About Us
Our approach
Based at the University of Sydney with local and international collaborators, at IDIE, our approach to work is rooted in research and innovation to shape evidence-based policies and practices. Through capacity strengthening via education, training, and mentorship, we empower individuals and institutions as catalysts for progress. Our commitment extends to comprehensive country support, translating guidance into impactful program implementation. Advocacy and communication drive our mission to improve design and delivery, support program implementation, and enhance technical global public health knowledge in the Asia-Pacific region. We forge strong partnerships to leverage collective efforts for sustainable change and improved health and well-being.
Meet the team
Meru Sheel (Team Leader)
Dr Meru Sheel is a Professor of Infectious Diseases and Global Health and an applied epidemiologist with an interdisciplinary background making an internationally recognised contribution to the field of global health. She received a Bachelor of Science (Biotechnology) from Manipal University, Kasturba Medical College, a Doctor of Philosophy (Life Sciences) from the Queensland University of Technology and QUMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute and a Master of Philosophy in Applied Epidemiology from the Australian National University.
Yanhong (Jessika) Hu
Yanhong is a Research Fellow working to improve childhood vaccination coverage and equity. She previously served as a Senior Epidemiologist and Team Leader at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI). In 2023, she developed the award-winning AMRinKids website using Pfizer’s global dataset. A Fulbright (2015–2016) and Newton (2017–2019) Scholar, her PhD was focused on a cluster RCT to reduce unnecessary antibiotic use in rural children. Prior to her PhD, she worked as a clinical adviser in Vietnam and China with the Clinton Health Access Initiative. She brings expertise in mixed methods, RCTs, large-scale cohorts, data linkage, and clinical medicine, with a strong commitment to improving early-life and children health outcomes.
Aimee Hassett
Aimee is a research assistant with the IDIE group, with an interest in applied epidemiology, outbreak response, and health promotion. She holds a Bachelor of Health Science and a Master of Public Health from the Australian National University.
Ghenu Khillo
Ghenu Khillo is an Indigenous Scholar. Being from an Indigenous community, he is an expert on Indigenous knowledge, culture and traditions borne by the Indigenous communities in India. He has done extensive field-based work on Indigenous health. Currently, he is a PhD student researching on infectious diseases and risk factors related to agriculture and the environment among the Indigenous communities in India towards developing a preventive method through informative action and communication focusing on their Indigenous knowledge system and culture
S. Chathma Ganguli
S. Chathma Ganguli is a current PhD student at the University of Sydney and a recipient of the Postgraduate Research Scholarship in Immunisation and Surveillance in Southeast Asia. Her research focuses on infectious disease surveillance and diagnostic approaches for measles in Southeast Asia, particularly evaluating the role of rapid diagnostic tests in strengthening early detection and outbreak response in the Lao PDR and the Philippines. Her broader research interests include infectious disease surveillance, immunisation, diagnostic testing, and public health
Adeline Tinessia
Adeline is a PhD Candidate and research officer with interest in studying the intersection of culture, society, and health in the Southeast Asia region. She holds a Bachelor of International Security Studies with Honours (ANU, 2020), and a Master of Global Health (USYD, 2022).
Niramonh Chanlivong
Dr Niramonh Chanlivong is an experienced public health professional based in Lao PDR. She has worked with IDIE on a number of projects including in the evaluation of Lao PDR’s Electronic Immunisation Register.
Praveena Gunaratnam
Dr Praveena Gunaratnam is a public health specialist with 20 years’ experience in Australia, the Asia Pacific region and at the global level. Her great passion is generating and using high-quality data to improve health systems and health outcomes, particularly those with the most need but least access to service.
Venina Naigulevu
Venina Naigulevu is a dedicated researcher with a strong academic foundation in public health and laboratory technology. She holds a Bachelor in Public Health from CMNHS-FNU (2022) and a Diploma in Industrial Laboratory Technology from CEST-FNU (2011). She is a Research Assistant for the Immunization and Disability project, currently running under the Communicable Disease Research Centre, Fiji Institute of the Pacific Health Research (FIPHR) which is the research arm of the College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Science of FNU.
Unise Vakalonoma
Unise Vakaloloma is currently the Project Officer and Research Assistant for the Disability and Immunization project under Fiji Institute of Pacific Health Research at College of Medicine Nursing and Health Science working alongside multiple partners in Health. She’s currently pursuing her Master of Applied Epidemiology at the School of Public Health.
Kiddus Yitbarek
Kiddus is a Research Fellow and is an experienced public health researcher. He focuses extensively on health systems and health tequity in low- and middle-income country. His PhD focuses heavily on strengthening measles control efforts and improving child health outcomes with a particular emphasis on Ethiopia.
Majdi Sabahelzain
Dr Sabahelzain works as a Research Fellow at the School of Public Health. He has a PhD in Public Health from CAPHRI at Maastricht University in the Netherlands. His research focuses on the social and behavioral determinants of vaccine-preventable diseases, vaccination acceptance, and access to immunization services. He worked as a Researcher and Director of the Nutrition and Health Center for Training and Research at Ahfad University for Women in Sudan. He also served as a national consultant on social and behavioral change for UNICEF in Sudan, where he co-led the development of the National Strategy for Risk Communication and Community Engagement. His role in SABII is to co-investigate the Social and Behavioural Drivers of Vaccination in low- and middle-income settings.
idie aFFILIATES
Alastair Donachie
Alastair is an experienced epidemiologist and public health expert with a strong background in managing health emergencies. A graduate of the European Programme for Intervention Epidemiology Training (EPIET), he has gained extensive international experience through his work with the World Health Organization, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and Médecins Sans Frontières, including field missions in Africa.
Gemma Saravanos
Dr Gemma Saravanos is an early career researcher, educator and clinician based at the Susan Wakil School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Sydney. She also holds a post-doctoral research fellow appointment at the University of Sydney Children’s Hospital Westmead Clinical School and contributes to multidisciplinary research at part of the Centre for Paediatric Infectious Diseases Research