Dr Abrar Chughtai

Dr Abrar Chughtai

Senior Lecturer

Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS)

Master in Public Health (MPH) in Infectious Diseases Epidemiology and Control

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Medicine & Health
School of Population Health

Abrar is a medical epidemiologist with more than 22 years of experience in the health sector, working with governmental, non-governmental, and international health organizations. He has substantial experience in public health programs and infectious diseases research, having worked with the World Health Organization (WHO) for many years. Currently, he is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Population Health at the University of New South Wales, Australia. He also serves as the Deputy Directo...

Phone
+61 (2) 93851009
E-mail
abrar.chughtai@unsw.edu.au

2020-2021 MRFF Research Grants A randomised controlled trial of mask use in control of respiratory outcomes during bushfire season MacIntyre, Shah, Seale, Chughtai

Alan Hodgkinson prize for outstanding contribution to teaching in 2020 from School of Population Health

Early career researcher teaching award in 2018 from School of Population Health

Finalist in the 2017 and 2021 Eureka Prizes

Won the CAPHIA Research Team Prize in 2017

“Best Thesis Award” 2015 - School of Public Health and Community Medicine, UNSW

Dean’s Award from Faculty of Medicine UNSW (November 2013), acknowledging the achievements with the potential to become nationally competitive researcher

Competitive International Postgraduate Scholarship by University of New South Wales for PhD in Public Health and Community Medicine in Australia – 2012-2015

Competitive Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) scholarship for Master in Public Health in Australia – 2009

Abrar's research interests include infectious diseases epidemiology and control, vaccine-preventable diseases and surveillance. He is an emerging leader in hospital infection control research and has conducted numerous epidemiological, clinical, and policy studies to examine various non-pharmaceutical control measures, particularly the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) in both high and low-income countries.

His most significant research contributions have been in examining the role of facemasks in resource-limited settings. His research group has conducted the largest body of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the use of masks and respirators in Australia and internationally to date. Among the seven published RCTs on mask/respirator use in healthcare settings, four were conducted by his group. Due to this work, his research group was a finalist in the Australian Eureka Prizes in Infectious Diseases in 2017 and 2021 and won the CAPHIA Team Award in 2017 for Excellence and Innovation in Public Health Research.

He is also studying the association between infections and congenital anomalies, using large linked databases and the Australian & New Zealand Neonatal Network (ANZNN) dataset.

Since 2012, he has co-authored more than 170 publications that have been instrumental in the development and modification of national and international infection control policies.

Abrar has been working as temporary advisor/ consultant with Eastern Mediterranean Region of World Health Organisation. 

Abrar has an extensive experience of working in humanitarian emergencies in low resource settings.

Abrar has been appointed a member of the Human Research Advisory Panel: (HREAP) G: Health, Medical, Community and Social since September 2019. The membership on the panel is for three years and considered as a significant responsibility and an extremely important contribution to research in the University.

Abrar is also member of level 3 WHS committee in SPHCM UNSW since 2014. 

My Research Supervision

PhD, Masters, internship and independent learning program (ILP) students.

My Teaching

Currently convening two courses at School of Population Health

Outbreak investigation and intelligence (PHCM9788)

Communicable diseases (PHCM2004)