis, bioterrorism agents and vaccine-preventable infections. She has led the largest body of research internationally on face masks and respirators in health care workers. Her research has been influential in informing guidelines for health workers on PPE. She has extensive expertise in vaccination programs, with a particular interest in adult vaccination with a focus on the elderly and vaccines for bioterrorism. Specific vaccination interests include influenza, pneumococcal disease, HPV, smallpox, herpes zoster and SARS-CoV2. She has done a body of work on vaccine effectiveness of influenza vaccine against myocardial infarction. She led a NHMRC Centre for Research Excellence in immunisation for high risk populations, and is head of UNSW-VIRL, a vaccine research centre focused on adult and high-risk group vaccination. Her face mask research has focused on health care workers and hospitals. Her lab conducts research on aerosol dynamics and movement of respiratory droplets, in collaboration with aerospace and fluid mechanics engineers at UNSW. She has also done research on using risk-analysis methods for analysing the origins of emerging infectious diseases outbreaks such as MERS-CoV and is a leader in new approaches to biosecurity through cross-disciplinary response. She is involved in several research studies on COVID-19. She leads Biosecurity in Global Security PLuS and is interested in emerging threats to health security. She also designed and co-convened a course, Bioterrorism and Health Intelligence, taken by students at UNSW and ASU. She has led a smallpox pandemic simulation (Exercise Mataika, 2018 and Pacific Eclipse, 2019) in Australia and the US, which underpinned by modelling research and covers issues such as surveillance, diagnosis, health system capacity, mass quarantine, maritime transport and infected cruise ships, travel bans and the foundations of epidemic control. An online version of this, Unknown Biothreat Simulation, can be done as a self-paced exercise.
She leads a NHMRC Centre for Research Excellence, BREATHE, on mitigation of airborne threats to health. She led a Centre for Research Excellence in Epidemic Response, ISER from 2016-2020. She has over 420 publications in peer-reviewed journals. Her passion for field epidemiology led her to co-found the ARM network for Australian outbreak response. She is currently on the Global Accreditation Board for TEPHINET, the network of global field epidemiology programs.
She also has an interest in the ethics of medicine, and specifically in dual-use research of concern, and has been on the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) committee for developing Guidelines For Responsible Conduct in Veterinary Research Identifying, Assessing and Managing Dual Use Research. She has research collaborations across the PLuS Alliance, with researchers from Arizona State University and Kings College London, and has an adjunct appointments at The College of Public Affairs and Community Solutions and the College of Health Solutions at ASU. She started a new cross-disciplinary journal, published by UNSW, Global Biosecurity, launched in February 2019. See Google scholar profile
Interested in Raina's story? Read "First Responder" and Lunch with Raina MacIntyre
Ask the doctor - hygiene measures to prevent infection transmission
Research Highlights:
o She won many career awards including the Sir Henry Wellcome Medal and Prize, from the Association of Military Surgeons of the United States in 2007 for her work on a risk-priority scoring system for category A bioterrorism agents; and the highest national award in infectious diseases, the Frank Fenner Award for Research in Infectious Diseases in 2003. She was a finalist in the 2021, 2020 and 2017 Eureka Prizes. In 2021 she received The Women’s Agenda Leadership Award - Frontline Hero and UNSW Medicine Value in Action Award for Impact. She won the CAPHIA Research Team Prize in 2017, The Public Health Association of Australia National Immunisation Achievement Award in 2014, and also the Peter Baume Public Health Impact Prize in 2014. In 2012 she won the UNSW Medicine Dean's award for outstanding achievement, the highest award in the faculty of Medicine. She has previously held a NHMRC PhD scholarship and a NHMRC Career Development Award, and been a Harkness Fellow. She spent her Harkness fellowship studying the transmission of tuberculosis in prisons in the US, at Johns Hopkins University.
o She has published the largest body of clinical trials of face masks in prevention of respiratory infections for health workers internationally, which has been a major new contribution to knowledge for pandemic planning.
