Finn McQuaid
@cfmcquaid.bsky.social
Associate Prof in Infectious Disease Epi at LSHTM, member of
TB modelling group, TB MAC, TB Centre, CMMID. Rhodes Uni & Bath Uni alumni
TB modelling group, TB MAC, TB Centre, CMMID. Rhodes Uni & Bath Uni alumni
Reposted by Finn McQuaid
#tuberculosis #modeling #fellowship with lovely & great people at Johns Hopkins (deadline 31 January) drive.google.com/file/d/12lK8...
postdoc_ad_jan2026_final.pdf
drive.google.com
January 8, 2026 at 6:57 PM
#tuberculosis #modeling #fellowship with lovely & great people at Johns Hopkins (deadline 31 January) drive.google.com/file/d/12lK8...
Reposted by Finn McQuaid
I am extremely confused as to why the UK government and police are saying Grok’s mass-scale CSAM generation is an issue for Ofcom.
This isn’t about X failing to moderate CSAM, which is an Online Safety Act issue. It is about the company and its technology being actively involved in its generation.
This isn’t about X failing to moderate CSAM, which is an Online Safety Act issue. It is about the company and its technology being actively involved in its generation.
January 7, 2026 at 7:37 AM
I am extremely confused as to why the UK government and police are saying Grok’s mass-scale CSAM generation is an issue for Ofcom.
This isn’t about X failing to moderate CSAM, which is an Online Safety Act issue. It is about the company and its technology being actively involved in its generation.
This isn’t about X failing to moderate CSAM, which is an Online Safety Act issue. It is about the company and its technology being actively involved in its generation.
Reposted by Finn McQuaid
NEW PREPRINT!
We systematically reviewed molecular epidemiology studies looking at strain discordance in pairs of people with TB disease and history of household contact
We found 30 studies from 18 countries. Excluding 4 studies at high risk of bias, we had data on 1544 household case pairs
[1/n]
We systematically reviewed molecular epidemiology studies looking at strain discordance in pairs of people with TB disease and history of household contact
We found 30 studies from 18 countries. Excluding 4 studies at high risk of bias, we had data on 1544 household case pairs
[1/n]
Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex Strain Discordance Among People With Tuberculosis and a History of Household Contact, a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Background: In this systematic review of molecular epidemiology studies, we describe the prevalence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex strain discordance amo
papers.ssrn.com
December 20, 2025 at 1:51 PM
NEW PREPRINT!
We systematically reviewed molecular epidemiology studies looking at strain discordance in pairs of people with TB disease and history of household contact
We found 30 studies from 18 countries. Excluding 4 studies at high risk of bias, we had data on 1544 household case pairs
[1/n]
We systematically reviewed molecular epidemiology studies looking at strain discordance in pairs of people with TB disease and history of household contact
We found 30 studies from 18 countries. Excluding 4 studies at high risk of bias, we had data on 1544 household case pairs
[1/n]
Reposted by Finn McQuaid
South Africa has made much progress in reducing poverty and income inequality over the last 30 years. But what does this mean for HIV, STIs and teenage pregnancy? Our new study assesses this: dx.plos.org/10.1371/jour...
Evaluation of economic strengthening in South Africa and its impact on HIV, sexually transmitted infections, and teenage births: A modelling study
Using a modelling framework, Leigh Johnson and colleagues predict limited effects of economic strengthening interventions that aim to reduce HIV, sexually transmitted infections and teenage births in ...
dx.plos.org
December 19, 2025 at 6:23 AM
South Africa has made much progress in reducing poverty and income inequality over the last 30 years. But what does this mean for HIV, STIs and teenage pregnancy? Our new study assesses this: dx.plos.org/10.1371/jour...
Reposted by Finn McQuaid
Symposium & workshop on inequalities in infectious disease dynamics at LSHTM in April 2026. We aim to will bring together leading researchers and practitioners to share ideas, discuss recent advances, and reflect on future directions. Details & application: iddconf.org/lshtm-sympos... Closing 21 Jan
Social Inequalities in Infectious Disease Dynamics: a Symposium and Workshop
iddconf.org
December 16, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Symposium & workshop on inequalities in infectious disease dynamics at LSHTM in April 2026. We aim to will bring together leading researchers and practitioners to share ideas, discuss recent advances, and reflect on future directions. Details & application: iddconf.org/lshtm-sympos... Closing 21 Jan
Reposted by Finn McQuaid
🗞️ ICYMI: recent framework led by @cfmcquaid.bsky.social & members at @lshtm.bsky.social looked at impact of climate change on the #TB epidemic
Framework shows why TB needs to be considered a climate-sensitive disease & the steps required
Read paper 🔽
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
Framework shows why TB needs to be considered a climate-sensitive disease & the steps required
Read paper 🔽
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
Climate change and tuberculosis: an analytical framework
Climate change is likely to exacerbate a range of determinants that drive tuberculosis,
the world's leading cause of death from a single infectious agent. However, tuberculosis
is often neglected in w...
