In June 2019, the China-Australia Joint Research Centre for Infectious Diseases was established as a collaborative initiative between Monash University, Australia and Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center. The Center was officially listed in September 2019 at the Western China Science and Technology Innovation Habour, with Professor Lei Zhang assuming the Directorship of the Center. This collaborative venture has been formed with a view to driving forward research into the development of innovative solutions to the global challenge of infectious diseases, through harnessing the collective expertise and resources of both institutions.
The Center has been established as a result of a longstanding collaboration between the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre and Alfred Health in Australia, in conjunction with the School of Public Health at Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center. Building on this strong foundation, the Center has forged ongoing partnerships with major health institutions and research institutes both domestically and internationally. Through the integration of interdisciplinary research and medical-industrial collaboration, the Center has become a comprehensive scientific research platform for promoting exchanges and cooperation at both the domestic and international level. The Center's research endeavors are focused on several key areas, which include: (1) Epidemiology of HIV and sexually transmitted infections; (2) Theoretical epidemiology and program evaluation in public health; (3) Public health early warning, assessment and trend prediction of emergencies; (4) Medical applications of artificial intelligence; (5) Big data and multimodality analysis for disease research; (6) Impact of genetics and gut microbiome on chronic and degenerative diseases. These research areas have been identified as crucial for the development of innovative solutions to pressing global public health challenges.
The Center leverages theoretical epidemiology, mathematical modeling, big data, and artificial intelligence to collect and integrate epidemiological data from both domestic and international sources. Through the use of cutting-edge big data analytics, the Center is able to make early warnings, predictions, and economic evaluations of infectious, chronic, and public health emergencies and interventions. Situated in Western China, the Center is committed to promoting global cooperation and collaboration in public health research. By fostering partnerships with leading international research teams and delivering high-quality research outcomes, the Center has established itself as a preeminent platform for scientific exchange and knowledge-sharing. Its research findings serve as a crucial technical and evidence-based support for national and international health care decision-makers, helping to inform the development of effective public health policy and practice.
Since its inception in 2019, the Center has garnered significant support from national talent programs, the National Natural Science Foundation of China, and a variety of other domestic and international funding sources, with total funding exceeding 9.5 million RMB. The Center's research output has been considerable, with over 140 papers published in prestigious journals, all of which are SCI-indexed. These achievements serve as a testament to the Center's ongoing commitment to driving forward innovative research in the field of public health, as well as its ability to deliver impactful outcomes that contribute to the advancement of global health and well-being.
The Xi'an Jiaotong University team of the Center currently boasts a staff of 52 members, among whom there is 1 full professor (PhD supervisor), 2 associate professors (Master supervisors) and 3 postdocs. At present, the Center is home to 12 PhD students (1 completed) and 26 master students (7 completed). Meanwhile, the Monash University team of the Center has a staff of 8 members, comprising 2 full professors, 1 associate professor, and 5 PhD students. By cultivating a new generation of high-level research talents, the Center is committed to advancing the field of public health and promoting the overall improvement of population health.
Center Director：Professor Zhang Lei 029- 82655135 (Office)
Academic website: https://gr.xjtu.edu.cn/web/lei.zhang1/home
Selected articles
1. Liu J, Liu M, Chai Z, Li C, Wang Y, Shen M, Zhuang G, Zhang L. Projected rapid growth in diabetes disease burden and economic burden in China: a spatio-temporal study from 2020 to 2030. The Lancet Regional Health – Western Pacific 2023; 33.
2. Zhang L, Liu H, Zou Z, Su S, Ong JJ, Ji F, Cui F, Chan P-l, Qin N, Li R, Shen M, Fairley KC, Liu L, Seto W-K, Wong CW. Shared-care models are highly effective and cost-effective for managing chronic hepatitis B in China: Reinterpreting the primary care and specialty divide. The Lancet Regional Health – Western Pacific 2023; (in press).
3. Shen M, Zou Z, Bao H, Fairley CK, Canfell K, Ong JJ, Hocking J, Chow EPF, Zhuang G, Wang L, Zhang L. Cost-effectiveness of artificial intelligence-assisted liquid-based cytology testing for cervical cancer screening in China. The Lancet Regional Health - Western Pacific 2023: 100726.
4. Li R, Shen M, Yang Q, Fairley CK, Chai Z-L, McIntyre R, Ong JJ, Liu H, Lu P, Hu W, Zou Z, Li Z, He S, Zhuang G, Zhang L. Global Diabetes Prevalence in COVID-19 Patients and Contribution to COVID-19– Related Severity and Mortality: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Diabetes Care 2023: dc221943.
5. Su S, Wong WCW, Zou Z, Cheng DD, Ong JJ, Chan P, Ji F, Yuen M-F, Zhuang G, Seto W-K, Zhang L. Cost-effectiveness of universal screening for chronic hepatitis B virus infection in China: an economic evaluation. The Lancet Global Health. 2022;10(2):e278-e287.
6. Liu J, Bai R, Chai Z, Cooper ME, Zimmet PZ, Zhang L. Low- and middle-income countries demonstrate rapid growth of type 2 diabetes: an analysis based on Global Burden of Disease 1990-2019 data. Diabetologia 2022.
7. Zou Z, Fairley CK, Ong JJ, Hocking J, Canfell K, Ma X, Chow EPF, Xu X, Zhang L*, Zhuang G* (co-senior authors). Domestic HPV vaccine price and economic returns for cervical cancer prevention in China: a cost-effectiveness analysis. Lancet Glob Health 2020; 8(10): e1335-e44.
8. Zhang L, Phanuphak N, Henderson K, Nonenoy S, Srikaew S, Shattock AJ, Kerr CC, Omune B, van Griensven F, Osornprasop S, Oelrichs R, Ananworanich J, Wilson DP. Scaling up of HIV treatment for men who have sex with men in Bangkok: a modelling and costing study. The Lancet HIV 2015; 2(5): e200-e7.
9. Zhang L, Chow EPF, Jing J, Zhuang X, Li X, He M, Sun H, Li X, Gorgens M, Wilson D, Wang L, Guo W, Li D, Cui Y, Wang L, Wang N, Wu Z, Wilson DP. HIV prevalence in China: integration of surveillance data and a systematic review. Lancet Infectious Diseases 2013; 13(11): 955-63.
10. Bao Y, Medland NA, Fairley CK, Wu J, Shang X, Chow EPF, Xu X, Ge Z, Zhuang X, Zhang L. Predicting the diagnosis of HIV and sexually transmitted infections among men who have sex with men using machine learning approaches. J Infect 2021; 82(1): 48-59.