o She is an expert in outbreak detection and mitigation, including that arising from bioterrorism and biological warfare, with a deep understanding of epidemic control at the population level. She is a leading global expert on smallpox.
o She initiated and led the creation, funding and training of the Network of Infectious Diseases Modellers of Australia through a NHMRC CBG in Population Health. This is a national network spanning three states and five Universities, which has had a prolific research output. She is interested in applying risk analysis methods to public health.
o She leads a large program of vaccination clinical research, including studies in frail elderly vaccinology and in immunosuppressed populations such as bone marrow transplant recipients.
o Led a NHMRC Centre for Research Excellence from 2012-2016, titled "Immunisation in under studied and special risk populations". www.creimmunisation.com.au
Memberships & Professional Activities
United States National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine Committee on public health interventions and countermeasures for advancing pandemic and seasonal influenza preparedness and response. Member, 2021.
Editorial Boards
Epidemiology and Infection
BMJ Open
Vaccine Council of 100
Global Biosecurity
2022 - Balvi Filantropic Fund (Vitalik Buterin) gift of $5.39 million for EPIWATCH.
2021-2026 NHMRC Centres for Research Excellence Grant BREATHE - mitigation of airborne threats to health. R MacIntyre, D Heslop, C Doolan, C De Silva, G Marks, H Skouteris
2021-2022 MRFF Frontiers Stage 1 grant - EPIWATCH rapid epidemic intelligence. R MacIntyre, D Heslop, C Paris, S Lim, H Paik, L Yao.
2020-2021 MRFF Research Grants A randomised controlled trial of mask use in control of respiratory outcomes during bushfire season MacIntyre, Shah, Chugtai, Seale
2019-2020 RIS Grant "Volumetric LED-based Flow Diagnostic System" C De Silva, C Doolan, T Barber, D Moreau, M Greeb, M Keevers, CR MacIntyre.
2019-2020 anthrax modelling (Commonwealth of Australia government grant by competitive tender) CR MacIntyre, D Heslop, C Doolan
2018-2023 NHMRC Principal Research Fellowship grant number 1137582
2018-2019 IAMI trial, multicentre RCT. MacIntyre CR (Australian PI) on a trial led by O Frobert in Sweden
2018-2019 Influenza modelling studies. MacIntyre CR (industry grants, Seqirus and Sanofi)
2018 Modelling of smallpox. MacIntyre CR (government grant)
2016 NHMRC Centre for Research Excellence. R MacIntyre, M Kirk, A Clements, P Komesaroff, D Heslop, Q Wang, S Sakar, P Debarro, W Rawlinson, M Baker. Intergrated Systems for Epidemic Response.
2015 NHMRC Project grant. R MacIntyre, L Gardner, A Heywood. “Real time models to inform prevention and control of emerging infectious diseases
2015 NHMRC Project grant. A Newall, R MacIntyre, R Menzies, J Wood, P Beutels. Economic evaluation of alternative pneumococcal vaccination strategies
2012 NHMRC Project Grant #1048180. B Liu, A Newall, R MacIntyre, P McIntyre. Providing the evidence to guide adult immunisation strategies: a novel approach using a large prospective cohort study and record linkage.
2011 NHMRC Centre for Research Excellence in Population Health
Investigators: CR MacIntyre, PB McIntyre, R Booy, N Woods, C Jones, J kaldor, P Beutels, R Menzies, D Dwyer.
Subject: Immunisation in under studied and special risk populations: closing the gap in knowledge through a multidisciplinary approach
2011 ARC DP120100189
Investigators: CR MacIntyre, N Zwar, H Worth, A Heywood, H Seale, M Sheikh, M Smith.
