Associate Professor Joshua Francis
Principal Research Fellow
Qualifications:
MBBS, University of Queensland, 2006; FRACP, Royal Australasian College of Physicians, 2013; Bachelor of Applied Science (Medical Science), Queensland University of Technology, 2002
Location:
Darwin – Royal Darwin Hospital
Biography:
Associate Professor Joshua Francis is a Paediatrician and Paediatric Infectious Diseases Physician, with academic appointments at Menzies School of Health Research, Flinders University and James Cook University.
A/Prof Francis leads programs in Timor-Leste focused on teaching, capacity building, health systems improvement and operational research. His research on tuberculosis, rheumatic heart disease and antimicrobial resistance in the Northern Territory and Timor-Leste has significantly impacted policy, guidelines and health system strategy on the national level.
A/Prof Francis is the chief investigator on the Indo-Pacific Centre for Health Security funded STRONG TL project, delivered by Menzies in partnership with the Ministry of Health in Timor-Leste, to improve communicable disease surveillance and control; the Fleming Fund Country Grant for Timor-Leste, building capacity for antimicrobial resistance surveillance in Timor-Leste; and rheumatic heart diseases projects (Pedrino and RECARDINA) which have engaged remote communities in the Northern Territory and Timor-Leste to tackle rheumatic heart disease through active case finding and community awareness initiatives.
- Fleming Fund Country Grant to Timor-Leste
- STRONG TL - strengthen communicable disease surveillance and control in Timor-Leste
- Pedriño Study
- RECARDINA study
- Resistance in Urine and Skin isolates in Timor-Leste (RUSTLE)
- Tuberculosis culture and drug susceptibility testing in Timor-Leste
- Rheumatic heart disease in Timor-Leste
- Working toward a scabies control strategy for northern Australia
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Howitt, R., de Jesus, G. A., Araujo, F., Francis, J., Marr, I., McVean, M., MacMorran, E., Rollinson, V., Chung, A., & Yip, T. W. (2020). Screening and triage at health-care facilities in Timor-Leste during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Lancet Respiratory Medicine, S2213-2600(20), 30183-1. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2213-2600(20)30183-1
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Marr, I., Francis, J. R., Stephens, D. P., Marshall, K., Read, D. J., Baird, R. W., & Coatsworth, N. (2020). Development of a Mobile Laboratory for Sudden Onset Disasters. Disaster medicine and public health preparedness, 1–11. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1017/dmp.2019.128
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Francis, J. R., Sarmento, N., Draper, A., Marr, I., Ting, S., Fancourt, N., Alves, L., Champlin, K., Bongers, A., & Yan, J. (2020). Antimicrobial resistance and antibiotic use in Timor-Leste: building surveillance capacity with a One Health approach. Communicable diseases intelligence, 44. https://doi.org/10.33321/cdi.2020.44.1
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Dotel, R., Tong, S., Bowen, A., Nelson, J. N., O'Sullivan, M., Campbell, A. J., McMullan, B. J., Britton, P. N., Francis, J. R., Eisen, D. P., Robinson, O., Manning, L., & Davis, J. S. (2019). CASSETTE-clindamycin adjunctive therapy for severe Staphylococcus aureus treatment evaluation: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial. Trials, 20(1), 353. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-019-3452-y
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de Dassel, J. L., Malik, H., Ralph, A. P., Hardie, K., Remenyi, B., & Francis, J. R. (2019). Four-Weekly Benzathine Penicillin G Provides Inadequate Protection against Acute Rheumatic Fever in Some Children. The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene, 100(5), 1118–1120. https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.18-0907
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Townell, N., Locke, T., Gibbons, M., Murphy, D., Francis, J., & Nourse, C. (2018). Mycetoma in Timor-Leste and first report of nocardiosis. Infectious disease reports, 10(3), 7804. https://doi.org/10.4081/idr.2018.7804
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Korte, L. M., Bowen, A. C., Draper, A., Davis, K., Steel, A., Teodora, I., Mascarenhas, I., Dingle, B., & Francis, J. R. (2018). Scabies and impetigo in Timor-Leste: A school screening study in two districts. PLOS neglected tropical diseases, 12(5), e0006400. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0006400
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Francis, J. R., Villanueva, P., Bryant, P., & Blyth, C. C. (2018). Mucormycosis in Children: Review and Recommendations for Management. Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society, 7(2), 159–164. https://doi.org/10.1093/jpids/pix107
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Francis, J. R., Manchikanti, P., Blyth, C. C., Denholm, J., Lowbridge, C., Coulter, C., Donnan, E., Stapledon, R., Krause, V. L., & Waring, J. (2018). Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in Australia, 1998-2012. The international journal of tuberculosis and lung disease : the official journal of the International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, 22(3), 294–299. https://doi.org/10.5588/ijtld.17.0412
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Francis, J. R., Nourse, C., Vaska, V. L., Calvert, S., Northill, J. A., McCall, B., & Mattke, A. C. (2014). Australian Bat Lyssavirus in a child: the first reported case. Pediatrics, 133(4), e1063–e1067. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2013-1782
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MEDIA RELEASE | Menzies Timor-Leste Program Celebrates 5 Years of Impact
Menzies Timor-Leste Program has marked its fifth anniversary, celebrating a significant milestone in its contribution to the health sector in Timor-Leste.
