Working Group Lead

Megan B. Murray, Sc.D., M.D. Ronda Stryker and William Johnston Professor of Global Health, HMS Director of Research, Global Health & Social Medicine, HMS Professor in the Department of Epidemiology, HSPH

Epidemiology Working Group

The Epidemiology Working Group formed as part of the Consortium to explore the public health dimensions of the pandemics, including the identification of variables such as viral distribution patterns, socio-economic factors, public health measures, the psychological toll of the pandemic, as well as variables related to the spread of COVID-19 stemming from viral and host genetics. Through the use of epidemiology, public health and genomic surveillance, the group works to unravel why the infection may take greater hold in some areas compared with others and how to develop stronger public health measures, including policy, in response.

Recently, and among many other projects, members of the Epidemiology Working Group completed a study of the national response to SARS-CoV-2 in Rwanda, which experienced a low number of deaths relative to the country’s population. This comparative-analysis approach could illuminate best practices and develop more robust pandemic preparedness plans not only for COVID-19 but also for future emerging infectious diseases.