The Surveillance Innovation Group focuses on developing and testing innovative methods to improve public health surveillance for infectious diseases, particularly blood-borne viruses (BBVs), HIV and sexually transmissible infections (STIs). Methods include mathematical modelling, data linkage, and better use of routine data, diagnostic and resistance tests. Specific projects include application of modelling of CD4+ cell count decline to determine the likely timing and place of acquisition of HIV, enhanced surveillance for HIV drug resistance in Australia, determining progress towards elimination of BBVs and STIs in Australia, including congenital syphilis and HIV, and genital warts, and expanded surveillance for HTLV-1 infection. Data linkage projects for surveillance include a national study to enhance the HIV cascade of care, as well as data linkage to evaluate the impact of community-wide administration of azithromycin on STIs in remote communities.
Key collaborators include the Australian Government Department of Health, state and territory health departments, peak and state community organisations across Australia, the World Health Organization, and UNAIDS.