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MEDIA RELEASE | Menzies researchers RESPOND to priority diseases in our global neighbourhood
Menzies will lead a 4-year health system strengthening partnership in the Asia-Pacific region, under the Partnerships for a Healthy Region Initiative by the Australian Government.
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MEDIA RELEASE | Training remote health workers to diagnose rheumatic heart disease
A new study to improve access to culturally safe, best quality care for Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD) in high-burden Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities is underway after a Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) Cardiovascular Health Mission Grant application was successful.
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MEDIA RELEASE | Menzies renews MoU with Timor-Leste Ministry of Health
An important partnership in the work to improve public health in Timor-Leste has been strengthened with Menzies and the Timor-Leste Ministry of Health signing a new Memorandum of Understanding .
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Komunikadu Imprensa | Menzies renova MoU ho Ministeriu Saúde Timor-Leste
Fortalese ona parseria importante ida iha servisu nian hodi hadi'a saúde públiku iha Timor-Leste ho Menzies School of Health Research (Menzies) no Ministériu Saúde Timor-Leste (MDS) asina ona Memorandu de Entendimentu (MoU) foun ida.
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DILI POST | Menzies- MS Asina MoU Ba Tinan Tolu
Ami nia prezensa iha Timor-Leste ne’e ajuda ona hodi planeia, kolabora no hala'o ami nia peskiza no mós preparadu ho di'ak hodi suporta no hasa’e kapasidade funsionáriu lokál sira nian,” haktuir Cass.
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Pandemic Warriors | Inside Timor Leste's COVID testing laboratory
ABC Australia | Against the odds, Timorese medical professionals raced to set-up the countries first COVID-19 testing facility.
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NT News | Finalists announced
Sixteen Territorians have been honoured as finalists in the 2022 NT Australian of the Year awards.
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Modern lab software improves healthcare in Timor-Leste
As the newly independent nation of Timor-Leste takes on the challenges of establishing a strong health system for its citizens, Menzies School of Health Research has assisted Timorese scientists and healthcare professionals in expanding their laboratory diagnostic possibilities.
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Fortalese sistema saúde iha Timor-Leste
Ohin loron, marka tinan rua dezde Menzies School of Health Research (Menzies) ofisialmente estabelese nia eskritóriu ida iha Timor-Leste. Menzies servisu hamutuk ho Governu Timor-Leste no parseiru sira atu haforsa sistema saúde nian hodi responde ba dezafiu husi moras infesiozu sira.
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Strengthening health systems in Timor-Leste
Today, marks two years since Menzies officially established an office in Timor-Leste, working with the Timor-Leste Government and partners to strengthen health systems for responding to infectious diseases challenges.
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Projetu MATCH Sei Ajuda Rezolve Sofrimentu A’as ba Morbidade no Mortalidade iha TL
Hare’e ba numeru moras Malaria, Tuberkuloze, COVID-19 ho HIV (MATCH) iha Timor-Leste ne’ebe a’as, Ministeriu Saude ho parseria Menzies halo koperasaun ba projetu MATCH hodi rezolve sofrimentu a’as ba morbidade no mortalidade.
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Mellora diagnóstiku no vijilánsia ba moras infeksiozu sira iha Timor-Leste
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Menzies Lidera Diagnóstiku no Vijilànsia ba moras Infeksiozu iha Timor-Leste
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Mellora diagnóstiku no vijilánsia ba moras infeksiozu sira iha Timor-Leste
Dezenvolve ona inisiativu foun ida hodi ajuda halo di’ak liu tan diagnóstiku no vijilánsia ba moras infeksiozu sira iha Timor-LesteM MATCHTL, ne’e signifika Malária, Tuberkuloze (TBC), COVID-19 no HIV nia diagnóstiku no vijilánsia iha Timor-Leste, sei lidera husi Menzies School of Health Research (Menzies) hamutuk ho parseria ne’ebé eziste ona ho Ministériu Saúde Timor-Leste, liu-liu iha Timor-Leste nia Laboratóriu Nasionál Saúde (LNS) no Departamentu Kontrolu Moras.
