Background

Katherine completed a PhD at Burnet Institute and the University of Melbourne in 2019 following undergraduate specialisations in Immunology and Microbiology (2014 BSc (Hons), Monash University).

During her doctoral candidature, Katherine undertook studies investigating the epidemiology of malaria in Southeast Asia to understand the immune drivers of malaria infection and treatment efficacy in high risk populations and clinical patients. Since 2019 she has been a Postdoctoral Researcher at Burnet Institute within the Malaria and Infectious Diseases Epidemiology Group, and a fellow of the NHMRC-funded Centre of Research Excellence (CRE) for Malaria Elimination. Her research continues to investigate antimalarial immunity in low transmission settings, including its role in surveillance of ongoing transmission and risk of disease rebound in regions approaching malaria elimination.

Appointments

• 2019: Postdoctoral Fellow, Australian Centre for Research Excellence in Malaria Elimination

Positions

• 2015: Research Assistant, Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, The University of Melbourne

• 2014: Research Assistant, Malaria and Infectious Disease Epidemiology Group, Burnet Institute

Qualifications

• 2019: Doctor of Philosophy, the University of Melbourne
• 2014: Bachelor of Science (Hons), Monash University

Awards

• 2018: Crofts Public Health Publication Award
• 2017: Pauline Speedy Postgraduate Travel Award

Projects (6)

Current (5)

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  Host and parasite factors that predict Artemisinin Resistance reservoirs

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  Immunity to malaria and infectious diseases during pregnancy

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  Immunity, drug efficacy and spread of antimalarial drug resistance

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  Impact of declining transmission on immunity and risk of malaria rebound

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  Serological surveillance to identify mosquito exposure and malaria transmission

Publications (4)

2020 (1)

• Evaluation of the effectiveness of topical repellent distributed by village health volunteer networks against Plasmodium spp. infection in Myanmar: A stepped-wedge cluster randomised trial.
  Agius PA, Cutts JC, Han Oo W, Thi A, O'Flaherty K, Zayar Aung K, Kyaw Thu H, Poe Aung P, Mon Thein M, Nyi Zaw N, Yan Min Htay W, Paing Soe A, Razook Z, Barry AE, Htike W, Devine A, Simpson JA, Crabb BS, Beeson JG, Pasricha N, Fowkes FJI
  PLoS Med. 2020 Aug; 17(8):e1003177

2019 (1)

• The contribution of functional antimalarial immunity to measures of parasite clearance in therapeutic efficacy studies of artemisinin derivatives.
  O'Flaherty K, Ataíde R, Zaloumis SG, Ashley EA, Powell R, Feng G, Reiling L, Dondorp AM, Day NP, Dhorda M, Fairhurst RM, Lim P, Amaratunga C, Pukrittayakamee S, Hien TT, Htut Y, Mayxay M, Faiz MA, Beeson JG, Nosten F, Simpson JA, White NJ, Fowkes FJI
  J Infect Dis. 2019 Aug; 220(7):1178-1187

2018 (1)

• Effectiveness of repellent delivered through village health volunteers on malaria incidence in villages in South-East Myanmar: a stepped-wedge cluster-randomised controlled trial protocol.
  Win Han Oo, Cutts JC, Agius PA, Kyaw Zayar Aung, Poe Poe Aung, Aung Thi, Nyi Nyi Zaw, Htin Kyaw Thu, Wai Yan Min Htay, Ataide R, O'Flaherty K, Ai Pao Yawn, Aung Paing Soe, Beeson JG, Crabb B, Pasricha N, Fowkes FJI
  BMC Infect Dis. 2018 Dec; 18(1):663

2017 (1)

• Immunity as a predictor of anti-malarial treatment failure: a systematic review.
  O'Flaherty K, Maguire J, Simpson JA, Fowkes FJI
  Malar J. 2017 Apr; 16(1):158

News Articles (2)

2020 (1)

• Insect repellent can advance the malaria elimination agenda

2017 (1)

• Burnet Travel Awards