About
Dr Fasil is an infectious disease epidemiologist with expertise in neglected tropical diseases, tuberculosis and population health. His research examines the spatial distribution, transmission and control of infectious diseases, with a particular focus on strongyloidiasis, soil-transmitted helminths and tuberculosis. He has research experience across Australia and international settings, including the Asia-Pacific and Africa.
His methodological expertise spans spatial and spatiotemporal epidemiology, Bayesian modelling, longitudinal and linked data analysis, evidence synthesis and intervention research. He applies these approaches to define disease burden, identify high-risk populations and geographic areas and evaluate strategies for disease prevention and control.
Dr Fasil has held research roles at leading Australian institutions, including QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, the Australian National University and the Telethon Kids Institute. His work bridges epidemiological methods with applied infectious disease research in diverse populations and health systems.
Research Skills
Spatial epidemiology: Spatial and spatiotemporal analysis, disease mapping and geospatial risk assessment.
Advanced epidemiological methods: Bayesian modelling, longitudinal and linked data analysis and population health analysis.
Data integration: Integration of epidemiological, environmental, socioeconomic and geospatial data to investigate disease burden, transmission and health outcomes.
Evidence synthesis: Systematic reviews, meta-analysis and translation of evidence into public health practice.
Intervention research: Study design, intervention evaluation and implementation research for infectious disease prevention and control.
Research leadership: Multidisciplinary and international collaboration, scientific writing, grant development and communication of epidemiological evidence.
Area of Interest
Research interests centre on the epidemiology, transmission, prevention and control of infectious and neglected tropical diseases, with particular interests in tuberculosis, drug-resistant tuberculosis, strongyloidiasis and soil-transmitted helminth infections.
Key areas of interest include:
- Spatial and spatiotemporal patterns of infection
- Infectious disease surveillance, control and elimination
- One Health approaches to disease transmission and prevention
- Environmental and social determinants of infectious diseases
- Development and evaluation of interventions to improve prevention, treatment and control
- Infectious disease research across Australia, the Asia-Pacific and Africa
Professional Associations
- Southern Cross Australasian Travel Medicine Society
- Australian Society for Parasitology (ASP)
- Ethiopian Public Health Association
Funding
• ENGAGE CRE-NTD
• Antenna foundation
Research Projects
Current Research Projects
ENGAGE CRE-NTD
The impact of undernutrition on tuberculosis prevalence and treatment outcomes in Ethiopia.
Sublingual sugar as first-line treatment for hypoglycaemia in children with severe acute malnutrition: a non-inferiority randomised clinical trial.
Publications
Wagnew F, et al. Spatial distribution of and socio-ecological risk factors for strongyloidiasis in Australia. J Infect. 2026.
Wagnew F, et al. Impacts of body weight change on treatment outcomes in patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in Northwest Ethiopia. Sci Rep. 2024.
Wagnew F, et al. Undernutrition increases the risk of unsuccessful treatment outcomes of patients with tuberculosis in Ethiopia: a multicenter retrospective cohort study. J Infect. 2024.