Zi Kang Ooi

Zi Kang Ooi is currently pursuing a PhD at the University of Melbourne, based at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI), under the supervision of Dr. Rhea Longley (WEHI) and Associate Professor Matthew Grigg (Menzies School of Health Research, Darwin). His research focuses on validating serological markers for recent exposure to Plasmodium knowlesi, investigating cross-reactivity with other Plasmodium species, and integrating these markers into existing multiplex serological panels for P. falciparum and P. vivax. Using machine learning, his aim is to develop a classification algorithm based on P. knowlesi responses, which will be applied to epidemiological data from cohorts in Indonesia and Malaysia. This work will contribute to the development of robust serosurveillance tools, providing insights into P. knowlesi exposure risks, its relationship with land-use changes, mosquito and monkey behavior, and the geographical extent of transmission over time, ultimately enabling more effective, spatially-targeted malaria control efforts.