Marisa Gilles

Marisa Gilles serves as an Adjunct Associate Professor in the School of Health and Clinical Sciences at The University of Western Australia, with research focused on public health disparities affecting vulnerable populations. Her work addresses critical gaps in Indigenous health, rheumatic heart disease management, and prison healthcare systems through interdisciplinary collaboration.

Her primary research domains include rheumatic heart disease epidemiology, Indigenous health equity (particularly Aboriginal communities), prison health services, and infectious disease outbreak response. Methodologically, she specializes in mixed-methods approaches and implementation science to evaluate health interventions in real-world settings, with strong emphasis on community engagement and culturally safe practices.

Analysis of her recent publications reveals a cohesive trajectory targeting health inequities through three interconnected streams: 1) Rheumatic heart disease elimination programs in Australia and Timor-Leste, 2) Maternal and child health within correctional systems, and 3) Vaccine-preventable disease surveillance. Her work consistently bridges clinical practice, public health policy, and community-led solutions, with increasing focus on implementation research since 2023.

Dr. Gilles currently leads or participates in multiple funded projects including Good paths for health hearts (Department of Health, Western Australia, 2023-2026) and Good paths for healthy hearts (Medical Research Future Fund, 2023-2026), both addressing rheumatic heart disease through penicillin delivery innovations. Her historical projects span diabetes surveillance in Midwest Australia (2006), Indigenous health research leadership development (2005-2009), and national stroke unit implementation (2003). She maintains active collaborations with Timor-Leste health systems and Australian Aboriginal community organizations.