EMD Seminar Series: Gregg Gonsalves - "Predict, Detect, Diagnose: Confronting Outbreaks of HIV and Other Infectious Diseases Among People Who Use Drugs"
Since the well-known outbreak in Scott County, Indiana, in 2015, there have been numerous HIV outbreaks among people who use drugs (PWUD). In addition to HIV, PWUD commonly face hepatitis C (HCV) infections, skin and soft tissue infections (SSTI), sexually transmitted infections (STIs), infective endocarditis (IE), and both fatal and non-fatal overdoses. Over the past decade, syphilis rates among drug users have surged, increasing the risk of HIV transmission through sexual contact.
This situation has created a major public health crisis that threatens the success of the federal Ending the HIV Epidemic initiative in the U.S. Tackling HIV among PWUD requires a comprehensive strategy, because no single approach is enough. We need an integrated set of methods to address outbreaks at various stages.
Our work is focused on developing and evaluating new tools for predicting, detecting, and diagnosing outbreaks more effectively. Our goals are to:
- Predict: Enhance existing models and create new ones for early and accurate prediction of high-risk areas for potential outbreaks.
- Detect: Develop novel algorithms to quickly identify new outbreaks as they begin.
- Diagnose: Optimize community-based strategies to find and diagnose undiagnosed cases in a timely manner.
Our goal is to provide health departments with innovative tools to manage infectious disease outbreaks. While our current applied focus is on HIV and drug use, these tools can be applied to other diseases and demographic groups as well. We hope this research can improve our ability to pinpoint high-risk areas, detect outbreaks quickly, and efficiently find patients needing care, ultimately aiding public health officials in managing these serious health challenges.
YSPH values inclusion and access for all participants
If you have questions about accessibility or would like to request an accommodation, please contact Christina Ciarleglio at christina.ciarleglio@yale.edu