Title: "Travellers visiting friends and relatives: new approaches to understanding and reducing infectious disease risks"
2009 NHMRC Urgent H1N1 influenza 2009 grant # 630787
Investigators Prof CR MacIntyre; Prof DE Dwyer; Dr H Seale
Subject Efficacy of face masks against H1N1 swine influenza
2009-2012 ARC Linkage Grant # LP0990749
Investigators Prof CR MacIntyre; Prof DE Dwyer; A/Prof PT Nga; Prof NM Ferguson; A/Prof M McLaws; Prof L Maher; Dr H Seale; Dr JG Wood; Dr AT Newall
Subject Economic, social and cross cultural issues in non pharmaceutical protection of front line responders to pandemic influenza and emerging infections.
2007-2008 ARC Discovery Grant #DP0773987
Investigators CR MacIntyre; AJ Plant; RE Watkins
Subject Who acquires infection from whom across international borders? New approaches for control of emerging infections through understanding travel patterns
2006-2009 ARC Linkage Grant #LP0668279
Subject Economic and Social Benefits of treating and preventing influenza in Aged Care Facilities
Investigators R Booy; CR MacIntyre; D Dwyer; RI Lindley
2006 NHMRC Strategic Research Grant for Potential Avian Influenza-Induced Pandemic — Urgent Research #373646
Subject Pandemic influenza: developing a model to enhance preparedness in the business sector
Investigators Plant, Aileen; MacIntyre, Raina; Merianos, Angela; Donovan, Robert; Watkins Rochelle.
2006 NHMRC Strategic Research Grant for Potential Avian Influenza-Induced Pandemic —Urgent Research #410224
Subject Assessment of interventions for controlling pandemic influenza and determining data needs to inform these assessments
Chief investigators Becker, Niels G; Glass, Kathryn; Mathews, John; Dwyer, Dominic; Nolan, Terrence; MacIntyre, Raina; Barendregt, Jan; Barnes, Belinda; Caley, Peter; McCaw, James; McVernon, Jodie; Philp, David; Wood, James
2005-2009 NHMRC Capacity Building Grant in Population Health #358425
Subject Mathematical modeling of infectious diseases
Investigators MacIntyre CR, Becker N, Law M, Plant AJ, Nolan T, Brown GV
2005-2008 NHMRC Project grant #352337
Subject Clinical trial of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in hospitalized geriatric patients.
Investigators MacIntyre CR, Lindley R, McIntyre PB, Sullivan J, Gilbert GL.
2005-2008 NHMRC Centre for Clinical Research Excellence #264625
Subject Interdisciplinary clinical and health ethics research and training to improve outcomes in immunosuppressed haematology patients
Investigators Sorrell T, Bradstock K, Kerridge I, Gilbert GL, Gottlieb D, MacIntyre CR, Dwyer D, Ankeny R.
Location Westmead Hospital and NSW Bone Marror Transplant Network
2006-2007 Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care, Office of Health Protection grant
Subject A Cluster Randomised, Controlled clinical trial of surgical masks and particulate respirators in households for Control of Respiratory Virus Transmission.
Investigators MacIntyre CR, Booy R, Plant AJ, Dwyer D, Wang H, Burgess M, Browne, G, Seale H, Iskander M.
2021 The Women’s Agenda Leadership Award - Frontline Hero 2020, 2021. Finalist, Australian Eureka Prizes 2017 Finalist, Australian Eureka Prizes 2017 CAPHIA Research Team Prize 2016 Elected a Fellow of The NSW Royal Society |
|||
2014 Public Health Association of Australia, National Immunisation Achievement Award. |
|||
2014 Peter Baume Public Health Impact Prize |
|||
2014 Certificate of Recognition Award to The NHMRC Centre for Research Excellence in immunization from the NSW Refugee Health Service during 2014 Refugee Week, for Highly valued contribution to the promotion of health and wellbeing of refugees and humanitarian entrants. |
|
||
|
2007 Sir Henry Wellcome Medal and Prize from the Association of Military Surgeons of the United States of America. Unsolicited award for the following work: MacIntyre CR, Secull A, Lane M, Plant AJ. Development of a risk priority scores for category A bioterrorism agents as an aid for public health policy. Military Medicine. 171(7):589-94, 2006 Jul.
