Professor Ashantha Goonetilleke is an award-winning researcher, educator and trainer working at the nexus of water resources, climate change and sustainability. Ashantha focuses on producing research outcomes of relevance to industry and the community, and translation of these outcomes for practical application. He works extensively with industries to mainstream sustainability practices and adaptation to climate change. He was the director for infrastructure research at the Queensland Institute pf Technology for five years and served for 10 years as an advisor on sustainability to the Brisbane Airport Corporation, Australia. His areas of expertise include protecting and restoring water quality and the application of nature-based solutions; risk-based stormwater/wastewater recycling; water conservation and efficiency and adaptation to climate change; and resilience of water infrastructure, water security and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH). He has co-authored six books and over 200 journal papers in his areas of expertise.

Research interests: water treatment; circular economy; sustainability and climate change adaptation in the water environment

Collaboration ideas: Converting agricultural waste to engineered biochar for removing specific pollutants in water (circular economy concept).

Website: www.qut.edu.au/about/our-people/academic-profiles/a.goonetilleke
ORCID ID: 0000 0002 8783 1223

As an associate professor at the Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre (UFCSPA) in Brazil, since 2006, Professor Ana Beatriz Gorini Da Veiga teaches the following subjects to undergraduate and postgraduate students: molecular biology; molecular virology; global health; innovation and intellectual property; and how to give seminars in English. During these 15 years at UFCSPA, Ana Beatriz has taken several roles in teaching and research activities, as well as in academic policies and management. For example: supervision of master and doctorate students; member in committees – University Superior Council; Research Ethics Committee Board; Coordination of Graduate Programs; Internationalization Committee; Curricula planning and design and Undergraduate Course Structure elaboration; Information Technology Planning; Committee for Evaluation of Faculty Staff; Investigative Inquiry Commissions.

Between 2012–2015 and 2018–2021, Ana Beatriz coordinated the Center for Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Health, responsible for patents, technology transfer and related issues, advocating for the university in diverse governmental meetings, representing UFCSPA in entities. As a scientist, Ana Beatriz is interested in the molecular epidemiology of human pathogenic viruses from a One Health/Global Health perspective, combining molecular data of viral genomes with clinical and epidemiological data of infected patients and regional characteristics. She collaborates with scientists from other institutions (academic as well as governmental) in projects for surveillance and epidemiology of infectious diseases (mainly viral, fungal and bacterial). Ana Beatriz has published 42 scientific papers in international journals.

Research interests: molecular epidemiology of respiratory viruses; Arbovirus; Global Health; One Health

Collaboration ideas: I believe collaborations between UFCSPA and Australian universities can add great value to science and education, and meet some of the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN Agenda 2030, especially SDGs 3-Good Health and Well-Being, 4-Quality Education, 16-Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, and 17-Partnerships for the Goals; it also contributes to all other SDGs. Considering my area of research and interests, I could collaborate in projects related to epidemiological and genomic surveillance of respiratory viruses for pandemic preparedness and control. In addition, I have experience in teaching molecular biology, molecular virology, global health and other subjects. I would like to collaborate in disciplines related to medical, biomedical and biological sciences, bringing a One Health and a Global Health approach to understand health problems and finding solutions to reduce their impact on society. Finally, these collaborations are paramount for qualifying the institutions involved in the program.

Website: https://www.ufcspa.edu.br/english/research-and-innovation/researchers/105-pesquisa-e-inovacao/pesquisadores/498-ana-beatriz-gorini-da-veiga-scd
ORCID ID: 0000-0003-1462-5506

