
Sunrise over Point Lookout,
New England National Park, NSW, Australia

Laura Grogan
Qualifications
BSc(Vet) (Hons I) BVSc (Hons I) PhD
Position
Australian Research Council Discovery Early Career Research Award (DECRA) Senior Research Fellow
Team Leader
Contact details
Address:
Centre for Planetary Health and Food Security,
Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus,
G24_3.13, Parklands Drive, Southport, QLD, Australia, 4215
Email: l.grogan"at"griffith.edu.au
Research Overview and current projects
I work at the interface of disease ecology/epidemiology and pathogenesis/immunology of infectious diseases of wildlife, unpacking our understanding of the relative importance of processes occurring at these two scales for outcomes on both the individual host and host population. My current research focuses on koala chlamydiosis and amphibian chytridiomycosis.
Background
I completed my Bachelor of Veterinary Science and Bachelor of Science (Veterinary) degrees at The University of Sydney. My BSc(Vet) involved research into the ecology and health of Brushtailed possums in the Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney. I undertook my PhD degree at James Cook University (Townsville), in collaboration with Taronga Zoo Conservation Society and the Queensland Institute of Medical Research Berghofer. My PhD focused on the immunology and epidemiology of chytridiomycosis in Australian frogs.
Research Keywords
Disease, wildlife, conservation, ecology, epidemiology, chytridiomycosis, koalas, frogs, anurans, amphibians, mark-recapture, multi-state, chlamydia, modelling
Career Goal
My career goal is to contribute to leading international developments in wildlife disease ecology/epidemiology and wildlife conservation research whilst advancing public education and improving ecosystem sustainability.
Supervision
Co-Principal supervisor
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Thais Sasso Lopes (PhD candidate): "Bringing together ecology and mathematical modelling to understand the recovery of amphibian populations following declines caused by the amphibian chytrid fungus"
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Madelyn Mangan (PhD candidate): "Characterizing the genetic and demographic factors responsible for varying chytridiomycosis susceptibility across amphibian species, populations and life stages"
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Josie Humphries (PhD candidate): "Assessing the resistance of Fleay’s barred frog (Mixophyes fleayi) to chytridiomycosis using immune and transcriptomic analyses"
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Preeti Sharma (PhD candidate): "Evolution of immune response in Australian frog species surviving or recovered from chytridiomycosis"


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Felix Requena Garcia (PhD candidate): "Emerging infectious fungal disease (Nannazziopsis spp.) in free-living eastern water dragons, and relationships with social behaviour"
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Simon Roach (Honours candidate): "Effects of firefighting chemicals on endangered Fleay's barred frog tadpoles (Mixophyes fleayi), and influences on community ecology"
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Natalie McLeod (Honours candidate): "Call phenology and population ecology of the Kroombit Tinker frog"
Co-Supervisor
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Matthijs Hollanders (PhD candidate, Southern Cross University): "Understanding chytridiomycosis: Field testing next-gen epidemiological models in an Endangered Australian frog"
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Brad Dreis (PhD candidate): "Ecology of the Black-throated Finch (southern) in the Desert Uplands region, Queensland"
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John van Osta (PhD candidate): "Tracking the movement of a granivorous finch species, Poephila cincta cincta"
Past Supervision
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Stephen Molan (Honours alumnus, First Class Honours and Academic Excellence Award): "Surveying threatened tusked frog (Adelotus brevis) populations and frog communities in a sub-tropical urban-rural matrix"
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Kate Tunstill (Honours alumna, First Class Honours): "The effect of firefighting chemicals on frog health"
Publications
2022
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Grogan, L. F., Mangan, M. J., McCallum, H. I. (accepted 29 Oct 2022) Amphibian infection tolerance to chytridiomycosis. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B, Doi: 10.1098/rstb.2022.0133 (IF 6.671).
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Tunstill, K., Grogan, L. F., Morrison, C., McCallum, H., Lanctôt, C. M. (accepted 11 Oct 2022) Effects of two firefighting chemical formulations, Phos–Chek LC95W and BlazeTamer380, on striped marsh frog (Limodynastes peronii) tadpole survival, growth, development and behaviour. Aquatic Toxicology. (IF 4.964).
