The China-Australia Joint Research Centre for Infectious Diseases was established in 2018 through a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Faculty of Medicine at Xi’an Jiaotong University and the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences at Monash University. In September 2019, the Centre was officially inaugurated at the Western China Science and Technology Innovation Harbour, with Professor Lei Zhang appointed as its founding Director.

Since its inception, the Centre has experienced remarkable growth, expanding from an initial team of four members to more than 80 by 2025. It now hosts one full professor, two associate professors, four postdoctoral fellows, 12 doctoral candidates, and 42 master’s students, alongside a wide network of senior and junior researchers from both institutions. This rapid development highlights the Centre’s strong academic foundation and its ability to attract and develop high-calibre talent.

The Centre is committed to advancing interdisciplinary research in artificial intelligence, health economic evaluation, and epidemiological modelling. Its main goal is to leverage these approaches to produce innovative, evidence-based solutions for managing infectious and chronic diseases. Using theoretical epidemiology, big data analytics, and AI-assisted modelling, the Centre creates early warning systems, assesses interventions, and offers policy-relevant insights that guide healthcare strategies in China, Australia, and beyond.

Over the years, the Centre has formed strategic collaborations with leading national and international institutions, creating a platform for high-impact research and global knowledge exchange. Its work has contributed to over 200 publications in SCI-indexed journals and has secured competitive funding of over 11.1 million RMB from the National Natural Science Foundation of China, national talent programs, and international partners.

By blending methodological innovation with practical application, the Centre has established itself as a leading hub for infectious disease research and policy translation in Western China, while also strengthening Sino-Australian academic collaboration.

Center Director：Professor Zhang Lei 029- 82655135 (Office)

Academic website: https://gr.xjtu.edu.cn/web/lei.zhang1/home

Selected papers (n=27)

1. 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. (First author)

2.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. Lancet  Global Health. 2022;10(2):e278-e287.  (Senior author, corresponding author)

3.Zou Z, Fairley CK, Ong JJ, Hocking J, Canfell K, Ma  X, Chow EPF, Xu X, Zhang L*, Zhuang G*. Domestic HPV vaccine price and economic returns for cervical cancer prevention in China: a cost-effectiveness analysis. Lancet Global Health 2020; 8(10): e1335-e44.(Co-corresponding author)

4. Zhao R, Fairley CK, Cook AR, Phanuphak N, He S, Tieosapjaroen W, Chow EPF, Phillips TR, Jin Tan RK, Wei Y, Shen M, Zhuang G*, Ong JJ*, Zhang L*. Optimising HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis and testing strategies in men who have sex with men in Australia, Thailand, and China: a modelling study and cost-effectiveness analysis. Lancet Global Health 2024; 12(2): e243-e56. (Senior author, corresponding author)

5.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. Lancet  HIV 2015; 2(5): e200-e7. (First author)

6. Dong W, Liu Y, Bai R, Zhang L, Zhou M. The prevalence and associated disability burden of mental disorders in children and adolescents in China: a systematic analysis of data from the Global Burden of Disease Study. Lancet Reg Health West Pac 2025; 55: 101486. (co-corresponding author)

7.Xu  T, Dong W, Liu J, Yin P, Wang Z, Zhang L, Zhou M. Disease burden of  Parkinson's disease in China and its provinces from 1990 to 2021: findings  from the global burden of disease study 2021. Lancet Regional Health – Western Pacific 2024; 46: 101078. (Co-corresponding      author)

8.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. Lancet Regional Health – Western Pacific 2023; 33. (Senior author, corresponding      author)

9.Zhang L,  Liu H, Zou Z, Su S, Ong JJ, Ji F, Cui F, Chan P-l, Ning Q, Li R, Shen M,      Fairley CK, Liu L, Seto W-K, Wong WCW. Shared-care  models are highly effective and cost-effective for managing chronic  hepatitis B in China: reinterpreting the primary care and specialty divide.  Lancet Regional Health - Western Pacific 2023:  100737. (First author)

10. 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. Lancet Regional Health - Western Pacific 2023: 100726. (Senior author, corresponding author)

11. Zhang S, Wang C, Liu B, Lu Q-B, Shang J, Zhou Y, Jia J, Xu X, Rao H, Han B, Zhao T, Chen L, Xie M, Cui J, Du J, zeng J, huang N, Liu Y, Zhang L*, Zhuang H*, Cui F*. Cost-effectiveness of expanded antiviral treatment for chronic hepatitis B virus infection in China: an economic evaluation. Lancet Regional Health - Western Pacific 2023; 35: 100738. (Co-senior author, co-corresponding author)