www.thelancet.com
December 9, 2025 at 12:09 PM
🗞️ ICYMI: recent framework led by @cfmcquaid.bsky.social & members at @lshtm.bsky.social looked at impact of climate change on the #TB epidemic
Framework shows why TB needs to be considered a climate-sensitive disease & the steps required
Read paper 🔽
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
Framework shows why TB needs to be considered a climate-sensitive disease & the steps required
Read paper 🔽
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
Reposted by Finn McQuaid
Everyone in TB talks about “nutrition matters.”
But what happens when you actually ask households with TB what kind of nutritional support works for them?
We did exactly that through the TB LENS qualitative study in South India.
tinyurl.com/mr42k9k8
But what happens when you actually ask households with TB what kind of nutritional support works for them?
We did exactly that through the TB LENS qualitative study in South India.
tinyurl.com/mr42k9k8
Tuberculosis- learning about experience with nutritional supplementation (TB LENS): Perspectives on a nutritional supplementation for persons with TB and their household contacts
Undernutrition is a major driver of the tuberculosis (TB) epidemic, with one in five TB cases worldwide attributable to undernutrition. Nutritional interventions may reduce TB incidence and mortali...
tinyurl.com
December 1, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Everyone in TB talks about “nutrition matters.”
But what happens when you actually ask households with TB what kind of nutritional support works for them?
We did exactly that through the TB LENS qualitative study in South India.
tinyurl.com/mr42k9k8
But what happens when you actually ask households with TB what kind of nutritional support works for them?
We did exactly that through the TB LENS qualitative study in South India.
tinyurl.com/mr42k9k8
Reposted by Finn McQuaid
#2 Epidemiological modelling of the impact and mitigation of climate change on tuberculosis
mrc-lid.lshtm.ac.uk/2026-27-proj...
with myself, @mjsaunder.bsky.social & Helen Stagg
mrc-lid.lshtm.ac.uk/2026-27-proj...
with myself, @mjsaunder.bsky.social & Helen Stagg
2026-27 Project (McQuaid & Saunders & Stagg) - MRC London Intercollegiate Doctoral Training Partnership Studentships
Epidemiological modelling of the impact and mitigation of climate change on tuberculosis SUPERVISORY TEAM Supervisor...
mrc-lid.lshtm.ac.uk
November 18, 2025 at 2:49 PM
#2 Epidemiological modelling of the impact and mitigation of climate change on tuberculosis
mrc-lid.lshtm.ac.uk/2026-27-proj...
with myself, @mjsaunder.bsky.social & Helen Stagg
mrc-lid.lshtm.ac.uk/2026-27-proj...
with myself, @mjsaunder.bsky.social & Helen Stagg
Reposted by Finn McQuaid
Another successful "Intro to TB Modelling" course in Copenhagen at #WLHC2025. Over 70 joined to learn about TB modelling!
Followed by the now-traditional TB Modelling and Analysis Consortium social, which was also very well-attended and a lot of fun.
Followed by the now-traditional TB Modelling and Analysis Consortium social, which was also very well-attended and a lot of fun.
November 24, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Another successful "Intro to TB Modelling" course in Copenhagen at #WLHC2025. Over 70 joined to learn about TB modelling!
Followed by the now-traditional TB Modelling and Analysis Consortium social, which was also very well-attended and a lot of fun.
Followed by the now-traditional TB Modelling and Analysis Consortium social, which was also very well-attended and a lot of fun.
@lshtm-tbmod.bsky.social is offering multiple PhD opportunities through MRC LID, deadline 14 Jan. More details: mrc-lid.lshtm.ac.uk/applicants/
Projects include
#1 TB & screening
#2 TB & climate change
#3 TB & vaccines
#4 TB & influenza
#5 TB & prevention
@cmmid-lshtm.bsky.social @lshtm.bsky.social
Projects include
#1 TB & screening
#2 TB & climate change
#3 TB & vaccines
#4 TB & influenza
#5 TB & prevention
@cmmid-lshtm.bsky.social @lshtm.bsky.social
Information for applicants - MRC London Intercollegiate Doctoral Training Partnership Studentships
MRC LID studentship information for applicants How to Apply Projects Studentship funding Studentship options Studentship...