Dr Marcus Vinicius Guimarães De Lacerda was born in Brazil, obtaining his medical degree from the University of Brasília in 1999, infectious diseases speciality in the Tropical Medicine Foundation Dr Heitor Vieira Dourado (FMT-HVD) in 2002 and a PhD in tropical medicine from the University of Brasília in 2007. He is a physician in the FMT-HVD, researcher at Instituto Leônidas & Maria Deane, professor of the Graduate Programs on Tropical Medicine and Hematology at University of the Amazonas State and adjunct professor of University of Texas Medical Branch. Marcus is an ex-adjunct professor at Kent State University and Tulane University, US. Since 2017 he has coordinated the Institute of Clinical Research Carlos Borborema, in Manaus (Brazilian Amazon). He has already supervised more than 50 undergraduates, MSc and PhD students, and post-doctoral fellows, and has over 300 scientific publications. He also serves as associate editor of the Journal of the Brazilian Society of Tropical Medicine, PLoS Neglected Diseases and Frontiers Tropical Medicine. H-index=51 and 10 886 citations.

Research interests: malaria; HIV/Aids; tuberculosis; snake bites; arboviruses and other emerging and infectious diseases.

Collaboration ideas: Interested in serological studies both in COVID-19 or malaria.

Lattes ID: 8492376468047417

Marcus is one of the three Brazilian convenors at the 2021 Australia–Brazil Virtual Research Collaboration event.

Kassia Hare is the counsellor (education and research) at the Australian Embassy in Brazil. Working closely with her counterpart in Mexico City, Kassia has responsibility for Australia’s education, training and science relationships with Latin American countries outside of the Pacific Alliance, with a primary focus on Brazil and Argentina.

Kassia previously worked in the Department of Education, Skills and Employment on Australia’s Vocational Education and Training (VET) system including on industry engagement in VET and qualifications reform. Prior to this, Kassia has worked across a number of Australian Government agencies focusing on improving outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, including leading the co-design of the formal Partnership Agreement on Closing the Gap and the National Agreement on Closing the Gap with Indigenous leaders, as well as the Remote Housing Review.

Kassia graduated from the Queensland University of Technology with a bachelor of laws (Hons) in 2008 and the Australian National University with her graduate diploma of legal practice in 2009. She was later admitted as a barrister and solicitor to the ACT Supreme Court in 2009.

Dr David Hobbs FIEAust is an early-career researcher and senior lecturer in rehabilitation engineering within the Medical Device Research Institute at Flinders University, Australia. He holds degrees in physics and biomedical engineering with first class honours and is an industry-trained rehabilitation engineer and assistive technologist. While in industry, David was awarded a Churchill Fellowship in 2003, Young Professional Engineer of the Year Award in 2004; Top 100 Most Influential Engineers Award in 2005 and a Fulbright Professional Scholarship in 2008. David completed his part-time PhD at Flinders University in 2018 in the design, development and trialling of an innovative serious gaming system (hardware and software) to improve hand function for children with cerebral palsy. This work resulted in multiple state and national awards and a patent in three countries, and has since been successfully translated for commercialisation.

Since 2016 David has published five journal articles, two book chapters, seven industry reports, had 16 conference publications accepted and presented at national and international conferences (Google H-index = 9), was invited to deliver 10 keynote or plenary presentations, received three different awards for excellence in research, teaching and professional engagement, and secured over $400 000 in competitive research funding from granting bodies and industry.

David is a recognised leader within the rehabilitation engineering and assistive technology community, representing Australia at two invite-only Global Research, Innovation, and Education in Assistive Technology Summits, in 2017 and 2019, at the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland. He has worked in specialist research and industry institutions in Australia, England, Canada and the US, collaborated to win the College of Biomedical Engineers’ Better Technology Awards for novel assistive technologies twice, and is an invited TEDx speaker.

Website: www.flinders.edu.au/people/david.hobbs
ORCID ID: 0000-0003-1164-3899

Professor Edward (Eddie) Holmes FAA FRS is an Australian Research Council Australian Laureate Fellow at the University of Sydney, Australia, with concurrent professorial appointments in the School of Life and Environmental Sciences and the School of Medical Sciences. Prior to joining the University of Sydney, Eddie was the Verne M. Willaman Chair in the Life Sciences at Pennsylvania State University, US. Eddie received his undergraduate degree from the University of London in 1986 and his PhD from the University of Cambridge, UK, in 1990. Following that, he performed postdoctoral research at the Universities of California (Davis), Edinburgh and Oxford. Between 1993 and 2004 he held various positions at the University of Oxford, UK, including University Lecturer in Evolutionary Biology and Fellow of New College.