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Humphries, J. E., Lanctôt, C. M., Robert, J., McCallum, H. I., Newell, D. A., Grogan, L. F. (accepted 9 Aug 2022) Do immune system changes at metamorphosis predict vulnerability to chytridiomycosis? An update. Developmental and Comparative Immunology. (IF 3.636).
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Hollanders, M., Grogan, L. F., Nock, C. J., McCallum, H. I., Newell, D. A. (accepted 23 Jun 2022) Recovered frog populations coexist with endemic Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis despite load-dependent mortality. Ecological Applications. (IF 4.657).
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Kerlin, D. H., Grogan, L. F., McCallum, H. I. (accepted 27/04/2022) Insights and inferences on koala conservation from records of koalas arriving to care in Southeast Queensland. Wildlife Research (IF 1.410).
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Brannelly, L. A., Scheele, B. C., Grogan, L. F. (in press) Disease and the endangered alpine tree frog: bridging research, conservation and management. Book chapter in Strategies for Conservation Success in Herpetology (ed. Walls S.C., O'Donnell K.M.) Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, Herpetological Conservation Series, Vol 4. (BOOK CHAPTER).
2021
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Scheele, B. C., Hollanders, M., Hoffmann, E., Newell, D., Lindenmayer, D., McFadden, M., Gilbert, D., Grogan, L. F. (2021) Conservation translocations for amphibian species threatened by chytrid fungus: A review, conceptual framework, and recommendations. Conservation Science and Practice. (IF 3.233).
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Sasso, T., McCallum, H., Grogan, L. (2021) Occurrence of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis within and between species: a review of influential variables as identified from field studies. Biological Conservation (IF 5.23).
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Brannelly, L. A., Webb, R. J., Jiang, Z., Berger, L., Skerratt, L. F., Grogan, L. F. (2021) Declining amphibians might be evolving increased reproductive effort in the face of devastating disease. Evolution (IF 3.573). https://doi.org/10.1111/evo.14327
2020
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Grogan L. F., Humphries J. E., Robert J., Lanctôt C. M., Nock C. J., Newell D. A., McCallum H. I. (2020) Immunological Aspects of Chytridiomycosis. Journal of Fungi. 2020; 6(4):234 (link) (IF 4.621).
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Flies, A. S. and Wild Comparative Immunology Consortium (inclu. Grogan, L. F.) (2020) Rewilding Immunology. Science 369(6499):37-38 (link) (IF 41.063).
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Brannelly L. A., McCallum H. I., Grogan L. F., Briggs C. J., Ribas M. P., Hollanders M., Sasso T., Familiar López M., Newell D. A. & Kilpatrick A. M. (early view) Mechanisms underlying host persistence following amphibian disease emergence determine appropriate management strategies. Ecology Letters (link) (IF 8.699).
2019
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Martin, L. B., Addison, B., Bean, A. G. D., Buchanan, K. L., Crino, O. L., Eastwood, J. R., Flies, A. S., Hamede, R., Hill, G. E., Klaassen, M., Koch, R. E., Martens, J. M., Napolitano, C., Narayan, E. J., Peacock, L., Peel, A. J., Peters, A., Raven, N., Risely, A., Roast, M. J., Rollins, L. A., Ruiz-Aravena, M., Selechnik, D., Stokes, H. S., Ujvari, B., Grogan, L. F. (2019) Extreme competence: keystone hosts of infections. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 34(4):P303-314 (link) (IF 15.938).
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Claytor, S. C., Gummer, J., Grogan L., Skerratt, L., Webb, R., Brannelly, L., Berger, L., Roberts, A. (Early view) Susceptibility of frogs to chytridiomycosis correlates with increased levels of immunomodulatory serotonin in the skin. Cellular Microbiology https://doi.org/10.1111/cmi.13089 (link) (IF 4.410).
2018
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Grogan, L. F., Robert, J., Berger, L., Skerratt, L. F., Scheele, B. C., Castley, J. G., Newell, D. A., McCallum, H. I. (2018) Review of the amphibian immune response to chytridiomycosis, and future directions. Frontiers in Immunology, 9:2536, doi.org/10,3389/fimmu.2018.02536 (link) (IF 5.511).
