Dr Rhea Longley, Lab Head | WEHI Researcher Profile

Q: Serological markers of recent exposure to malaria

We are developing serological markers of recent exposure to malaria infections to aid elimination of this disease. We are doing so via the measurement of antibody responses in samples from cohort studies conducted in various malaria endemic regions around the world, along with the development of specialised diagnostic algorithms. This work is currently funded by: NHMRC Development Grant, Ramaciotti Health Investment Grant, eAsia Joint Research Program Grant and a NHMRC Emerging Leader Fellowship to Dr Longley.

Q: Identification of novel malaria vaccine candidates

We are utilising well-characterised epidemiological studies to support the discovery and validation of novel malaria vaccine candidates. People in malaria-endemic countries naturally gain immunity to clinical disease. We are investigating which proteins are good targets for a vaccine-induced protective immune response and how antibodies against these targets induce protection against clinical disease. Our recent studies focus on measurement of functional antibody responses and have been funded by an Australian Centre of Research Excellence in Malaria Elimination Seed Grant.

About

Rhea Longley completed her undergraduate degree and Honours at the University of Tasmania in Hobart, before moving to the United Kingdom to undertake her PhD at the Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, as a Rhodes Scholar. While there, Rhea developed a number of pre-clinical vaccines for malaria, and new models to test these vaccines in vitro and in vivo prior to clinical trials. Following her PhD, Rhea moved to Bangkok, Thailand, to undertake a joint postdoctoral position between Mahidol University and WEHI. Rhea spent two years working on the Thai-Myanmar border on a clinical study to follow individuals with malaria infections over time. In 2016, Rhea relocated to Melbourne to the lab of Ivo Mueller at WEHI, and utilised these samples to design novel serological exposure markers for malaria.

Based on these discoveries and expertise in immunology and infectious diseases, Rhea started her own lab at WEHI in 2025 funded by a Viertel Senior Medical Research Fellowship. She maintains strong collaborations in malaria-endemic countries, including an Adjunct Professorship at Mahidol University. Rhea’s team is focussed on understanding immune responses following malaria infection to develop novel tools and approaches to accelerate malaria elimination. They do this through access to human blood samples from endemic areas, utilising a number of immunological approaches. Rhea’s lab processes large epidemiological datasets, and has an emerging interest in the intersection of climate and health – given malaria is a climate-sensitive disease.

Rhea is invested in mentoring the next generation of scientists, with a focus on diversity and inclusion as evidenced by multiple extra-curricular roles and leadership positions on committees aiming to address inequality.

Education

Publications

Selected publications from Dr Rhea Longley

2025;

Bernal J, Macalinao ML, Cosca K, Boncayao B, Mueller I, Espino FEJ, Stresman G, Luchavez J, Longley RJ. Applying novel Plasmodium Vivax serological exposure markers to quantify residual malaria transmission in the Philippines through repeated health facility surveys: the SMaRT study protocol. BMC Infectious Diseases. 2025;25(1):10.1186/s12879-025-10934-2

Seager BA, Lim PS, Lai KH, Feufack-Donfack LB, Dass S, Xiao X, Jung NC, Abraham A, Grigg MJ, Anstey NM, William T, Sattabongkot J, Leis A, Longley RJ, Duraisingh MT, Popovici J, Wilson DW, Scally SW, Cowman AF. PTRAMP, CSS and Ripr form a conserved complex required for merozoite invasion of Plasmodium species into erythrocytes. 2025;:10.1101/2025.03.25.644866

Borger JG, Longley RJ, Taylor MF, Motrich R, Payne JA, Kemp RA. Global perspectives to enhance strategies for advancing women in healthcare and STEMM leadership. Immunology and Cell Biology. 2025;103(3):10.1111/imcb.12854

D J, Krauss L, Smith L, D’Andrea L, Chan L-J, Abraham A, Kiernan-Walker N, Mazhari R, Lamont M, Lim PS, Sattabongkot J, Lacerda MV, Wini L, Mueller I, Longley RJ, Pymm P, Fleishman SJ, Tham W-H. Stabilized designs of the malaria adhesin protein PvRBP2b for use as a potential diagnostic for Plasmodium vivax. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 2025;301(3):10.1016/j.jbc.2025.108290

Longley RJ, Samson AL, Atkin‐Smith G, Hulyer ARC, Ashton T, Davidson NM. From pipettes to playdates: establishing a parent support group in a research setting. Immunology and Cell Biology. 2025;103(3):10.1111/imcb.70004

Tacoli C, Thin S, Ea M, Khim N, Orban A, Lek D, Longley RJ, White M, Robinson LJ, Witkowski B, Mueller I, Popovici J. Evaluating the technical feasibility of serological testing and treatment for Plasmodium vivax in mobile at-risk of malaria Cambodian populations. The Lancet Regional Health – Western Pacific. 2025;56:10.1016/j.lanwpc.2025.101518

Commons RJ, Rajasekhar M, Allen EN, Yilma D, Chotsiri P, Abreha T, Adam I, Awab GR, Barber BE, Brasil LW, Chu CS, Cui L, Edler P, do Socorro M Gomes M, Gonzalez‑Ceron L, Grigg MJ, Hamid MMA, Hwang J, Karunajeewa H, Lacerda MVG, Ladeia-Andrade S, Leslie T, Longley RJ, Monteiro WM, Pasaribu AP, Poespoprodjo JR, Richmond CL, Rijal KR, Taylor WRJ, Thanh PV, Thriemer K, Vieira JLF, White NJ, Zuluaga-Idarraga LM, Workman LJ, Tarning J, Stepniewska K, Guerin PJ, Simpson JA, Barnes KI, Price RN, Group WARNPPVS, Adhikari B, Alam MS, Anstey NM, Assefa A, Baird JK, Boyd SC, Chau NH, Day NP, Degaga TS, Dondorp AM, Erhart A, Ferreira MU, Ghimire P, Khan WA, Ley B, Mekuria AH, Mueller I, Naadim MN, Nosten F, Price DJ, Pukrittayakamee S, Rowland M, Sattabongkot J, SuarezKurtz G, Sutanto I, von Seidlein L, William T, Woodrow CJ, Woyessa A. Primaquine for uncomplicated Plasmodium vivax malaria in children younger than 15 years: a systematic review and individual patient data meta-analysis. The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health. 2024;8(11):10.1016/s2352-4642(24)00210-4

Kosasih A, Utami RAS, Noviyanti R, Elyazar IRF, Lestari KD, Raimanus VS, Longley RJ, Baird JK, Robinson LJ, Sutanto I, Mueller I. Agreement between serological data on schoolchildren and the number of malaria cases in the remaining high-burden villages of Indonesia. Frontiers in Malaria. 2024;2:10.3389/fmala.2024.1362585

Longley RJ, Malinga J, Hesping E, Sutanto E, DonVito SM, Kucharski M, Oyong DA, Verhoef JMJ, Du E, Villasis E, Mwikali K. MAM 2024: Malaria in a changing world. Trends in Parasitology. 2024;40(5):10.1016/j.pt.2024.03.007