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Prof Fiona Russell

Prof Fiona Russell

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Role Group Leader / Snr Princ Research Fellow
Professor Fiona Russell (BMBS, Grad Dip(Clin Epi), Dip Paeds, MPHTM, FRACP, PhD) is a paediatrician, epidemiologist and vaccine researcher. She is Director of the Child and Adolescent Health PhD Program, Department of Paediatrics, the University of Melbourne, and is a member of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Child and Neonatal Health Research and Training; and Group Leader for Asia-Pacific Health research, MCRI. She is Chair of the Australasian Society of Infectious Diseases Vaccination Special Interest Group.

Her research provides evidence for policy decisions regarding immunisation and child health in low- and middle-income countries.. It focuses on novel vaccine impact evaluations including the first study on vaccine effectiveness against hypoxic pneumonia using the test-negative design, understanding herd immunity, prevention of mother to infant transmission of infections, and vaccine preventable disease surveillance. Her research has changed global, regional and country policy; is cited in the WHO pneumococcal conjugate vaccine Position Statements (2012, 2019); has led to a paradigm shift in the number and timing of vaccine doses used; and has led to new vaccine introduction in the region. The results from her work have been presented to WHO and Gavi.

She leads the NHMRC Centre for Research Excellence in Pneumococcal Disease Control in the Asia-Pacific region with many partners from the Asia-Pacific region. She has been a regular advisor to WHO Immunization and Vaccine Research technical advisory groups (2011, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2018) on global PCV policy and research directions. She has undertaken more than 30 international consultancies (UNICEF, WHO) to advise governments, donors (DFAT, Asia Development Bank) immunisation and child health policy (Asia, Pacific and Africa). She advises DFAT and WHO on COVID-19 vaccine use in the Asia-Pacific region.

Top 5 publications:

1. Chan J, et al, Russell FM. Substantial indirect protection against invasive pneumococcal disease and pneumonia hospitalizations in Australian children at low levels of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine coverage: an observational study. PLOS Medicine. 2021;18(8):e1003733.

2. Hume-Nixon M, et al, Russell FM. A systematic review and meta-analysis of the effect of administration of azithromycin during pregnancy on perinatal and neonatal outcomes. Lancet eClinicalMedicine. 2021;40:101123.

3. Chan J, et al, Russell FM. Direct and indirect effects of 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine on pneumococcal carriage in children hospitalized with pneumonia from formal and informal settlements in Mongolia: an observational study. The Lancet Regional Health – Western Pacific. 2021; 15:100231.

4. Weaver R, et al, Russell FM. The effectiveness of the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine against hypoxic pneumonia in children in Lao People's Democratic Republic: An observational hospital-based test-negative study. The Lancet Regional Health - Western Pacific. 2020; 2:100014.

5. Reyburn R, et al, Russell FM. Effect of ten-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine introduction on pneumonia hospital admissions in Fiji: a time-series analysis. Lancet Global Health. 2020; 9(1):e91-e98.
Professor Fiona Russell (BMBS, Grad Dip(Clin Epi), Dip Paeds, MPHTM, FRACP, PhD) is a paediatrician, epidemiologist and vaccine researcher. She is Director of the Child and Adolescent Health PhD Program, Department of Paediatrics, the University of...
Professor Fiona Russell (BMBS, Grad Dip(Clin Epi), Dip Paeds, MPHTM, FRACP, PhD) is a paediatrician, epidemiologist and vaccine researcher. She is Director of the Child and Adolescent Health PhD Program, Department of Paediatrics, the University of Melbourne, and is a member of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Child and Neonatal Health Research and Training; and Group Leader for Asia-Pacific Health research, MCRI. She is Chair of the Australasian Society of Infectious Diseases Vaccination Special Interest Group.

Her research provides evidence for policy decisions regarding immunisation and child health in low- and middle-income countries.. It focuses on novel vaccine impact evaluations including the first study on vaccine effectiveness against hypoxic pneumonia using the test-negative design, understanding herd immunity, prevention of mother to infant transmission of infections, and vaccine preventable disease surveillance. Her research has changed global, regional and country policy; is cited in the WHO pneumococcal conjugate vaccine Position Statements (2012, 2019); has led to a paradigm shift in the number and timing of vaccine doses used; and has led to new vaccine introduction in the region. The results from her work have been presented to WHO and Gavi.

She leads the NHMRC Centre for Research Excellence in Pneumococcal Disease Control in the Asia-Pacific region with many partners from the Asia-Pacific region. She has been a regular advisor to WHO Immunization and Vaccine Research technical advisory groups (2011, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2018) on global PCV policy and research directions. She has undertaken more than 30 international consultancies (UNICEF, WHO) to advise governments, donors (DFAT, Asia Development Bank) immunisation and child health policy (Asia, Pacific and Africa). She advises DFAT and WHO on COVID-19 vaccine use in the Asia-Pacific region.

Top 5 publications:

1. Chan J, et al, Russell FM. Substantial indirect protection against invasive pneumococcal disease and pneumonia hospitalizations in Australian children at low levels of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine coverage: an observational study. PLOS Medicine. 2021;18(8):e1003733.

2. Hume-Nixon M, et al, Russell FM. A systematic review and meta-analysis of the effect of administration of azithromycin during pregnancy on perinatal and neonatal outcomes. Lancet eClinicalMedicine. 2021;40:101123.

3. Chan J, et al, Russell FM. Direct and indirect effects of 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine on pneumococcal carriage in children hospitalized with pneumonia from formal and informal settlements in Mongolia: an observational study. The Lancet Regional Health – Western Pacific. 2021; 15:100231.

4. Weaver R, et al, Russell FM. The effectiveness of the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine against hypoxic pneumonia in children in Lao People's Democratic Republic: An observational hospital-based test-negative study. The Lancet Regional Health - Western Pacific. 2020; 2:100014.

5. Reyburn R, et al, Russell FM. Effect of ten-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine introduction on pneumonia hospital admissions in Fiji: a time-series analysis. Lancet Global Health. 2020; 9(1):e91-e98.

Top Publications

  • Russell, FM, Chokephaibulkit, K. Will two doses of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine be enough?. The Lancet Infectious Diseases 2024
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  • Manna, S, Werren, JP, Ortika, BD, Bellich, B, Pell, CL, Nikolaou, E, Gjuroski, I, Lo, S, Hinds, J, Tundev, O, et al. Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 33G: genetic, serological, and structural analysis of a new capsule type. Microbiology Spectrum 12(1) : e03579 -e03523 2024
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  • Hoe, E, Boelsen, LK, Toh, ZQ, Sun, GW, Koo, GC, Balloch, A, Marimla, R, Dunne, EM, Tikoduadua, L, Russell, FM, et al. Reduced IL-17A Secretion Is Associated with High Levels of Pneumococcal Nasopharyngeal Carriage in Fijian Children. PLOS ONE 10(6) : e0129199 2024
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  • Thi, HN, Khanh, DKT, Le Thi Thu, H, Thomas, EG, Lee, KJ, Russell, FM. Foot Length, Chest Circumference, and Mid Upper Arm Circumference Are Good Predictors of Low Birth Weight and Prematurity in Ethnic Minority Newborns in Vietnam: A Hospital-Based Observational Study. PLOS ONE 10(11) : e0142420 2024
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  • Dunne, EM, Choummanivong, M, Neal, EFG, Stanhope, K, Nguyen, CD, Xeuatvongsa, A, Satzke, C, Sychareun, V, Russell, FM. Factors associated with pneumococcal carriage and density in infants and young children in Laos PDR. PLOS ONE 14(10) : e0224392 2024
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