College of Health and Human Services

Research Focus

I conduct research on health transitions, the shifts in population disease burden that occur with socioeconomic development, environmental change, and globalization. Many of my projects focus on the changing global epidemiology of hepatitis A virus (HAV). My research portfolio also includes epidemiological studies of emerging infectious diseases, adolescent risk behaviors, injury epidemiology, the growing burden from non-communicable diseases in low- and middle-income countries, and other public health concerns. These studies have been conducted in Ecuador, Guatemala, Malawi, Sierra Leone, Zambia, and several other countries. I also contribute to the Global Burden of Disease project, a massive global effort to generate up-to-date health metrics for every country in the world in order to provide the foundation for improved health policy and practice, and serve as an expert advisor to the international health organizations such as the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

Current Projects

■ Modeling the changing seroprevalence rates and endemicity levels of hepatitis A virus in countries worldwide

■ Conducting infectious disease surveillance in Sierra Leone in collaboration with partners at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory

■ Examining other aspects of health transitions and the changing burden from infectious diseases, noncommunicable diseases, mental health disorders, and injuries in diverse populations

Select Publications

■ K. H. Jacobsen et al., Globalization and the changing epidemiology of hepatitis A virus. Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Medicine 8(10), a031716 (2018).

■ D. F. Dariano et al., Surveillance of vector-borne infections (chikungunya, dengue, and malaria) in Bo, Sierra Leone, 2012–2013. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 97(4), 1151-1154 (2017).

■ J. E. Painter et al., Zika virus knowledge, attitudes, and vaccine interest among university students. Vaccine 35(6), 960-965 (2017).

■ K. H. Jacobsen et al., Lessons from the Ebola outbreak: action items for emerging infectious disease preparedness and response. EcoHealth 13(1), 200-212 (2016).