About SPECTRUM

What we do

SPECTRUM’s vision is to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with infectious diseases in Australia and our region.

There is a disproportionate burden of infectious diseases in impoverished areas, which persist because of weak health systems and infrastructure. SPECTRUM aims to reduce this burden using sustainable, participatory and model-driven approaches.

SPECTRUM CRE will:

• Produce needed evidence for infectious disease control using models and other quantitative tools.
• Undertake regional risk assessments for emerging diseases like Ebola and COVID-19.
• Frame a proportionate response in the Australian Health Management Pan for Pandemic Influence, including early impact assessment and strategic use of health system resources.
• Promote optimal scheduling of pertussis vaccines on the National Immunisation Program.
• Plan an effective response to the drug-resistant tuberculosis crisis in Daru, Papua New Guinea.
• Identify latent tuberculosis treatment as the most effective measure of tuberculosis control, including in low-income, high incidence countries, leading to international (WHO) policy change.

How we work

SPECTRUM CRE focuses on four key themes in infectious disease prevention and control:

• Endemic infections (scabies)
• Emerging infectious diseases (COVID-19, pandemic influenza)
• Constraining the emergence of and selection for Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR – multidrug resistant tuberculosis)
• Reducing the risk and burden of vector-borne diseases (malaria)

This will be achieved using The Structured Decision-Making Framework: