Infectious Disease Ecology

Infectious disease ecology researches complex interactions between hosts, pathogens and the environment, particularly factors that affect patterns of pathogen occurrence and transmission.

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Close up image of Aedes Aegypti mosquito 

Research within this theme aims to improve our understanding of infectious diseases to help inform their prevention and/or control. We work on a wide variety of disease systems, including:

  • zoonoses (disease that affect both animals and people), e.g. rabies
  • vector-borne diseases, e.g. malaria, Lyme disease
  • ‘neglected' diseases, e.g. anthrax, brucellosis, schistosomiasis
  • diseases that impact livestock and/or wildlife, e.g. parasitic gastroenteritis

We believe that interdisciplinary approaches are needed to fully understand and address infectious disease issues. Researchers within our school have a wide range of expertise - including epidemiology, quantitative modelling, spatial analysis, genomics, surveillance, vaccinology, antimicrobial resistance, and vector/host ecology. Our close relationships with veterinarians, medics and ecologists, both within the School and wider College, provides an ideal platform for developing One Health and ecosystemic approaches to improve the control of infectious diseases. By working directly with stakeholders and end-users, we aim to provide real-world solutions with tangible impact. We work both locally and globally, from projects based throughout Scotland, to collaborative international research. We have particularly longstanding partnerships in sub-Saharan Africa, e.g. Tanzania.

Theme leader: Taya Forde