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

Zhao H, Zhu Y, Yin J, Sun Z, Fei S, Smith L, Longley RJ, Teklu T, Zhou X, Chen J, Wang Z, Mueller I, Zhou X, Kassegne K. Immunodominant B-cell epitopes for precision surveillance of Plasmodium vivax malaria. Emerging Microbes & Infections. 2026;15(1):10.1080/22221751.2026.2686473

Naung MT, Mazhari R, Longley RJ, Mehra S, Wong W, Bareng P, Laman M, Kiniboro B, Ome-Kaius M, Michon P, Beeson J, Takashima E, Nagaoka H, Takala-Harrison S, Tsuboi T, Robinson LJ, Mueller I, Barry AE. Protective immunity to clinical malaria is modified by the genetic diversity of P. falciparum antigens. Journal of Infection. 2026;93(4):10.1016/j.jinf.2026.106845

Tacoli C, Grimée M, Smith L, Bourke C, Lorn T, Mazhari R, Witkowski B, White M, Longley RJ, Mueller I, Popovici J. Validation of serological markers of recent exposure to Plasmodium vivax in Cambodia: a longitudinal cohort and cross-sectional study. The Lancet Regional Health – Western Pacific. 2026;74:10.1016/j.lanwpc.2026.101966

Lim PS, Bernal J, Karunarathne J, Longley RJ. Malaria serology for surveillance, insights into immunity, and vaccine development. Infection and Immunity. 2026;94(8):10.1128/iai.00031-26

Hafidzah M, Degaga TS, Christian M, Alam MS, Hossain MS, Baird JK, Sutano I, Smith L, Argyropoulos DC, Amelia AR, Noviyanti R, Robinson LJ, Price RN, Mueller I, Thriemer K, Longley RJ. Predicting Risk of Plasmodium Vivax Microscopy-Detected Episodes Using Serological Markers in Patients With Plasmodium falciparum Malaria: A Multicountry Diagnostic Performance Evaluation. Journal of Infectious Diseases. 2026;233(6):10.1093/infdis/jiag164

Bareng APN, Wu KW, Takashima E, Argyropoulos DC, Smith L, Naung MT, Mazhari R, Schoffer K, Kiernan-Walker N, Abraham A, Lamont M, Mehra S, Lim PS, Sattabongkot J, Monteiro W, Lacerda M, Healer J, Chitnis CE, Tham W-H, Tsuboi T, Mueller I, Barry AE, Longley RJ. Assessing the effect of parasite antigen genetic diversity on performance of Plasmodium vivax serological exposure markers for malaria: a multicentre observational diagnostic accuracy study. The Lancet Microbe. 2026;7(6):10.1016/j.lanmic.2025.101335

Sripoorote P, Inthitanon N, Wattanagoon Y, Lim PS, Cui L, Sattabongkot J, Parker DM, Nguitragool W, Chotirat S, Longley RJ, Aung PL. Sociodemographic and behavioral determinants of Plasmodium vivax-specific antibody responses among short-term Myanmar migrants in Thailand. Malaria Journal. 2026;25(1):10.1186/s12936-026-05921-0

Opi DH, Longley RJ, Takashima E, Spelman T, Tayipto Y, Schoffer K, Brewster J, Reiling L, Wines BD, Kiniboro B, Siba P, Harbers M, Hogarth M, Tsuboi T, Robinson LJ, Mueller I, Beeson JG. A longitudinal study of children identifies antibody Fc-mediated functions and antigen targets of immunity to Plasmodium vivax malaria. Immunity. 2026;59(3):10.1016/j.immuni.2026.02.003

Seager BA, Lim PS, Xiao X, Lai KH, Feufack-Donfack LB, Dass S, Jung NC, Abraham A, Grigg MJ, Anstey NM, William T, Sattabongkot J, Leis A, Longley RJ, Duraisingh MT, Popovici J, Wilson DW, Cowman AF, Scally SW. PTRAMP, CSS and Ripr form a conserved complex required for merozoite invasion of Plasmodium species into erythrocytes. Nature Communications. 2026;17(1):10.1038/s41467-026-68486-1

Moreira-Nascimento SL, Nascimento MFA, Fernandes GM, Afonso SL, Gunderman VHG, Rodrigues BA, Lopes SCP, Fabbri C, Lacerda MVG, Almeida GG, Longley RJ, Mueller I, Antonelli LRDV, Ntumngia FB, Adams JH, Teixeira-Carvalho A, Carvalho LH, Kano FS. Cytokine signatures associated with persistent antibody responses to multiple Plasmodium vivax blood-stage antigens. Frontiers in Immunology. 2026;17:10.3389/fimmu.2026.1899417