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Grogan, L. F., Skerratt, L. F., Berger, L., Cashins, S. D., Trengove, R. D., Gummer, J. P. A. (2018) Chytridiomycosis causes catastrophic organism-wide metabolic dysregulation including profound failure of cellular energy pathways. Scientific Reports, 8:8188, doi:10.1038/s41598-018-26427-z (link) (IF 4.122).
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Grogan, L. F., Cashins, S. D., Skerratt, L. F., Berger, L., McFadden, M. S., Harlow, P., Hunter, D. A., Scheele, B. C., Mulvenna, J. (2018) Evolution of resistance to chytridiomycosis is associated with a robust early immune response. Molecular Ecology, doi:10.1111/MEC.14493 (link) (IF 6.131).
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Grogan, L. F., Mulvenna, J., Gummer, J. P. A., Scheele, B. C., Berger, L., Cashins, S. D., McFadden, M. S., Harlow, P., Hunter, D. A., Trengove, R. D., Skerratt, L. F. (2018) Survival, gene and metabolite responses of Litoria verreauxii alpina frogs to fungal disease chytridiomycosis. Scientific Data, doi:10.1038/sdata.2018.33 (link) (IF 5.305).
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Grogan, L. F., Peel, A. J., Kerlin, D., Ellis, W., Jones, D., Hero, J.-M., McCallum, H. (2018) Is disease a major causal factor in declines? An evidence framework and case study on koala chlamydiosis. Biological Conservation 221:334-344 (link) (IF 4.660).
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Martel, A., Pasmans, F., Fisher, M.C., Grogan, L.F., Skerratt, L.F., Berger, L. (2018) Chytridiomycosis, in Seyedmousavi, de Hoog, Guillot, and Verweij (editors) Emerging and Epizootic Fungal Infections in Animals. Springer publishing, Switzerland (link) (BOOK CHAPTER).
2017
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Scheele, B. C., Skerratt, L. F., Grogan, L. F., Hunter, D. A., Clemann, N., McFadden, M., Newell, D., Hoskin, C. J., Gillespie, G. R., Heard, G. W., Brannelly, L., Roberts, A. A., Berger, L. (2017) After the epidemic: Ongoing declines, stabilizations and recoveries in amphibians afflicted by chytridiomycosis. Biological Conservation 206:37–46 (link) (IF 4.660).
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Preece, N. D., Abell, S. E., Grogan, L., Wayne, A., Skerratt, L. F., van Oosterzee, P., Shima, A. L., Daszak, P., Field, H., Reiss, A., Berger, L., Rymer, T. L., Fisher, D. O., Lawes, M. J., Laurance, S. G., McCallum, H., Esson, C., Epstein, J. H. (2017) A guide for ecologists: Detecting the role of disease in faunal declines and managing population recovery. Biological Conservation 214:136-146 (link) (IF 4.660).
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Grogan, L. F., Jones, D., Hero, J.-M., Ellis, W., Kerlin, D., McCallum, H. (2017) Current trends and future directions in koala chlamydial disease research. Biological Conservation 215:179-188 (link) (IF 4.660).
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SpectralWorks Ltd. (2017) Using AnalyzerPro for Metabolomics. Application Note for mass spectrometry analysis. Accessed online: http://www.spectralworks.net/Downloads/FrogDataTutorial.pdf (21 July, 2017). (This software tutorial used my alpine tree frog (Litoria verreauxii alpina) tissue samples to demonstrate the tutorial methodologies; my contribution is acknowledged on page 15).
2016
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Grogan, L. F., Phillott, A. D., Scheele, B. C., Berger, L., Cashins, S. D., Bell, S. C., Puschendorf, R., and Skerratt, L. F. (2016). Endemicity of chytridiomycosis features pathogen overdispersion. Journal of Animal Ecology 85(3):806-16; doi: 10.1111/1365-2656.12500) (link) (IF 4.460).
2015
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Bataille, A., Cashins, S., Grogan, L., Skerratt, L., Hunter, D., McFaddan, M., Scheele, B., Brannelly, L., Macris, A., Harlow, P., Bell, S., Berger, L., Waldman, B. (2015). Susceptibility of amphibians to chytridiomycosis is associated with MHC class II conformation. Proceedings of the Royal Society B 282:20143127 (link) (IF 4.847).