12. Wang Y, Liu C, Hu W, Luo L, Shi D, Zhang J, Yin Q, Zhang L, Han X, He M. Economic evaluation for medical artificial intelligence: accuracy vs. cost-effectiveness in a diabetic retinopathy screening case. NPJ Digit Med 2024; 7(1): 43. (Co-senior author, co-corresponding author)

13. Hu W, Joseph S, Li R, Woods E, Sun J, Shen M, Jan CL, Zhu Z*, He M*, Zhang L*. Population impact and cost-effectiveness of artificial intelligence-based diabetic retinopathy screening in people living with diabetes in Australia: a cost effectiveness analysis. EClinicalMedicine 2024; 67. (Senior author, co-corresponding author)

14. Zou Z, Fairley CK, Ong JJ, Shen M, Chow EPF, Liu H, Xia R, Li R, Hocking J, Zhuang G, Zhang L. Impact of achieving WHO's 90-70-90 targets on cervical cancer elimination and potential benefits in preventing other HPV-related cancers in China: a modelling study. EClinicalMedicine 2024; 77: 102878. (Senior author, co-corresponding author)

15. Ong JJ, Ruan L, Lim AG, Bradshaw CS, Taylor-Robinson D, Unemo M, Horner PJ, Vickerman P, Zhang L. Impact of screening on the prevalence and incidence of Mycoplasma genitalium and its macrolide resistance in men who have sex with men living in Australia: A mathematical model. EClinicalMedicine 2021; 33: 100779. (Senior author, corresponding author)

16. Wulandari LPL, He SY, Fairley CK, Bavinton BR, Marie-Schmidt H, Wiseman V, Guy R, Tang W, Zhang L*, Ong JJ*. Preferences for pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV: A systematic review of discrete choice experiments. EClinicalMedicine 2022; 51: 101507. (Co-senior author, co-corresponding author)

17. Kiggundu R, Soh QR, Tieosapjaroen W, Fairley CK, Tucker JD, Tang W, Zhang L, Ong JJ. Restarting pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV: a systematic review and meta-analysis. EClinicalMedicine 2024; 72. (co-corresponding author)

18.Shang X, Peng W, Hill E, Szoeke C, He M, Zhang L.  Incidence of Medication-Treated Depression and  Anxiety Associated with Long-Term Cancer, Cardiovascular Disease,  Diabetes and Osteoarthritis in Community-dwelling Women and Men. EClinicalMedicine  2019; 15: 23-32. (Senior author, corresponding author)

19. Shen M, He S, Yao N, Li R, Wang J, Zhong W, Wang J, Wang H, Xie L, Zhuang G, Zhang L, Chen T. Real-world clinical data-driven modelling on the initiation time of antiviral prophylaxis among pregnant women with chronic hepatitis B infection. J Hepatol 2024. (co-corresponding author)

20. 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. (Senior author, corresponding author)

21. 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. (Senior author, corresponding author)

22. 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. Journal of Infection 2021; 82(1): 48-59. (Senior author, corresponding author)

23. Soe NN, Latt PM, Yu Z, Lee D, Kim C-M, Tran D, Ong JJ, Ge Z, Fairley CK, Zhang L. Clinical features-based machine learning models to separate sexually transmitted infections from other skin diagnoses. Journal of Infection 2024: 106128. (Senior author, corresponding author)

24.Tao Y, Chen MY, Tucker JD, Ong JJ, Tang W, Wong NS, Chu M, Zhuang X,  Fairley CK, Zhang L. A Nationwide Spatiotemporal Analysis of      Syphilis over 21 Years and Implications for Prevention and Control in      China. Clinical  Infectious Diseases 2020; 70(1): 136-9. (Senior author, corresponding author)

25. Soe NN, Yu Z, Latt PM, Lee D, Ong JJ, Ge Z, Fairley CK, Zhang L. Evaluation of artificial intelligence-powered screening for sexually transmitted infections-related skin lesions using clinical images and metadata. BMC Medicine 2024; 22(1): 296. (Senior author, corresponding author)

26. Bao Y, Lu P, Wang M, Zhang X, Song A, Gu X, Ma T, Su S, Wang L, Shang X, Zhu Z, Zhai Y, He M, Li Z, Liu H, Fairley CK, Yang J, Zhang L. Exploring multimorbidity profiles in middle-aged inpatients: a network-based comparative study of China and the United Kingdom. BMC Medicine 2023; 21(1): 495. (Senior author, corresponding author)

27. Xu X, Chow EPF, Ong JJ, Hoebe C, Zou Z, Hocking JS, Fairley CK, Zhang L. Chlamydia trachomatis transmission between the oropharynx, urethra and anorectum in men who have sex with men: a mathematical model. BMC Medicine 2020; 18(1): 326. (Senior author, corresponding author)