His research focuses on the emergence, evolution and spread of RNA viruses, with special emphasis on revealing the genetic and epidemiological processes that underpin viral emergence, the molecular epidemiology of important human and animal pathogens, understanding the nature of global virus diversity and the major mechanisms of virus evolution. He has collaborated closely with scientists in Brazil for many years. In 2003 he was awarded the Scientific Medal by the Zoological Society of London, UK. He was elected a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science in 2015 and a Fellow of the Royal Society in 2017. In 2020 he won the New South Wales Premier’s Prize for Science and Engineering. He has published 660 peer-reviewed papers that have been cited more than 102 000 times (h-index = 151).

Research interests: virology; evolutionary biology

Collaboration ideas: I already actively collaborate with Brazilian researchers on the emergence and evolution of SARS-CoV-2. It would be good to extend this to other viruses.

Website: www.sydney.edu.au/science/about/our-people/academic-staff/edward-holmes.html
ORCID ID: 0000-0001-9596-3552

Eddie is one of the three Australian convenors at the 2021 Australia–Brazil Virtual Research Collaboration event.

Presentation topic at thematic session 2C:
Lessons from COVID-19 in the New Pandemic Age

Abstract: Zoonotic diseases have long been a major burden on human societies and are expected to increase in frequency and impact as we interact more with the animal world and as the global population increases in size and connectedness. Fortunately, metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) is providing a powerful new way to understand the nature and composition of the virosphere and the processes that shape it, including how viruses jump between hosts allowing new diseases to emerge. Herein, I demonstrate the utility of mNGS for pathogen discovery and understanding disease emergence on clinically actionable timescales. In doing so, I will demonstrate how these genomic tools can form a key component to new approaches to pandemic preparedness. I will focus on the initial emergence of COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2), exploring why coronaviruses seem particularly able to jump species boundaries and emerge in new hosts. I will conclude by outlining the ways in which we can potentially prevent pandemics like that of COVID-19 ever happening again, particularly through the establishment of a new global ‘radar’ for emerging diseases and by encouraging scientists from all countries to share their data as freely and rapidly as possible.

The goal of Dr Camila I. De Oliveira’s proposed research is to investigate key components in the leishmania-vertebrate host-insect vector interaction that lead to disease development. Camila’s graduate studies and postdoctoral training were conducted in the field of parasitology with emphasis on immunoparasitology. She holds a permanent position at the Instituto Gonçalo Muniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), in Brazil. Since establishing her research group, Camila has focused on exploring an experimental model of infection with Leishmania braziliensis, the main etiological agent of Tegumentary Leishmaniasis in the Americas. Using this model, Camila has shown that sand fly saliva modulates the host ́s immune response, findings that have been translated to the field. By following a cohort of individuals living in areas of Leishmania transmission, Camila’s team identified a sand fly salivary protein that acts as a marker of exposure and a positive humoral response to this particular protein increases the risk of developing cutaneous leishmaniasis. Camila also became interested in pursuing studies focusing on chemotherapeutic alternatives for the treatment of disease. In a transdisciplinary approach, Camila collaborated with researchers to develop nanotechnology-based biocuratives that is now undergoing tests in the field. During her tenure at FIOCRUZ, Camila advised eight graduate students in the pathology and health sciences graduate programs, supervised three postdoctoral fellows and was awarded with research grants from the CNPq, the main financing agency in Brazil. The research projects Camila has acted as principal investigators, as well as those in which she collaborated, resulted in over 80 publications in peer-reviewed journals. Her body of work developed during the past 10 years has been recognized by the Brazilian Academy of Sciences and by CNPq, in which she has been a senior investigator since 2006.

