Working groups
Infectious diseases - focus of her work
For almost two decades Margaret's work has centred around infectious diseases, preventing their transmission and identifying the impact of these infections in vulnerable populations. A researcher and clinician, her principal research interests are in the epidemiology of blood-borne viruses (BBVs) HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C, sexually transmitted infections, and improving the management of individuals who already have the infection. Margaret has considerable experience in undertaking community-based research involving young people, injecting drug users (IDUs) and vulnerable populations, and experience in research in tertiary care institutes. She also has considerable experience in undertaking research that used new technologies (such as SMS, Facebook) for health promotion and prevention interventions.
Translational Research
Margaret has over $73 million in competitive research grants and tenders. She was recently awarded an $11.3 million grant from the Paul Ramsay Foundation for hepatitis C elimination. She was also awarded a prestigious NHMRC Program Grant worth over $7 million. Margaret has over 440 peer reviewed publications including in high ranking journals such as the Lancet, GUT, Hepatology and Clinical Infectious Diseases. She has won prizes for her work including the Victorian Public Health Award for Program Excellence and VicHealth Award for Outstanding Achievement in Health Promotions. Margaret has considerable experience in translating research outcomes into health policy and practice. Examples include
Most significant publications
2022 (8)
The Optimise Study: COVID-19 related worry, acceptability of prevention measures and confidence in Government. (PUBLIC HEALTH REPORT) Jin D, Saich F, Heath K, Altermatt A, Merner B, Ryan R, Lusher D, Wang P, Pedrana A, Stoové M, Gibney K, Hellard M. The Optimise Study. August, 2022.
2021 (11)
2020 (1)
The World Health organization estimates that between 130 and 150 million people are chronically infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) worldwide (World Health Organisation, 2012, Woodall et al., 1994). People with untreated HCV are at increased risk of liver cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and liver-related mortality (Villano et al., 1997). HCV RNA testing, which generally follows a positive anti-HCV antibody test in a clinical setting, allows the detection of current HCV infection, thus indicating individuals for treatment and care options (Rongey et al., 2009, Scott et al., 2006, Piasecki et al., 2004). This review investigates the optimal time at which to perform HCV RNA tests in order to establish the presence of current infection, and to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with HCV infection.
A systematic review of immediate HCV RNA testing following HCV Antibody compared with HCV RNA testing at time of assessment for HCV therapy.China is confronted with a significant challenge in managing a substantial population afflicted with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV). An estimated 93 million individuals live with chronic hepatitis B, while 7 million individuals contend with chronic hepatitis C in China. Moreover, every year, approximately 300,000 deaths are attributed to hepatitis-related diseases in the country.
Overview of viral hepatitis treatment research in China. (WHO Report).Long COVID is estimated to be costing the Australian economy $3.6 billion annually.1 Partly because of the variation in the definition of long COVID
The Optimise Study: A rapid survey examining frequency, impacts of long COVID and associated concerns. (PUBLIC HEALTH REPORT)Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection affects more than 3% of the global population and poses a high economic burden (El Khoury et al., 2012, Georgel et al., 2010). Between 130 and 150 million people are chronically infected with hepatitis C, and it is a major cause of hepatocellular carcinoma and liver cirrhosis (Georgel et al., 2010, Coffin et al., 2012). Approved treatments include interferon-alpha (IFN), ribavirin (RBV), and HCV NS3 protease inhibitors. Other classes of agents including additional interferons and direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) have been studied for effectiveness and tolerability. The purpose of this rapid review is to assess the effectiveness of HCV anti-viral treatment (IFN, PEG-IFN, RBV) in terms of treatment response, adverse events, quality of life, morbidity, and mortality.
A systematic review of the effectiveness of antiviral treatment compared with no treatment for chronic HCV infection.In this study, we use Covasim to estimate the risk of Victoria experiencing a third COVID-19 epidemic wave if Stage 4 restrictions were eased on the 14th September 2020 or two weeks later on the 28th September.
Know COVID-19: Estimating risks associated with early reopening in VictoriaCOVID-19 mathematical modelling of the Victoria roadmap 2021.
Modelling the Victorian roadmap (PUBLIC HEALTH REPORT)This report evaluates the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on participants’ lives: their main concerns, risk perception, and confidence in the State and Federal Governments’ responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. This report focusses on trends over the past six months (between September 2021 and February 2022).
The Optimise Study: COVID-19 worry and perceptions about infection and potential severity. (PUBLiC HEALTH REPORT)This report focuses on: Average overall contacts between October 2020 and March 2021, Average contacts per setting, over time, The impact of contacts on mood and the influence of people's social network on attitudes toward vaccination.
The Optimise Study: Social networks and mixing patternsHepatitis C poses a significant public health concern in Australia, with over 170,000 individuals estimated to be living with chronic hepatitis C infection as of the beginning of 2017. Until the availability of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) for all Medicare-eligible Australians with hepatitis C infection on March 1st, 2016, there was a growing population of individuals living with hepatitis C. This trend was accompanied by an increasing burden of liver disease, rising rates of liver cancer, and premature deaths attributed to long-term hepatitis C infection.
2019: Australia’s progress towards hepatitis C elimination annual reportThe Medical Journal of Australia
Alisa Pedrana, Margaret Hellard
International Journal of Drug Policy
S. Griffin, Shelley Walker, Sophia Schroeder, Margaret Hellard, Mark Stoové, Rebecca Winter
Drug and Alcohol Review
Joshua Dawe, M. David Curtis, Jason Asselin, Charles Henderson, Paul Dietze, Margaret Hellard, Mark Stoové
This project delivers hepatitis C prevention, testing and treatment services and hepatitis B testing and vaccination services.
We use mathematical and economic models to inform global efforts to achieving the elimination of hepatitis B as a public health threat.
ACCESS Myanmar will implement and evaluate an electronic health records data linkage system that effectively monitors the progress of patients through HIV testing and treatment episodes of care across a network of partnering community and government services.
This pilot and feasibility study aimed to increase hepatitis B testing in Melbourne’s Chinese community.
This project aims to find out how Victorians are experiencing COVID-19 and responding to the measures introduced to stop the spread of the virus.