• Epidemiology & Special Populations
• Community-Based Health Research
• Women, Children, & Families
• Military Behavioral Health
• Clinical Epidemiology
• International Epidemiology
• Biospecimen Operations

International Epidemiology

We have conducted extensive epidemiologic research throughout the world, with emphasis on work in developing countries. Special considerations and precautions need to be addressed when conducting studies outside of the United States. Cultural differences impact the types of data that can be collected and how social roles influence expectations, norms, and behaviors. Our experienced, committed staff anticipate potential obstacles, mitigate problems that arise, and ensure high-quality and efficient study performance.

Projects

• Epidemiology of Burkitt's Lymphoma in East African Children or Minors (EMBLEM) (2009–2013). A prospective case-control study to investigate whether having genetic resistance to malaria is protective for endemic Burkitt’s lymphoma (BL). A secondary objective is to explore spatial and/or seasonal clustering of endemic BL in Uganda using GIS and remotely collected data to explore and generate new hypotheses about local environmental factors associated with endemic BL.
• International Consortium for Applied Radiation Research (2006–2008). A cohort study of workers constructing the new containment structure for the damaged Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant to identify genetic and metabolic markers related to varying levels of radiation exposure over time and the potential human health impacts of exposure.
• Health Surveillance Research in Foreign Military Populations (2005–2008). Clinical and consultative expertise for epidemiologic investigation of HIV, sexually transmitted infections, and opportunistic infections among members of the military in participating Department of Defense HIV/AIDS Prevention Program nations.
• Population Genetics of Immune Response: Typhoid and Cholera Vaccine (2004–2008). A study in India that aims to discover and characterize associations between human immune response gene polymorphisms and the outcomes of infection or vaccination for pathogens (cholera, typhoid) of primary interest for biodefense.
• Data Coordinating Center for a Randomized Controlled Trial of Male Circumcision to Reduce HIV Incidence in Kisumu, Kenya (2002–2008). An unblinded, randomized trial of HIV incidence after 24 months of follow-up in two groups: the treatment or circumcision arm, and the control or uncircumcised arm.
• Global Network for Women’s and Children’s Health Research (2001–2012). A collaborative effort of international, multidisciplinary teams of investigators working to prevent disease and premature death of women and children in developing countries and to develop research capacity at local foreign organizations and institutions.
• Studies of HHV8 in Uganda (2001–2006). A series of studies focused on blood-borne transmission of Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated Herpes virus (KSHV) in Uganda, and gene expression and clonality of virus in KS lesions of living and deceased KS patients.
• Collaborative HIV/STD Prevention Trial (1999–2008). A two-arm randomized trial examining the efficacy of a community-level intervention to reduce HIV/STD incidence and high-risk behaviors in China, India, Peru, Russia and Zimbabwe sentence description. Also see Collaborative HIV/STD Prevention Trial brochure.
• HHV8 and Kaposi’s Sarcoma in Italy (1998–2007). A series of seroprevalence, case-control and clinical trials of elderly Italians diagnosed with endemic, classical Kaposi’s sarcoma. Conducted in Sicily, Rome and Milan.
• Multicenter Hemophilia Cohort Studies (1986–2005). A series of international longitudinal studies at 54 clinical sites designed to address emergent issues associated with hemophilia and viral infections, including the transmissions of HIV, HBV and HCV and the development of AIDS, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, other cancers and liver diseases.
• Jamaican Studies of HTLV-I Prevalence, Transmission and Disease Progression (1986–2005). An array of five longitudinal studies focused on health status of various Jamaican population groups, primarily in relation to exposure to HTLV-1 and associated disease identification and progression. Studies included Jamaica Blood Donors; Jamaica Mother-Infant Study; ATL Registry; Jamaica Family Study; and Jamaica Transfusion Study.