2014
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Grogan, L. F., Berger, L., Rose, K., Grillo, V., Cashins, S. D., Skerratt, L. F. (2014). Surveillance for emerging biodiversity diseases of wildlife. PLoS Pathogens, 10(5):e1004015 (link) (IF 6.158).
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Scheele, B. C., Hunter, D., Grogan, L., Berger, L., Kolby, J., McFadden, M., Marantelli, G., Skerratt, L., Driscoll, D. (2014) Interventions for reducing extinction risk in chytridiomycosis-threatened amphibians. Conservation Biology 28(5):1195-1205 (link) (IF 5.890).
2013
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Cashins, S. D., L. F. Grogan, M. McFadden, D. Hunter, P. S. Harlow, L. Berger and L. F. Skerratt. (2013). Prior infection does not improve survival against the amphibian disease chytridiomycosis. Plos One 8: 7 (link) (IF 2.766).
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Phillott, A. D., L. F. Grogan, S. D. Cashins, K. R. McDonald, L. Berger and L. F. Skerratt. (2013). Chytridiomycosis and seasonal mortality of tropical stream-associated frogs 15 years after introduction of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. Conservation Biology 27:1058-1068 (link) (IF 5.890) (Please note: L.F.G. was corresponding author, did the analysis and wrote the paper).
2010
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Piermarini, P.M., Grogan, L.F., Lau, K., Wang, L., Beyenbach, K.W. (2010). A SLC4-like anion exchanger from renal tubules of the mosquito (Aedes aegypti): evidence for a novel role of stellate cells in diuretic fluid secretion, Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 298:R642-R660 (link) (IF 3.082).
2009
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Piermarini, PM, Grogan, LF, Wang, L, Beyenbach, KW (2009) The other half of the insect SLC4 family: a Cl/HCO3 anion exchanger from mosquito renal tubules. The FASEB Journal, 23(1_MeetingAbstracts):800.4 (link) (IF 5.595).
Academic experience and education and training
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2022 to present - ARC DECRA Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Planetary Health and Food Security, Griffith University (Gold Coast Campus, QLD, Australia)
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2015 to present - Lecturer and Sessional Lecturer (3331ENV Ecology and Conservation of Populations, 3992SCG Science Capstone Course, 3608ENV Wildlife Ecology Field Course, 3607ENV Vertebrate Biology, 2303ENV Zoology, and 2251ENV Animal Diversity)
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2021-2022 - ARC DECRA Research Fellow, Centre for Planetary Health and Food Security, Griffith University (Gold Coast Campus, QLD, Australia)
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2015-2021 - Research Fellow, Environmental Futures Research Institute, Griffith University (Nathan Campus, QLD, Australia)
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2010-2014 - Doctor of Philosophy (Wildlife Epidemiology), James Cook University (Townsville, Queensland, Australia), Supervisors: Dr. Lee Skerratt, Dr. Richard Speare, Dr. Lee Berger, Dr. Erica Rosenblum, Dr. Scott Cashins
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2006-2007 - Bachelor of Veterinary Science (4th and 5th years), University of Sydney, Australia, Weighted Average Mark (WAM) as at completion of 4th year: 81.16, Awarded: BVSc with First Class Honours 14th December 2007
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2005 - Bachelor of Science (Veterinary), University of Sydney, Australia, Supervisor: Assoc Prof Tony English. Thesis: “Management Strategies for Brushtail Possums in the Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney”, Mark: High distinction, mark of 85,
Awarded: BSc(Vet) with First Class Honours 15th December 2006
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2002-2004 - Bachelor of Veterinary Science (1st to 3rd year), University of Sydney, Australia
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2001 - Higher School Certificate (HSC), Dux of Trinity Catholic College, Lismore, NSW, Australia, Universities Admission Index (UAI): 99.9, Subjects undertaken included Mathematics Extension 2, Mathematics Extension 1, Physics, Chemistry, English Extension 1, Advanced English, Drama, Studies of Religion
Professional Memberships
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International Wildlife Disease Association (Australasian section)
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Wildlife Health Australia (formerly Australian Wildlife Health Network)
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Birdlife Australia
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Sydney University Veterinary Society
Links
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My research & teaching website and blog are here: www.lauragrogan-research.com
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My Research Gate profile is here: www.researchgate.net/profile/Laura_Grogan
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Photographing birds at Bowra Sanctuary. Photo credit: Thais Sasso Lopes