mrc-lid.lshtm.ac.uk
November 18, 2025 at 2:49 PM
@lshtm-tbmod.bsky.social is offering multiple PhD opportunities through MRC LID, deadline 14 Jan. More details: mrc-lid.lshtm.ac.uk/applicants/
Projects include
#1 TB & screening
#2 TB & climate change
#3 TB & vaccines
#4 TB & influenza
#5 TB & prevention
@cmmid-lshtm.bsky.social @lshtm.bsky.social
Projects include
#1 TB & screening
#2 TB & climate change
#3 TB & vaccines
#4 TB & influenza
#5 TB & prevention
@cmmid-lshtm.bsky.social @lshtm.bsky.social
Reposted by Finn McQuaid
What’s a #UnionConf without the TB modelling course? Packed room again for a long day of intro to modelling.
@lshtm-tbmod.bsky.social @tb-mac.bsky.social #WCLH2025 #TBSky
@lshtm-tbmod.bsky.social @tb-mac.bsky.social #WCLH2025 #TBSky
November 18, 2025 at 10:28 AM
What’s a #UnionConf without the TB modelling course? Packed room again for a long day of intro to modelling.
@lshtm-tbmod.bsky.social @tb-mac.bsky.social #WCLH2025 #TBSky
@lshtm-tbmod.bsky.social @tb-mac.bsky.social #WCLH2025 #TBSky
Reposted by Finn McQuaid
🌍 Climate change and #tuberculosis
🔹 Commissioned by @whowpro.bsky.social, the authors developed an analytical framework outlining potential causal relationships between climate change and TB, highlighting the need to consider TB as a climate-sensitive disease
🖇️ tinyurl.com/4ccn5kad
🔹 Commissioned by @whowpro.bsky.social, the authors developed an analytical framework outlining potential causal relationships between climate change and TB, highlighting the need to consider TB as a climate-sensitive disease
🖇️ tinyurl.com/4ccn5kad
November 6, 2025 at 11:35 AM
🌍 Climate change and #tuberculosis
🔹 Commissioned by @whowpro.bsky.social, the authors developed an analytical framework outlining potential causal relationships between climate change and TB, highlighting the need to consider TB as a climate-sensitive disease
🖇️ tinyurl.com/4ccn5kad
🔹 Commissioned by @whowpro.bsky.social, the authors developed an analytical framework outlining potential causal relationships between climate change and TB, highlighting the need to consider TB as a climate-sensitive disease
🖇️ tinyurl.com/4ccn5kad
Reposted by Finn McQuaid
🎙️ @cfmcquaid.bsky.social and Matthew J Saunders also joined Deputy Editor, Arianna Colosio, for a podcast to discuss the piece
🎧 Listen here: www.buzzsprout.com/1459960/epis...
🎧 Listen here: www.buzzsprout.com/1459960/epis...
November 6, 2025 at 11:38 AM
🎙️ @cfmcquaid.bsky.social and Matthew J Saunders also joined Deputy Editor, Arianna Colosio, for a podcast to discuss the piece
🎧 Listen here: www.buzzsprout.com/1459960/epis...
🎧 Listen here: www.buzzsprout.com/1459960/epis...
Reposted by Finn McQuaid
How will population shifts affect the future burden of #AMR? 👶👩🦳 🧫
We use a new modelling framework to explore future projections of #AMR by age and by sex, as well as interventions for control, building on our earlier findings that AMR isn’t uniform across demographics.
doi.org/10.1371/jour...
We use a new modelling framework to explore future projections of #AMR by age and by sex, as well as interventions for control, building on our earlier findings that AMR isn’t uniform across demographics.
doi.org/10.1371/jour...
Combining demographic shifts with age-based resistance prevalence to estimate future antimicrobial resistance burden in Europe and implications for targets: A modelling study
Author summary Why was this study done? Infections caused by bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics are a major and growing threat to public health. Older adults and men are at higher risk of...
doi.org
November 5, 2025 at 12:06 PM
How will population shifts affect the future burden of #AMR? 👶👩🦳 🧫
We use a new modelling framework to explore future projections of #AMR by age and by sex, as well as interventions for control, building on our earlier findings that AMR isn’t uniform across demographics.
doi.org/10.1371/jour...
We use a new modelling framework to explore future projections of #AMR by age and by sex, as well as interventions for control, building on our earlier findings that AMR isn’t uniform across demographics.
doi.org/10.1371/jour...
