Epidemiology

At a Brown University retreat hosted by the Center for Climate, Environment & Health, researchers from across New England united for mentorship and cross-disciplinary partnership, building lasting community for early-career scientists fighting for our future.

Researchers find that weather and climate patterns can help predict the timing and severity of flu outbreaks across diverse regions, and that flu spreads more easily in very dry and very humid air.

New research published by scientists at Brown University’s School of Public Health found that a widely available vaccine could be a key tool in fighting dementia.

Brandon Marshall, a professor of epidemiology, says he hopes to secure funding for a formal research study to test the benefits of using GLP-1 drugs as a treatment for addiction. 

Craig Spencer, an Ebola survivor and associate professor of the practice of health services, policy and practice, provided commentary in this article. 

Jennifer Nuzzo, professor of epidemiology and director of the Pandemic Center at the Brown University School of Public Health, provided commentary in this article on the U.S. response to the Ebola outbreak.

Craig Spencer, an associate professor of the practice of health services, policy and practice, wrote this essay about the Ebola outbreak in Congo.

Sarah Ackley, an assistant professor of epidemiology, co-led a study that found a statistical approach, quantile aggregation, may overstate links between amyloid reduction and cognitive outcomes.

Brown University researchers say an analytic method can exaggerate the causal link between amyloid reduction and cognitive benefits of new Alzheimer’s drugs.

Professor of Epidemiology Jennifer Nuzzo, director of the Pandemic Center at Brown, is quoted in this story about an emerging Ebola outbreak. 

Infectious disease expert Jennifer Nuzzo answers essential questions about the spread of the ANDV strain of hantavirus at sea.

William Goedel, an associate professor of epidemiology and an affiliate of the Pandemic Center in the School of Public Health, will track the movements of World Cup teams and fans in case a communicable infection breaks out. 

Professor of Epidemiology Jennifer Nuzzo, director of the Pandemic Center at Brown, criticized what many experts see as a muted response by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to a cruise ship hantavirus outbreak. 

Jennifer Nuzzo, a professor of epidemiology and the director of the Pandemic Center at Brown, offered commentary in this article.

Joseph Braun, a professor of epidemiology at Brown, provided commentary about PFAS and phthalate compounds in infant formula.

Professor of Epidemiology Jennifer Nuzzo, director of the Pandemic Center at Brown, was interviewed about measles for the Science Quickly podcast.

Jennifer Nuzzo, director of the Pandemic Center at Brown, offered commentary on seasonal illnesses.

Significant incidental findings detected on low-dose CT lung cancer screening were associated with an increased risk of an extrapulmonary cancer diagnosis over the following year, according to a study led by researchers at Brown.

Using new statistical methods, researchers from Brown University find that rapid treatment of at least 70% of residents with antivirals within 48 hours reduces hospitalizations by 21%.

Jennifer Nuzzo, director of the Pandemic Center at Brown, provided commentary in this article. 

When you check the weather on your phone, you’re getting a “best guess” based on the nearest airport—but your actual neighborhood could be much hotter. And in high-risk communities, this invisible temperature spike, or major air quality issue, transforms a daily forecast into a serious medical emergency.

Jennifer Nuzzo, director of the Pandemic Center at Brown, provided commentary in this article. 

What does it take to lead a top-tier School of Public Health? For Dr. Francesca Beaudoin, the journey started in the chaos of the ER. In this episode of Humans in Public Health, we sit down with Dean Beaudoin, who has experienced Brown from every possible angle: as a medical resident, a student, a member of the faculty, a department chair and administrative leader. Now, she steps into the role of Dean.

Building on decades of research supporting mindfulness for stress reduction and cardiovascular health, a new study finds that a mindfulness trial, originally designed to lower blood pressure, significantly reduced depression symptoms, especially for those with early-life adversity.

Erica Walker, an assistant professor of epidemiology and founder of the Community Noise Lab at the School of Public Health, offered commentary on the health impacts of low-frequency noises.

Professor of Epidemiology Jen Nuzzo on continuing measles outbreaks in the U.S. and possibility of losing measles elimination status.

Jennifer Nuzzo, an epidemiologist at SPH, comments on flu spoke seen in December.

Students in PHP1720 rolled up their sleeves this semester, conducting community-engaged research at 180 local sites, from downtown Providence to the new Pawtucket soccer stadium, revealing disparities in noise pollution and other public health concerns.

New book from Pandemic Center’s Seth Berkley recounts how scientific breakthroughs, supply chain bottlenecks and political battles shaped the pandemic response.

Jennifer Nuzzo, director of the Pandemic Center at Brown, provided commentary in this article. 

A new study linking pharmacy and Medicare data sheds light on pain management regimens for hip fracture patients in rehabilitation, and raises concerns about potentially dangerous drug-drug interactions.

At the Children’s Health Defense conference in Texas, Craig Spencer saw what public health is up against at the anti-vaccine movement’s biggest gathering

Distinguished Senior Fellow Stephanie Psaki argues that the world is at a rare moment in history where science could stop the next pandemic before it starts — if we choose to act.

Researchers at Brown, including Director of the Center for Climate, Environment & Health Joseph Braun, led a study in that found poor air quality had a negative effect on marathon finish times.

Dean Ashish Jha explains why undermining vaccines will endanger Americans’ freedom in the Boston Globe.

With measles spreading and long-trusted sources of public health information falling short, Professor Jennifer Nuzzo breaks down the outbreak, the state of public health communications and the Pandemic Center’s tracking report, which publishes key infectious disease data every week.

Measles has been declared eliminated in the U.S. for 25 years, but a surge in cases is threatening that status. Jennifer Nuzzo, director of the Pandemic Center at Brown University, joined Humans in Public Health to break down the outbreak, the chaotic federal response and how her team's tracker is stepping in to provide reliable, life-saving data.

Jennifer Nuzzo, director of the Pandemic Center at Brown, commented on the top worries around bird flu in the U.S.

Many parents believe their children are getting plenty of sleep—but new research from Brown University suggests that notion may be far from the truth. “What parents often don’t see is how long it takes for kids to fall asleep or how often they wake up during the night,” explained paper author and behavioral scientist professor Diana Grigsby-Toussaint in a statement.

Distinguished Senior Fellow Nikki Romanik wrote this op-ed with Demetre Daskalakis on how the name change of mpox will erode years of progress in vaccination and treatment, undermine trusted mpox communication and stigmatize the communities most impacted.

Among its many painful lessons, the COVID-19 pandemic taught us that America’s defenses against a devastating health crisis were far weaker than most had reason to expect. More than 1.2 million Americans lost their lives to COVID, the most of any country. It’s puzzling and frightening to watch the Trump Administration dismantle initiatives aimed at keeping us safe from another pandemic.