Global Health Research & Practice

Infectious diseases are illnesses caused by pathogenic microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, parasites, or fungi, which can be transmitted from person to person, animal to person, or through contaminated food, water, or surfaces. Infectious disease encompasses a wide array of themes and topics, including:

• Outbreak investigation and disease surveillance
• Tracking emerging and re-emerging pathogens like Ebola and COVID-19
• Antimicrobial resistance
• Vector-borne and zoonotic diseases
• Priority diseases like tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and others
• Vaccine hesitancy

Infectious disease remains a critical topic in public health and global health because of its profound impact on morbidity, mortality, and societal stability. Infectious diseases are often tied to poverty, displacement, and inequities in health care access, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations in resource-limited settings. Addressing these diseases requires interdisciplinary approaches that account for social, cultural, and economic factors. 

Examples of department work in infectious disease: 

• Examining vaccine uptake, vaccine hesitance, and novel outreach to improve vaccine confidence and uptake among adolescents and adults
• Investigating the importance of immunization in cancer prevention and treatment
• Investigating methods to prevent outbreaks and illness from fresh produce by improving the microbial safety of fresh produce  
• Reducing norovirus outbreaks, illness, and death through applied immunology and epidemiology research
• Analyzing the benefits of enteric vaccines, like rotavirus vaccine, to reduce the morbidity and mortality from diarrhea worldwide in children
• Investigating methods to closing gaps in tuberculosis care due to health disparities 

Learn more about our work in infectious disease

Sexual and reproductive health is a cornerstone of public health, encompassing a wide range of issues that are vital to individual well-being and societal progress. It addresses critical aspects of health, such as family planning, prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), access to contraception, and gender-based violence prevention. Sexual and reproductive health is essential for reducing maternal and infant mortality, promoting gender equality, and ensuring the health and rights of all individuals. Globally, the importance of sexual and reproductive health is amplified by inequities in access to care, cultural and systemic barriers, and the significant burden of preventable conditions like HIV/AIDS, cervical cancer, and unsafe pregnancies. Addressing sexual and reproductive health is critical to advancing health equity, improving economic outcomes, and fostering sustainable development worldwide.

Examples of departmental research on sexual and reproductive health:

• Studying the impact of policy restrictions on abortion provision and contraceptive use on the health and well-being of birthing people  
• Investigating the impact of COVID-19 on experiences of prenatal care, birth support, and delivery for first time parents
• Examining intimate partner violence during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States  
• Understanding femicide prevention and femicide perpetration in Latin America
• Assessing sexual harassment and norms and behavior change diffusion in the Middle East
• Examining health effects of exposure to child maltreatment and intimate partner violence 

Learn more about our work in sexual and reproductive health

Maternal and child health focuses on the health and well-being of women, infants, and children throughout the life course, from preconception to early childhood. It encompasses a range of subtopics, including prenatal care, safe childbirth practices, maternal nutrition, breastfeeding, immunizations, child growth and development, and interventions to prevent and treat conditions such as malnutrition, infectious diseases, and birth complications. Maternal and child health also addresses issues like family planning, adolescent health, and the prevention of maternal and child mortality.

Healthy mothers and children form the foundation of thriving communities, and investments in maternal and child health yield significant long-term benefits, including reduced health disparities, improved quality of life, and economic growth. Globally, maternal and child health remains a pressing public health priority due to persistent challenges such as limited access to quality health care, high rates of maternal and child mortality in low-resource settings, and inequities exacerbated by social determinants of health. 

Examples of departmental research on maternal and child health include:  

• Investigating child nutrition during the critical first 1000 days and analyze health outcomes for life
• Examining the effects of multiple micronutrient malnutrition during pregnancy and lactation
• Examining how parent-child relationships and the psychosocial wellbeing of families contribute to early child development in low-resource settings
• Studying how fathers influence young children's development through male caregivers' roles as parents and partners.
• Developing software for dietary and biomarker data analysis
• Evaluating the cost-effectiveness of micronutrient interventions 

Learn more about our work in maternal and child health

Noncommunicable diseases are chronic conditions that are not transmitted from person to person. They include cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases, diabetes, and mental health disorders, among others. Noncommunicable diseases are primarily driven by a combination of genetic, physiological, environmental, and behavioral factors, such as poor diet, physical inactivity, tobacco use, harmful use of alcohol, and exposure to environmental pollutants. 

Noncommunicable diseases are a leading cause of death and disability worldwide, accounting for over 70% of global mortality, with the greatest burden falling on low- and middle-income countries. These diseases are closely tied to social determinants of health, including poverty, education, access to health care, and inequities in food and built environments. Tackling noncommunicable diseases requires holistic, interdisciplinary strategies that extend beyond the health sector—engaging sectors such as education, agriculture, finance, and urban planning. 

Examples of department work in noncommunicable disease:

• Investigation of structural and social barriers to cancer screening and treatment in underserved communities
• Development of community-based interventions to promote physical activity and healthy eating among adolescents and adults
• Policy advocacy and research to address the global rise of obesity and related metabolic disorders
• Evaluation of diabetes prevention and control policies in the United States
• Intersection of noncommunicable diseases and infectious diseases, such as the relation between diabetes mellitus and tuberculosis

Learn more about our work in noncommunicable diseases