About Us
The Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology-Public Health (CIDM-PH) is a multidisciplinary translational research group with a clear vision to minimise the health and socioeconomic impacts of infectious diseases through more effective prevention strategies. In partnership with Health Protection NSW, we embed cutting edge research, education and training to inform public health practice, by building strong partnerships with public health, academic, pathology and clinical collaborators. Our goals are to improve the prevention and control of communicable diseases by:
- generating high-quality innovative research evidence and integrating high resolution laboratory surveillance data into early warning systems that are relevant to NSW Health’s prevention priorities
- informing and supporting the translation of research evidence into public health prevention policies, programs and services in NSW
- building prevention research capacity and capability for NSW Heath staff to create, understand and use relevant knowledge and evidence in their work.
- For more information you can contact CIDM.
To minimise the health and socioeconomic impacts of infectious diseases through more effective, genomics-driven, prevention strategies.
Objective 1:
Generate high-quality research evidence that is relevant to NSW Health prevention priorities and inform the implementation of prevention policies, programs and services in NSW
Objective 2:
Support the translation of research evidence into prevention policies, programs and services in NSW
Objective 3:
Build prevention research capability of NSW Health staff and the NSW Health systems to create, understand and use knowledge and evidence in their work.
- Development, evaluation and implementation of innovative, high resolution methods for pathogen detection, characterisation and surveillance.
- Integrating enhanced laboratory surveillance data into early warning systems and laboratory networks to advance public health research;
- Training clinicians, laboratory scientists and public health professionals in translational research related to communicable disease prevention and control;
- Translating evidence-based and cost effective strategies of early recognition and disease prevention into practice.
To embed cutting edge research and education within public health practice, building engagement with academic, public health, NSW Health Pathology and clinical collaborators, in partnership with the Health Protection NSW.
Our team
Dr Jen Kok, Director
Dr Rebecca Rockett, Deputy Director
Prof Vitali Sintchenko, Former Director
Ms Lou Orszulak, Project Manager
Dr Shopna Bag, Western Sydney Local Health District
Professor Sharon Chen, NSW Health Pathology
Dr Jen Kok, NSW Health Pathology
Professor David Lewis, Western Sydney Local Health District
Professor Mark Douglas, Western Sydney Local Health District, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, University of Sydney
A/Prof Tanya Golubchik, University of Sydney
Professor Jon Iredell, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Western Sydney Local Health District, University of Sydney
A/Prof Tanya Golubchik, University of Sydney
A/Prof Matthew O’Sullivan, Western Sydney Local Health District
A/Prof Rebecca Rockett, University of Sydney
Professor Vitali Sintchenko, NSW Health Pathology, University of Sydney
Professor Tania Sorrell, University of Sydney
A/Prof Kathy Tannous, Western Sydney University
A/Prof Matthew Watts, NSW Health Pathology
A/Prof Cameron Webb, NSW Health Pathology, University of Sydney
CIDM-PH Staff & Students supported through NSW Health R6 Prevention Research Support Program in 2025:
Project Manager:
Ms Lou Orszulak
Postdoctoral Fellows:
Dr Kingsley Tam
Dr Nadia Toutoujni
Health Economics Research Fellow:
Dr Rong Liu
Research Assistant:
Ms Sarah Smith
Students:
Ms Joelle Hajal (PhD)
Postdoctoral Fellows:
Dr Winkie Fong
Dr Connie Lam
Dr Eby Sim
Dr Carl Suster
Dr Kingsley Tam
Dr Xiaomei Zhang
Scientific Officers:
Mr William Asquith
Dr Fanrong Kong
Technical Officers:
Mr Benedict Hugh
Ms Sarah Smith
Students:
Ms Nargess Ghassempour (PhD)
Our Scientific Advisory Committee
The CIDM-PH Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC), includes experts in infectious diseases and public health and nominated representatives which provide advice to the Director and management committee on research direction and strategies.
Professor David Smith, Director, Infectious Diseases & Microbiology, PathWest WA, University of WA; member since 2004
Dr Jeremy McAnulty, Director, Health Protection NSW; member since 2004
Professor Tania Sorrell, University of Sydney; member since 2004
Professor Lyn Gilbert, Sydney Institute for Infectious Diseases & Sydney Health Ethics (Director of CIDM-PH from 2004 to 2013, member since 2014)
Professor Vitali Sintchenko, CIDM-PH, NSW HP-ICPMR, University of Sydney (Director of CIDM-PH from 2014 to 2023, member since 2024)
Ms Kathy Dempsey, NSW Chief ICP & HAI Advisor, NSW CEC, member since 2022
Professor Peter Collignon, Infectious Diseases & Microbiology, The Canberra Hospital, ACT; member since 2007
Dr Cliff Meldrum, Former Director of Genomics, NSW Health Pathology; member since 2017
Our Research Activities
Current research projects:
- Rapid sequencing capabilities in the Monkeypox outbreak
- Applying metagenomics and metatranscriptomics for high-resolution detection and typing of priority pathogens (tuberculosis, and legionellosis)
- Genomic assessment of targets for culture-independent diagnostic testing
- Added value of genomics in assessing evolution of invasive pneumococcal disease
- Added value of high-resolution surveillance and infection control to reducing burden of sexually transmitted infections
- Added value of genomics in assessing evolution of vaccine-preventable diseases
- Minimising impact of health-associated infections and antimicrobial resistance
- Advanced therapeutics and phage therapy
- Investigating targeted NGS amplicon panels for M. tuberculosis culture independent sequencing
- Mitigating significant viral threats and antiviral drug resistance
- Detection and prevention of life-threatening fungal infections
- Building genomics capacity for advanced surveillance of fungal pathogens
- Genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 for improved control of COVID-19 infections
- Development and evaluation of viral culture and serology methods for infectiousness of emerging viral threats
- Recalibration of infection control measures for COVID-19 management
- Comprehensive sequencing of mosquito-borne pathogens (COSMOS)
- Cross-disciplinary surveillance and risk assessment of flavivirus diagnostics for NSW
News and events
CIDM-PH hosts a number of topical workshops, symposia and seminars every year which attract overseas, interstate and local registrants. You can find our previous events flyers and publications in the CIDM-PH archive.
CIDM-PH produces a number of publications every year including The Broad Street Pump and Annual Reports.
Contact us
| General enquiries | Phone: +612 8890 9870 |
| Location | Westmead Hospital Level 3, Institute of Clinical Pathology & Medical Research (ICPMR) Centre for Infectious Diseases & Microbiology (CIDM) cnr Hawkesbury and Darcy Roads Westmead NSW 2145 Sydney Australia |
| Postal Address | CIDM-PH, Westmead Hospital WSLHD PO Box 533 Wentworthville NSW 2145 |