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Disease Ecology Lab at EEID-AP 2026

Members of the University of Sydney Disease Ecology Lab at EEID-AP 2026 in Hobart, Tasmania.

Members of the Disease Ecology Lab participated in the Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Diseases Asia-Pacific (EEID-AP) Conference, held in Hobart, Tasmania, from 26-28 August 2026. Professor Michael Ward, the DEL lab head, highlights:

“After 14 months we finally had the entire lab together at a conference and it was a memorable team experience.”

The conference brought together researchers working across infectious disease ecology and evolution in the Asia-Pacific region, providing an opportunity to share new research, exchange ideas and strengthen collaborations across the field. 

Our lab was well represented in the scientific programme, with oral presentations spanning disease modelling, wildlife-domestic animal interfaces, animal movement and epidemiological inference, biosecurity, and highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI):

  • Professor Michael Ward — Exploratory Modelling of Low to High Pathogenic Avian Influenza Mutation Dynamics in Australia
  • Dr Renata Muylaert — Trends in the wild-domestic animal interface and disease spillover risk research
  • Dr Tatiana Proboste — From wildlife movement to epidemiological inference: the nexus between contact rates, centrality and infection
  • Ludovica Preite — Wild bird coexistence, free-ranging and biosecurity: How backyard poultry owners navigate HPAI risk
  • Thi Thuy Hoang — Environmental and anthropogenic drivers of highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreaks in Vietnam

For HDR student Ludovica Preite, Hobart was also her first international conference:

“The EEID AP conference in Hobart was my first international conference, and I really appreciated the supportive and friendly environment. The positive feedback I received was especially encouraging for continuing to work on the qualitative study, which brings a different perspective to the field.”

Looking ahead to Sydney

The next in-person EEID-AP Conference will be hosted by the University of Sydney in 2028, likely in August or September. Before then, the EEID-AP community will come together for a virtual half-day conference in August 2027.

In the meantime, the EEID Forum provides information about seminars, events and other opportunities for the infectious disease ecology community: https://www.eeidforum.org/

Now to some photos of our presentations at EEID-AP!

Prof. Michael Ward presenting “Exploratory Modelling of Low to High Pathogenic Avian Influenza Mutation Dynamics in Australia” at EEID-AP 2026.
Dr Renata Muylaert presenting “Trends in the wild-domestic animal interface and disease spillover risk research” at EEID-AP 2026.

Dr Tatiana Proboste presenting “From wildlife movement to epidemiological inference: the nexus between contact rates, centrality and infection” at EEID-AP 2026.
Thuy Hoang presenting research on environmental and anthropogenic drivers of highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreaks in Vietnam.

Ludovica Preite presenting her research on the ways backyard poultry owners navigate HPAI risk in Australia.