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Projetu MATCH sei hadi'a diagnóstiku moras infesiozu iha TL
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Menzies to improve diagnosis and surveillance of infectious diseases in TL
A new initiative has been developed by Menzies School of Health Research (Menzies) to improve diagnosis and surveillance of infectious diseases in Timor-Leste.
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TL: Labarik Barak Sofre Moras Reumatismu Fuan
Ministerio da Saúde Timor-Leste (MdS) lansa ona matadalan primeiru Timor-Leste nian kona-ba prevensaun no jestaun ba moras Febre Remátika Aguda (FRA) no Moras Rematizmu Fuan (MRF). Moras Rematizmu Fuan ne’e afeita mais ou menus labarik ida husi nain 50 (2%) iha Timor-Leste no bele kauza insufisiensia kardiaku no mate, maibé kuandu detekta hetan, moras ida ne’e bele trata.
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Improving diagnosis and surveillance of infectious diseases in Timor-Leste
A new initiative has been developed to help improve diagnosis and surveillance of infectious diseases in Timor-Leste.
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Thousands homeless in Timor-Leste as the country tries to contain COVID-19
On RN Breakfast with Fran Kelly and guest Dr Josh Francis.
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Australian government to support Timor-Leste flood recovery after at least 27 people die
Dr Francis said the national laboratory where Timor-Leste conducts COVID-19 tests had been flooded on the weekend, but workers at the facility had put in an "enormous" effort and successfully saved testing equipment and reagents by moving them above the waters.
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ABC News: Interview with Dr Josh Francis about COVID-19 in Timor Leste
Timor Leste has responded remarkably well to the COVID-19 pandemic over the last 12 months.
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Australians about: COVID-19 - Dr Joshua Francis
Infectious disease doctor Joshua Francis is worried about what COVID-19 will do in a country like Timor Leste, where health facilities are already stretched. He and his colleagues from Menzies School of Health Research set-up the country's first testing facility.
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Fleming Fund Country Grant to Timor-Leste: August 2020 update
The Fleming Fund Country Grant supports testing and surveillance for antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and antimicrobial use (AMU) in Timor-Leste. Read about what the team has been up to in the first year.
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COVID workers urge Australia to increase vital aid to poorest countries
Australians who have left the luxuries of home behind to join the virus battle in countries like Iraq and Laos, where aid is incredibly hard to come by, share their stories from the frontline.
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InSight+ | "Our children don't have a future": the burden of RHD
THE mayor of a remote Aboriginal community in Arnhem Land has said the town’s children “don’t have a future” unless governments boost their investment in tackling the social determinants driving one of the world’s highest rates of rheumatic heart disease (RHD).
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How collaboration and communication are changing diagnostic capacity in Timor-Leste
Last May, a leading Australian health institute, Menzies School of Health Research, was awarded a grant of up to £4million by the Fleming Fund to improve laboratory diagnostic capacity and antimicrobial data use in Timor-Leste.
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Active screening needed for rheumatic heart disease in the NT
The high burden of rheumatic heart disease among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people requires more active case finding and echocardiographic screening to detect undiagnosed cases, according to Australian experts
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Pacific Beat | Timor-Leste faces dengue fight amid COVID-19 pandemic
Dr Josh Francis, who leads Timor-Leste programs at Menzies, said the country was in a strong position to respond to the pandemic due to its expertise in managing dengue.
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Five medical research projects recognised in the Northern Territory
Five researchers based at Menzies have received recognition in the form of Investigator Grants from the NHMRC and the MRFF.
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$400 million funding boost for health and medical research
Including Menzies School of Health Research work towards the elimination of chronic hepatitis B in the Northern Territory.
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Dili laboratory begins testing for coronavirus independently
In collaboration with Menzies, the National Health Laboratory in Timor-Leste has begun reporting results of COVID-19 tests independently.
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Australian doctors aid Timor Leste in COVID-19 fight
Australian doctors have joined the fight against COVID-19 in Timor-Leste in a bid to prevent devastation in one of South-East Asia's most vulnerable countries.