Research interests: neglected tropical diseases; molecular surveillance; clinical studies

Collaboration ideas: My main interest is in the field of tropical neglected diseases such as those caused by Leishmania. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I also became interested in working with groups interested in molecular surveillance of novel pathogens in preparation for future outbreaks. I believe these two areas of research are also of interest to Australian partners.

Camila is one of the three Brazilian convenors at the 2021 Australia–Brazil Virtual Research Collaboration event.

Dr Danielle Ingle joined the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Melbourne’s Peter Doherty Institute, Australia, in late 2020 as a National Health and Medical Research Council Emerging Leadership Fellow. This fellowship will integrate microbial genomics with population modelling, antimicrobial resistance data and epidemiology of enteric bacterial pathogens that represent significant threats to public health. Prior to this, Danielle completed her PhD at the University of Melbourne in 2017, before moving to the Australian National University as a research fellow investigating the evolution and epidemiology of multidrug-resistant enteric bacteria.

Danielle’s research in microbial genomics has resulted in both high-impact publications, including in Nature Microbiology and New England Journal of Medicine, and translational outcomes that have impacted public health practices. She has been awarded multiple awards and fellowships. In 2021, Danielle was a recipient of the Jim Pittard Early Career Award from the Australian Society of Microbiology, which recognises distinguished contributions to microbiology by an early-career researcher. Danielle was also awarded the prestigious Victorian Fellowship in 2015 and was a finalist in the Premier’s Award for Health and Medical Research in 2019.

ORCID ID: 0000-0003-0707-6537

Dr Alireza Jolfaei is a cryptographer, penetration tester, academic, author, editor, technology strategist, senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and distinguished speaker of the Association for Computing Machinery on the topic of cyber security. As an educator, he aims to empower information security education by enhancing the student learning experience and making learning more enjoyable and relevant. He has extensive experience in curriculum design and the development of courses to raise awareness on cyber security issues for a variety of audiences.

As a research leader in cybersecurity, he contributed to numerous national and international projects. His research expertise lies in cyber and cyber-physical systems security. He has published over a hundred papers on these subjects in peer-reviewed journals, conference proceedings and books. He received the prestigious IEEE Australian Council award for his research paper published in IEEE Transactions on Information Forensics and Security.

Website: http://jolfaei.info/

Associate professor Dr Daniel Kolarich was an Australian Research Council Future Fellow and is a widely recognised expert in analytical and functional glycobiology. He is leading the cancer glycomics/glycoproteomics initiative at the Australian Centre for Cancer Glycomics (A2CG) at the Institute for Glycomics, Griffith University. Daniel’s team has been the first worldwide to successfully sequence N- and O-glycans from as low as 1000 cells isolated from histopathological tissue sections, opening unprecedented opportunities in clinical glycomics currently in use at A2CG.

Daniel’s team is using glycan-sequencing technologies to decipher cell-specific carbohydrates—the fourth major class of biomolecules controlling cell functions. Daniel’s research focus is understanding this glyco-language in cancer. He is leading the Advanced Mass Spectrometry Facility at the Institute for Glycomics, where they apply state-of-the-art mass spectrometric approaches to establish the first comprehensive glycosylation map in ovarian, breast, prostate, head and neck, colon and gastric cancer, as well as leukaemia, as part of ongoing national and international collaborations. In 2017, Daniel returned to Australia after establishing an independent laboratory as a group leader at the Max Planck Institute for Colloids and Interfaces in Germany. Over the past 10 years, Daniel has secured over $4.3 million in funding and was a partner in four European Union collaborative projects.

Research interests: cancer; infectious disease; zoonoses; diagnosis and treatment

Website: https://experts.griffith.edu.au/7126-daniel-kolarich
ORCID ID: 0000-0002-8452-1350