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 (9)

2022 (4)

• The role of naturally acquired antimalarial antibodies in subclinical Plasmodium spp. infection.
  O'Flaherty K, Roe M, Fowkes FJI
  J Leukoc Biol. 2022 May; 111(5):1097-1105
• Anti-Gametocyte Antigen Humoral Immunity and Gametocytemia During Treatment of Uncomplicated Falciparum Malaria: A Multi-National Study.
  O'Flaherty K, Chan JA, Cutts JC, Zaloumis SG, Ashley EA, Phyo AP, Drew DR, Dondorp AM, Day NP, Dhorda M, Fairhurst RM, Lim P, Amaratunga C, Pukrittayakamee S, Hien TT, Htut Y, Mayxay M, Faiz MA, Mokuolu OA, Onyamboko MA, Fanello C, Takashima E, Tsuboi T, Theisen M, Nosten F, Beeson JG, Simpson JA, White NJ, Fowkes FJI.
  Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2022 Apr; 12:804470
• Quantification of the dynamics of antibody response to malaria to inform sero-surveillance in pregnant women.
  Dharmaratne ADVTT, Dini S, O'Flaherty K, Price DJ, Beeson J, McGready R, Nosten F, Fowkes FJI, Simpson JA, Zaloumis SG
  Malar J. 2022 Mar; 21(1):75
• Can malaria parasites be spontaneously cleared?
  Roe MS, O'Flaherty K, Fowkes FJI
  Trends Parasitol. 2022 Mar; 38(5):356-364

2021 (1)

• Community-based molecular and serological surveillance of subclinical malaria in Myanmar.
  O'Flaherty K, Oo WH, Zaloumis SG, Cutts JC, Aung KZ, Thein MM, Drew DR, Razook Z, Barry AE, Parischa N, Zaw NN, Thu HK, Thi A, Htay WYM, Soe AP, Simpson JA, Beeson JG, Agius PA, Fowkes FJI
  BMC Med. 2021 May; 19(1):121

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, Oo WH, Thi A, O'Flaherty K, Aung KZ, Thu HK, Aung PP, Thein MM, Zaw NN, Htay WYM, Soe AP, 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 (3)

2022 (1)

• IWD 2022: Malaria and the journey from control to elimination

2020 (1)

• Insect repellent can advance the malaria elimination agenda

2017 (1)

• Burnet Travel Awards