Research

Preparing the US for Climate Change-Induced Infectious Disease Impacts: An Interdisciplinary Research Strategy

Climate change is already exacerbating infectious disease impacts across the world. Moreover, the endemic areas of many tropical infectious diseases are expanding rapidly.Coupled with urbanization and globalization amplifying the spread of communicable diseases, the U.S. healthcare system will soon face new challenges.

Emory is uniquely positioned to address these challenges by blending the expertise of Emory's Serious Communicable Diseases Program with climate and infectious disease researchers in the Colleg's Department of Environmental Sciences, Rollins School of Public Health and nursing educators from the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing.

With this team focused on these challenges, Emory can offer a visionary research plan addressing environmental, public health, healthcare worker training, and safe patient care strategies. This award allows the team to foster an expanding, interdisciplinary research community on campus and develop a research plan ready for external funding through pilot projects and expert discussion.

Dr. Colleen Kraft, MD, MSc, is the principal investigator.

Co-Principal Investigators include Jessica Fairley, MD, MPH School of Public Health and Uriel Kitron, PhD, MPH Goodrich C. White Professor Department of Environmental Sciences, Emory College of Arts and Sciences.