Dr. Melissa Penny

Biography

Melissa Penny is a Full Professor and the inaugural Fiona Stanley Chair in Child Health Research at the University of Western Australia and The Kids Research Institute, Australia. With more than 19 years of experience, she leads the Global Disease Modelling research team, focusing on developing mathematical and computational models to provide quantitative evidence for infectious disease control and elimination. Currently, she heads the Disease Modelling Research unit at the University of Basel and the Swiss Tropical Public Health Institute, directing a team of 24. Her research has significantly contributed to the development of new interventions, including the world’s malaria vaccine RTS,S/AS01, and novel immune therapies. Her recent projects use data-epidemiology-informed mathematical models and machine learning applications to enhance public health strategies for malaria and respiratory viruses like SARS-CoV-2. Among her notable contributions, she is a member of various technical guidance groups, including the WHO-SAGE MPAG for malaria vaccines, and is currently funded by esteemed organizations such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Swiss National Science Foundation. She holds a PhD in electrochemistry and modeling and a BSc with First Class Honours from Queensland University of Technology.

Research Interests

Experience