On Thursday 27th January, at 12:15 – 13:00 GMT, we will be hosting our next ‘Women in COG’ event, featuring Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, infectious disease epidemiologist and the COVID-19 Technical Lead at World Health Organization (WHO).
Dr Maria Van Kerkhove
Maria Van Kerkhove, PhD is an infectious disease epidemiologist and the COVID-19 Technical Lead at World Health Organization (WHO). Dr Van Kerkhove specializes in outbreaks of emerging and re-emerging pathogens. In addition to her appointment as the COVID-19 Technical Lead, Dr Van Kerkhove is also the Head of the Emerging Diseases and Zoonoses Unit within the WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme.
Dr Van Kerkhove’s main research interests include zoonotic, respiratory, and emerging/re-emerging viruses such as avian influenza, MERS-CoV, Ebola, Marburg, plague and Zika. She is particularly interested in investigating factors associated with transmission between animals and humans, the epidemiology of zoonotic pathogens, and ensuring research directly informs public health policies for action.
She completed her undergraduate degree at Cornell University, a MS Degree at Stanford University, and a PhD in infectious disease epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Prior to joining WHO, Dr Van Kerkhove was the Head of the Outbreak Investigation Task Force at Institut Pasteur’s Center for Global Health where she was responsible for establishing public health rapid response teams for infectious disease outbreaks. She was previously employed by Imperial College London in the MRC Center for Outbreak Analysis and Modelling where she worked closely with WHO on influenza, Yellow fever, Meningitis, MERS-CoV and Ebola Virus Disease.
About Women in COG
The COG-UK consortium has over 500 members with a range of scientific and business expertise in genomics, bioinformatics, operations clinical science and public health. Women in COG is a supportive network to share experience and knowledge and to promote science careers in women and girls.
This is the next event in our series of monthly lunchtime Women in COG events and everyone (regardless of gender) is welcome to attend. The events will feature a conversation with a guest or consortium member followed by an informal Q&A.