Our framework that informed the @who.int TB & climate change policy brief out now in @lancetrespirmed.bsky.social, exploring the intersections and implications of climate change for the TB epidemic. Key message? TB should be considered a climate-sensitive disease
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
Climate change and tuberculosis: an analytical framework
Climate change is likely to exacerbate a range of determinants that drive tuberculosis,
the world's leading cause of death from a single infectious agent. However, tuberculosis
is often neglected in w...
www.thelancet.com
October 31, 2025 at 9:12 AM
Our framework that informed the @who.int TB & climate change policy brief out now in @lancetrespirmed.bsky.social, exploring the intersections and implications of climate change for the TB epidemic. Key message? TB should be considered a climate-sensitive disease
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
Reposted by Finn McQuaid
New comment:
Tuberculosis and undernutrition: improving estimates to reinforce the policy imperative
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
Tuberculosis and undernutrition: improving estimates to reinforce the policy imperative
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
Tuberculosis and undernutrition: improving estimates to reinforce the policy imperative
Undernutrition is a key driver of the global tuberculosis epidemic, increasing the
risk of people developing tuberculosis disease and of poor outcomes in those who do.1
Each year, WHO publishes estima...
www.thelancet.com
October 28, 2025 at 10:01 AM
New comment:
Tuberculosis and undernutrition: improving estimates to reinforce the policy imperative
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
Tuberculosis and undernutrition: improving estimates to reinforce the policy imperative
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
Reposted by Finn McQuaid
We think our recent review provides a better estimate of the RR leading to a much higher PAF, demonstrating the importance of addressing undernutrition to prevent TB.
academic.oup.com/ije/article/...
academic.oup.com/ije/article/...
Body mass index and tuberculosis risk: an updated systematic literature review and dose–response meta-analysis
AbstractBackground. The relationship between nutritional status and tuberculosis is critically important but poorly understood. We extended a 2009 review c
academic.oup.com
October 28, 2025 at 9:44 AM
We think our recent review provides a better estimate of the RR leading to a much higher PAF, demonstrating the importance of addressing undernutrition to prevent TB.
academic.oup.com/ije/article/...
academic.oup.com/ije/article/...
Reposted by Finn McQuaid
“Wow, I saw in the last GTB report undernutrition is much less important for TB than we previously thought” I hear you say…
Well, no. We think this is an underestimate, & as much as 28% of TB could be attributable to undernutrition – see our latest comment here: www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
Well, no. We think this is an underestimate, & as much as 28% of TB could be attributable to undernutrition – see our latest comment here: www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
Tuberculosis and undernutrition: improving estimates to reinforce the policy imperative
Undernutrition is a key driver of the global tuberculosis epidemic, increasing the
risk of people developing tuberculosis disease and of poor outcomes in those who do.1
Each year, WHO publishes estima...
www.thelancet.com
October 28, 2025 at 9:44 AM
“Wow, I saw in the last GTB report undernutrition is much less important for TB than we previously thought” I hear you say…
Well, no. We think this is an underestimate, & as much as 28% of TB could be attributable to undernutrition – see our latest comment here: www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
Well, no. We think this is an underestimate, & as much as 28% of TB could be attributable to undernutrition – see our latest comment here: www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
Reposted by Finn McQuaid
When fluoroquinolone resistance status is unknown, empirical use of BPaLM (adding moxifloxacin to BPaL) is cost-effective as a replacement for BPaL even with high fluoroquinolone resistance levels! 🦠💊
doi.org/10.1371/jour...
doi.org/10.1371/jour...
Impact of fluoroquinolone resistance on the cost-effectiveness of empiric treatment for multidrug- or rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis
The WHO recommends the bedaquiline, pretomanid, and linezolid (BPaL) regimen with the additional fluoroquinolone antibiotic moxifloxacin (BPaLM) for initial treatment of multidrug- or rifampicin-resis...
doi.org
October 20, 2025 at 6:47 PM
When fluoroquinolone resistance status is unknown, empirical use of BPaLM (adding moxifloxacin to BPaL) is cost-effective as a replacement for BPaL even with high fluoroquinolone resistance levels! 🦠💊
doi.org/10.1371/jour...
doi.org/10.1371/jour...
