Epidemiology

The infectious disease epidemiology cluster encompasses domestic and global work on the epidemiology of emerging and re-emerging infections, global infectious disease threats, disease surveillance, disease detection, development of vaccines and other prevention methods, clinical trials, and the role of infectious pathogens in the pathogenesis of chronic non-communicable diseases (such as cancer and cardiovascular disease).

The focus is broad, ranging from the search for novel pathogens using advanced molecular techniques to longitudinal populationbased studies to define transmission dynamics and spectrum of disease and survival. Approaches are employed in an interdisciplinary fashion to define etiology, pathogenesis, transmission, and prevention/treatment potentials.

The infectious disease epidemiology cluster is home to the faculty of several centers and includes several large-scale projects. Affiliated faculty members play a substantial role in the intellectual life, conducting collaborative research, organizing interdisciplinary seminars, and providing mentorship to students and junior faculty.

Selected projects

Infectious Disease Epidemiology

Emerging Pandemic Threats

PREDICT, a large program funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development’s Emerging Pandemic Threats Program, aims to develop a global warning system for newly emerging diseases and to anticipate and assess emerging infectious diseases that move between animals and people in order to prevent the next global pandemic.

PHARM-Link

PHARM-Link Studies, funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, include large-scale pharmacy-based interventions aimed at connecting drug users and other high risk populations to medical care and social services, using pharmacies as an HIV-testing venue, and most recently, using pharmacies to help drug users gain access to antiretroviral therapy to help prevent HIV acquisition using a pharmacist-clinician partnership. These studies use a community based participatory research model and target the individual, social, and structural environment.

Affiliated Centers and Programs

ICAP

Center for Infection and Immunity

The Centre for AIDS Program Research in South Africa

Center for Interdisciplinary Research to Reduce Antimicrobial Resistance

Training Opportunities

Infectious Disease Epidemiology Training Program

Fogarty AIDS International Training and Research Program

Cluster Faculty

A list of faculty involved in the cluster.