Predicting Human Disease Risk from Animal-borne Pathogens (July 28, 2022 11am CST)

Dr. Barbara Han, a disease ecologist at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, will explore recent approaches that combine knowledge about animal ecology with machine learning and artificial intelligence tools to make predictions about where and from which species the risks of zoonotic outbreaks are greatest. Examples will emphasize the ongoing spillback transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from humans to animals, the risk of establishing new viral reservoirs of COVID-19, and predicting wild reservoirs of bat-borne filoviruses (Ebola, Marburg) and rodent-borne pathogens such as monkeypox.

Dr. Han is a disease ecologist at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in New York. She completed her PhD at Oregon State University during which time she also completed a Fulbright Fellowship in Venezuela. Dr. Han went on to complete consecutive postdoctoral fellowships in biological informatics (NSF) and machine learning (NIH) at the University of Georgia. Her research program at the Cary Institute develops predictive analytics of zoonotic diseases and is supported by grants from the NIH, NSF, and DARPA.

This webinar is cosponsored by the Alabama Regional Center for infection Prevention and Control Training and Technical Assistance Center, The Region IV Public Health Training Center, and the Deep South Center for Occupational Health and Safety.

The Deep South Center for OH&S is an approved provider of continuing education units for nurses by the AL Board of Nursing (Provider ABNP0420 Expiration Date 12/22/2025) and has awarded this program 1.0 contact hours.

To view the recorded webinar and complete the evaluation, please see below.

Climate-Disease Connections: Associations, Processes and Incorporation in Infectious Disease Forecast (May 4, 12pm CT)

In this lecture, Dr. Jeffrey Shaman (Professor, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Director, Climate and Health Program, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health) will explore the relationship between disease systems and the broader effects of climate and weather on human health.

Dr. Shaman is also Faculty Chair of the Earth Institute at Columbia University and Senior Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs at the Columbia Climate School. He studies the survival, transmission and ecology of infectious agents, including the effects of meteorological and hydrological conditions on these processes. His work-to-date has primarily focused on mosquito-borne and respiratory pathogens. He uses mathematical and statistical models to describe, understand and forecast the transmission dynamics of these disease systems, and to investigate the broader effects of climate and weather on human health.

The lecture is sponsored by the Lister Hill Center for Health Policy, Office of Public Health Practice, Alabama Regional Center for Infection Prevention and Control, and Department of Environmental Health Sciences and will take place from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. on May 4 via Zoom. Participants can register using the button below.