Juan Leon

Juan Leon is a member of the Center for Global Safe Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene. His primary appointment is in the Hubert Department of Global Health at the Rollins School of Public Health of Emory University. He was born in Peru, grew up in the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Brazil, and Bolivia before continuing his training in the US. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Cell, Molecular and Developmental Biology from Dartmouth College. He received both his PhD in Immunology and Microbial Pathogenesis and Masters of Public Health in Epidemiology from Northwestern University. He moved to Emory University in 2004.

Research

Dr. Leon’s area of research focuses on developing effective interventions to parasitic and enteric viral pathogens, especially those involved in foodborne and waterborne disease, by understanding the immune response of vulnerable individuals and the epidemiology of vulnerable populations to these pathogens. He is interested in four main areas:

1. Neglected Tropical Diseases. Reducing morbidity and death from NTDs (e.g. Chagas disease) among Latin Americans and immigrants by improving access to care of vulnerable groups and training of their health providers.
2. Fresh Produce Safety. Preventing outbreaks and illness from fresh produce by improving grower health and the microbial safety of fresh produce and worldwide. He is particularly interested in the US-Mexico border.
3. Norovirus. Reducing outbreaks, illness, and death from norovirus, the most common cause of gastroenteritis worldwide, through applied immunology and epidemiology research.
4. Enteric vaccines. Reducing the morbidity and mortality from diarrhea worldwide, especially in children, by increasing the benefits of enteric vaccines (e.g. rotavirus vaccine).

Dr. Leon currently serves as a reviewer for a number of immunology, parasitology, virology, food protection, and epidemiology journals. He has received RSPH, Emory, and national awards for his teaching and mentoring.

Website

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