Associate Professor Kefyalew Alene, based at Curtin University, is an infectious disease epidemiologist whose pioneering work is transforming global tuberculosis (TB) control. TB remains the world’s leading infectious killer, causing more than 10 million cases and over a million deaths every year. Despite being preventable and treatable, TB persists in hidden geographic hotspots shaped by social, environmental, and spatial factors, slowing progress toward elimination.
Dr Alene applies advanced geospatial analytics that combine clinical data, satellite imagery, and environmental information to produce high-resolution maps that pinpoint where TB and drug-resistant TB are most concentrated and what drives transmission. His research has directly informed national TB strategies across several countries, shifting responses from broad, untargeted efforts to precision, evidence-based interventions.
By quantifying the global burden of post-TB health consequences and developing practical, data-driven interventions, his work has shaped World Health Organization guidelines and accelerated progress toward global TB elimination helping save lives and improve health equity worldwide.