Reposted by Finn McQuaid
Understanding patterns of #TB exposure and transmission is needed for targeted prevention strategies. In our latest pre-print, @petedodd24.bsky.social and I estimated the proportion of TB exposure to and transmission from sex and age groups for 177 countries.
bit.ly/4nbV492
bit.ly/4nbV492
A global analysis of patterns of tuberculosis exposure and transmission
Tuberculosis (TB) is a major public health concern and the leading infectious cause of mortality globally. The disease exhibits strong prevalence patterns by age and sex, but the implications of these...
www.medrxiv.org
October 12, 2025 at 12:51 PM
Understanding patterns of #TB exposure and transmission is needed for targeted prevention strategies. In our latest pre-print, @petedodd24.bsky.social and I estimated the proportion of TB exposure to and transmission from sex and age groups for 177 countries.
bit.ly/4nbV492
bit.ly/4nbV492
Reposted by Finn McQuaid
In a new preprint (NOT PEER REVIEWED) we continue to explore the challenge of overtreatment in community screening. It seems the benefits of TB treatment far outweigh the harms, especially once we accept that sputum culture is not perfect. Important food for thought. www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1...
Do no harm - re-evaluating the risks of overtreatment in community-wide tuberculosis screening
Background Community-wide screening is a crucial strategy to end tuberculosis (TB), but a common concern is potential harm from overtreatment following false positive diagnoses. However, current refer...
www.medrxiv.org
October 7, 2025 at 9:17 AM
In a new preprint (NOT PEER REVIEWED) we continue to explore the challenge of overtreatment in community screening. It seems the benefits of TB treatment far outweigh the harms, especially once we accept that sputum culture is not perfect. Important food for thought. www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Finn McQuaid
PhD opportunity: New approaches to modelling TB transmission in low-incidence settings.
Supervised by Ellen Brooks-Pollock (Bristol), me (Bath) & Rajeka Lazarus (Bristol)
Apply: www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Deadline 20 Oct
#PhD #Tuberculosis #Epidemiology #InfectiousDisease
Supervised by Ellen Brooks-Pollock (Bristol), me (Bath) & Rajeka Lazarus (Bristol)
Apply: www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Deadline 20 Oct
#PhD #Tuberculosis #Epidemiology #InfectiousDisease
New approaches for modelling tuberculosis transmission in low incidence settings at University of Bristol on FindAPhD.com
PhD Project - New approaches for modelling tuberculosis transmission in low incidence settings at University of Bristol, listed on FindAPhD.com
www.findaphd.com
September 27, 2025 at 7:10 AM
PhD opportunity: New approaches to modelling TB transmission in low-incidence settings.
Supervised by Ellen Brooks-Pollock (Bristol), me (Bath) & Rajeka Lazarus (Bristol)
Apply: www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Deadline 20 Oct
#PhD #Tuberculosis #Epidemiology #InfectiousDisease
Supervised by Ellen Brooks-Pollock (Bristol), me (Bath) & Rajeka Lazarus (Bristol)
Apply: www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Deadline 20 Oct
#PhD #Tuberculosis #Epidemiology #InfectiousDisease
Reposted by Finn McQuaid
Our systematic review of rural/urban differences in #TB prevalence shows evidence of rapidly urbanising epidemics in many settings, with differences across countries and regions.
Link to preprint below ⬇️
Link to preprint below ⬇️
Are there more people with #TB in cities or rural areas?
In a 🚨new🚨 preprint (NOT PEER REVIEWED) we modelled urban-rural TB trends from 2000-2023 in 26 countries with 4.6 billion people.
www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1...
In a 🚨new🚨 preprint (NOT PEER REVIEWED) we modelled urban-rural TB trends from 2000-2023 in 26 countries with 4.6 billion people.
www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1...
September 22, 2025 at 7:55 AM
Our systematic review of rural/urban differences in #TB prevalence shows evidence of rapidly urbanising epidemics in many settings, with differences across countries and regions.
Link to preprint below ⬇️
Link to preprint below ⬇️
Reposted by Finn McQuaid
More projected impacts of cuts to international health aid on paediatric #tuberculosis urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=htt...
September 15, 2025 at 12:40 PM
More projected impacts of cuts to international health aid on paediatric #tuberculosis urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=htt...
Reposted by Finn McQuaid
@who.int is appalled by the latest evacuation order, demanding 1 million people to move from Gaza City to a “humanitarian zone” in the south.
To civilians: WHO and partners remain in Gaza City.
To the intl. community: Act.
This catastrophe is human-made, & the responsibility rests with us all.
To civilians: WHO and partners remain in Gaza City.
To the intl. community: Act.
This catastrophe is human-made, & the responsibility rests with us all.
September 10, 2025 at 7:04 PM
@who.int is appalled by the latest evacuation order, demanding 1 million people to move from Gaza City to a “humanitarian zone” in the south.
To civilians: WHO and partners remain in Gaza City.
To the intl. community: Act.
This catastrophe is human-made, & the responsibility rests with us all.
To civilians: WHO and partners remain in Gaza City.
To the intl. community: Act.
This catastrophe is human-made, & the responsibility rests with us all.