Ms Roseanna Collins

Shortly due to graduate from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine with a masters in Control of Infectious Diseases, I am an enthusiastic, aspiring epidemiologist.

As a first-class Biosciences graduate, my experience is strongly oriented around microbiology and mammalian pathogenesis. Stemming from an independent research project in which I investigated the pathogenesis of an understudied human pathogen Prototheca, my interests are directed towards NTDs and health inequities. I am particularly interested in vector-borne diseases such as Dengue, Chikungunya, Leishmaniases and Lymphatic filariasis, as well as One Health issues, particularly Rabies.

I strive to utilise my strengths in science communication, immuno-epidemiology and infectious disease outbreak genetics to assist in the endeavour to eliminate global health disparities through research generation and evidence-based, context-specific public health strategies and control programmes. These skills are evidenced in my recent undertaking of a multidisciplinary research project into the ecological epidemiology and surveillance status of scrub typhus (arguably a neglected tropical disease) in Thailand in collaboration with Mahidol University, funded by the Thai Ministry of Health. This utilised a around a One Health approach to disease control with particular emphasis on the impact of anthropogenic activities including climate change and deforestation.

My working background is centred primarily around laboratories, having worked in public, private and academic institutions. Of particular note, I facilitated a citizen science research project titled 'Summer Soilstice' investigating the role of agro-antifungal use in the development of antifungal resistant Aspergillus fumigatus and the consequential health outcomes of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis. More recently, I have worked in a public healthcare environment, gaining first-hand insight into the importance of health system strengthening and the issues surrounding implementation and access, particularly among rural poor communities in England. Additionally, my time working with the SACHA (Shaping Abortion for Change) conferred experience in the interactions between policy and science as well as the positionality of stakeholders - particularly applicable in the NTD field given the unique pharma partnerships for drug donation.

I wish to expand my skillset in the field of applied epidemiology within resource-constrained, outbreak or conflict contexts with particular emphasis of integration of data sources including spatial analysis.