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Australian doctor in East Timor warns of impact coronavirus could have if it spreads there
An Australian doctor on the frontline of treating COVID-19 in East Timor, has called on his trust in God to help him, warning of the “devastating” impact if the virus spreads in the vulnerable nation.
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Australian doctors aim to stop COVID-19 from 'tearing through' Timor-Leste
Australian doctors have joined the fight against COVID-19 in Timor-Leste in a bid to prevent devastation in one of South-East Asia's most vulnerable countries.
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A political impasse in Timor-Leste as coronavirus looms
Despite the political impasse, preparations for their COVID-19 response by the interim government and President have been systematic and reassuring.
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Rapid regional assistance for Pandemic Preparedness and Response Planning
The Australian Government is working closely with partners to support a coordinated response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the Pacific.
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Australia helps Timor-Leste to prepare for COVID-19
Australia is supporting Timor-Leste to be prepared in case there is an outbreak of COVID-19.
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Capacity building in Timor-Leste
Menzies has had a key role in helping the Ministry of Health in Timor-Leste prepare for the likelihood of a COVID-19 outbreak through health systems strengthening. Currently, Timor-Leste has only one confirmed case of COVID-19, however an outbreak could...
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Coronavirus assistance to Pacific and Timor-Leste
Coronavirus [COVID-19] is now affecting 75 countries, with the total number of cases over 90,000 and the global death toll at more than 3000.
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Partnership provides vital service to Maningrida
The provision of Orange Sky Australia free laundry facilities comes about following a study by Menzies School of Health Research.
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Rheumatic heart disease discussed at national conference
Menzies School of Health Research senior research fellow Josh Francis said there was positive news when it came to RHD “in the sense that there’s a really good plan coming together”.
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How we can end TB by 2030
A regional research collaboration with the Menzies School of Health Research has been highly productive in building capacity in PNG and Indonesia,.
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Fleming Fund Country Grant in Timor-Leste announced!
Menzies has been awarded a Fleming Fund Country Grant to support testing and surveillance for antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Timor-Leste.
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Fleming Fund helps Menzies battle drug resistance in Timor-Leste
Menzies School of Health Research (Menzies) has been awarded a Fleming Fund country grant to support testing and surveillance for antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Timor-Leste.
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NT News | Research honoured
Report on Menzies researcher Josh Francis receiving the AMA research paper of the year award.
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CDU Enews | Menzies staffer wins national award for RHD research
Dr Josh Francis, a researcher from the Menzies School of Health Research, has been recognised by his national peers for his work on rheumatic heart disease (RHD) in Timor-Leste.
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Wire | RHD SCREENING CONTINUES
Health professionals and Maningrida stakeholders have come together to continue screenings of rheumatic heart disease (RHD).
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Wire | RHD SCREENING CONTINUES
Health professionals and Maningrida stakeholders have come together to continue screenings of rheumatic heart disease (RHD).
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Arnhem Land children suffer world's highest known rates of rheumatic heart disease
In a remote Indigenous community of 3,000 people, researchers have discovered the highest known rates of rheumatic heart disease in the world, where children as young as four have died from the entirely preventable condition.
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Australian support for eliminating malaria and health research in the Indo-Pacific
Australia is playing a leading role in supporting malaria elimination efforts, particularly in the Indo-Pacific. The Government's Stronger Systems for Health Security program is supporting practical, relevant research into fundamental health security challenges.
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Timorese Government prepares plan to prevent and combat rheumatic heart disease
The Timorese Ministry of Health is designing a prevention and diagnosis plan, part of the Family Health program, to combat rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease, the ministry's minister announced today.
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DN Lusa - Timor-Leste Pedriño Study
An Australian study has shown that Timor-Leste has one of the highest rates of rheumatic heart disease in the world, with most cases being diagnosed, until children and young people develop serious problems.
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Saving Lives of remote children | NT News
Darwin researchers have uncovered alarming rates of rheumatic heart disease in East Timorese children.
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Cardiologists identify alarming levels of rheumatic heart disease in Timor-Leste
Research by Australian cardiologists has found the rates of rheumatic heart disease (RHD) in Timor-Leste are among the highest in the world. The landmark study was published in the Medical Journal of Australia.
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Rheumatic heart disease program in East Timor 'saving lives' with 'simple' penicillin injections
Australian doctors are working with East Timorese health workers to screen and treat children and young people with the illness, using methods similar to those used in Australia.