EPIDEMIOLOGY AND GEOGRAPHY GROUP
WHAT WE DO
The Epidemiology and Geography Group recently relocated to the University of Zürich (One Health Institute). We work on diseases of global importance that impact animal production, and human health.
MAPS OF ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE IN ANIMALS
Our core focus is on mapping antimicrobial resistance rates in low- and middle-income countries. We use ensemble geospatial modeling in combination with point prevalence surveys published by the veterinary community across the world.
Is the largest open-access online repository for animal point prevalence surveys on antimicrobial resistance. See our video to share your survey with the community.
GEOGRAPHY OF RESISTANCE GENES IN FOOD PATHOGENS
We use publicly available genomic data to understand the spread of AMR genes in E.coli and Salmonella. Our objective is to identify associations between phenotypic resistance and resistance genes as well as the socio-economic drivers of their dissemination around the world.
ANTIMICROBIAL USE IN AQUACULTURE
Aquaculture is expected to surpass capture fisheries in the next 5 year. This has potentially important implication for the development of antimicrobial resistance. To anticipate this shift, and estimate the contribution of fish to the overall resistance problem we are currently reviewing the global trends in antimicrobial use in aquaculture. Picture wikipedia.org
ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE IN PIG PRODUCTION IN THAILAND.
We study the spatial relationships between antimicrobial resistance and antibiotic use in animals using data from field surveys in Khon Kaen Province. In collaboration with Uppsala Agricultural University (SLU), we investigate how knowledge and attitudes of small and large-scale farmers influences the risk of colonization by antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. This project is funded by the JPI-AMR
Our work is supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation, The Branco Weiss foundation, and the Joint Programming Initiative on Antimicrobial Resistance.
WHO WE ARE
Thomas Van Boeckel is a spatial epidemiologist at the University of Zürich. He is also a visiting fellow at the One Health Trust. He has previously held positions at ETH Zurich, Princeton, Oxford, and obtained his PhD in from the Free University of Brussels (ULB).
JOIN THE GROUP
We welcome spontaneous applications from prospective PhD students, and postdocs.
FORMER TEAM MEMBERS
Cheng Zhao postdoctoral fellow at the University of Sydney
Laura Huber is an assistant professor at Auburn University, AL, USA
Joao do Couto Pires is a EUPHEM fellow at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health.
Dan Schar is a veterinarian working with USAID
Yu Wang is junior quality and process engineer at Mettler Toledo.
Nicolas Cricuolo is teaching science to high-school students in Milan.
Alex Morgan, is a biostatistician at BIOTRONIK AG
Ranya Mulchandani is an epidemiologist at Roche
Soushieta Jagadesh is a research consultant for European Research Projects.
Riccardo Delli Compagni is a Senior Data Scientist at Ferrero.
Katie Tiseo is a Clinical Study & Project Manager at Avelo
PUBLICATIONS
A complete list of publications of the group is available here.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
Global surveillance of antimicrobial resistance in food animals using priority drugs maps (2024)
EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES
Mapping Global Bushmeat Activities to Improve Zoonotic Spillover Surveillance by Using Geospatial Modeling. Emerging Infectious Diseases (2023)
ONE HEALTH
Taxation of veterinary antibiotics to reduce antimicrobial resistance, 2023
Global trends in antimicrobial resistance in animals in low- and middle-income countries (2019)
Reducing antimicrobial use in food animals (2017)
Global trends in antimicrobial use in food animals (2015)
Global antibiotic consumption 2000 to 2010: an analysis of national pharmaceutical sales data (2014)
MEDIA
China's Love of Meat Is Driving Global Antibiotic Usage
Crucial antibiotics still used on US farms despite public health fears
A Plan To Reduce Antibiotic (Ab)use By The Global Meat Industry
Antibiotika: Sauberer, teurer, weniger!
How deadly is your butter chicken?
Three-quarters of antibiotics are used on animals. Here's why that's a major problem
Here's How to Cut Antibiotic Use in Animals
Pharmalot: Can the U.S. Really Curtail Antibiotic Use in Livestock and Thwart Superbugs?
What to expect from today's UN meeting on antibiotic resistance
Antibiotics to grow farm animals raise superbug risk
“We need to stop talking: we need to start acting”: The Global Superbug Crisis event in Westminster