2004 Robert & Elizabeth Albert Study Grant, Royal Australasian College of Physicians.
2003 Frank Fenner Award (Australian Society for Infectious Diseases) for Advanced Research in Infectious Diseases
2001 Royal Australasian College of Physicians, Best poster prize, Division of Adult Medicine
1997 ASID/ICI (Australian Society for Infectious Diseases) travelling scholarship
1995 AEA (Australian Epidemiologic Association) travelling scholarship for outstanding new researchers
1992 Australian Faculty of Public Health Medicine (Victoria) – best advanced trainee presentation.
1984 A C Stephen Prize for English prose
1985 David Sugerman Prize for Pathology
1985 Allan Douglas Gillies Memorial Prize for Pathology
1985 Parkinson Memorial Prize for Pathology
1988 1st class honours in medicine
1982 Dux (top ranked student in HSC) of Sydney Girl’s High School
1979 & 1980 City of Sydney Eisteddfod medal for debating
1978 & 1979 UNICEF Art awards.
The Biosecurity Program is focused on global risk analysis, detection, prevention, mitigation, response and control of emerging infectious diseases and bioterrorism. We conduct research on emerging infectious diseases, rapid epidemic surveillance, field response, bioterrorism, bio-intelligence, and health security in a changing biotechnology landscape. We research the rapid detection and prevention of these threats. Our research includes prevention by both pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical means such as personal protective equipment and vaccines. The program engages widely with stakeholders from all disciplines involved in large scale epidemic response, such as health, field epidemiology, emergency management, defence, law enforcement, legal and ethics experts. We are working on several research studies of COVID-19 including transmission, modelling and epidemiology. We are continuing our work on face masks and respirators in prevention of infection, and also in prevention of bushfire smoke related health effects.
The re-emergence of smallpox is a credible threat due to advances in synthetic biology and availability of public methods for synthesis of orthopoxviruses, We are doing modelling research on the control of smallpox through various public health interventions.
Portrait of Raina MacIntyre by artist Karen Black, finalist in 2021 Archibald Prize
National Geographic - origins of SARS CoV 2
2020 - the year that changed us
Fox News - cloths masks should be washed
Nature News - COVID-19 vaccines
BMJ Blogs - cloth face masks should be washed daily
New York Times - are bubble face shields the way of the future?
What is the threat of coronavirus - The Guardian
Has the coronavirus spread to Australia - Radio National
Should i get a face mask (Forbes)
National Public Radio US - face masks
Universal face mask use (Time magazine)
How worried should I be about masks during COVID 19?
Should patients with suspected coronavirus present to their GP?
Stopping the pandemic of coronavirus - opinion piece, SMH
New research on smallpox - Homeland Security
Smallpox attack could be catastrophic - Homeland Preparedness News
Panel discussion at The JP Getty Museum, Los Angeles - Is civilisation on the verge of collapse? Public event in Los Angeles, USA.
Are we ready for pandemics (ABC) interview
New journal, Global Biosecurity, launched by UNSW
Simulated smallpox epidemic reveals global challenges
Podcast "Data, disruption and unnatural pandemics". AGSM Activation Event Oct 11 2016
https://soundcloud.com/unswbusiness/agsm-activate-data-disruption
Interview on ABC TV on bird flu
The falling vaccine rates we don't hear about
Social media for disease outbreaks - fad or way of the future?
Thinking about getting the flu vaccine? here's what you need to know.
Taking the Ouch out of vaccines - the future of needle-free vaccination
Want to boost vaccination? Don't punish the parents
How are nurses becoming infected with Ebola?
Flu jab may halve heart attack risk
Vaccination isn't just for kids - a guide to vaccination for the over 65's
Banning unvaccinated kids from childcare may have unofreseen consequences
My Research Supervision
PhD, ILP, Masters
My Teaching
Course convenor and designer: Bioterrorism and Health Intelligence
Guest lecturer and course designer: Infectious Diseases Intelligence