Growing up in a malaria hotspot in western Kenya, Dr. Maggy Lord developed an intimate relationship with the disease—and a burning hatred for chloroquine, the bitter medicine that was supposed to help.
“Chloroquine is the most disgusting, most bitter drug ever developed,” she says bluntly. “I promised my mother I’d find a cure for malaria when I grew up.”
That childhood promise shaped her entire career. Today, as a Medical Entomologist and senior researcher at the University of Queensland, Maggy leads the Infrared Surveillance and Diagnostic team, developing cutting-edge tools to detect pathogens in mosquitoes and humans using artificial intelligence.
Her journey from village girl to university lecturer wasn’t easy. Despite cultural limitations that expected little from girls, her mother’s unwavering support proved transformational. “She told me I could be anything I wanted and that science wasn’t only for boys. That was life-changing.”
Maggy’s work goes beyond the laboratory. She co-founded Disease Advisor, an innovative platform using real-time World Health Organization data to warn travelers about infectious disease risks. She also established MSHAURI, a STEM program supporting young people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
“I love what I do because I can make a difference,” Maggy explains. “Mosquitoes are responsible for diseases affecting millions. I research tools to detect pathogens transmitted by mosquitoes in a timely manner to stop outbreaks.”
With malaria killing over 600,000 people annually, Maggy’s mission remains urgent. Though she hasn’t found that cure yet, her research contributes to a future where her childhood nightmare might finally end.