Stars in Global Health: Mark Loeb
Mark Loeb is a professor in the Departments of Pathology and Molecular Medicine / Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics; division director Infectious Diseases, Michael G. DeGroote Chair in Infectious Diseases.
McMaster has seven researchers involved in the Grand Challenges Stars in Global Health competition.
Funded by the Government of Canada, the Stars in Global Health initiative supports “Bold Ideas with Big Impact” from the best and brightest researchers in the world who are using scientific/technical, social and business innovation to address some of the most pressing global health challenges.
All video submissions clock in at less than two minutes, and anyone can watch and vote. Videos are available for viewing until 1 p.m. on June 10. Winners will receive up to $100,000 over a period of 12-18 months to demonstrate proof of concept of the idea.
Mark Loeb is a professor in the Departments of Pathology and Molecular Medicine / Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics; division director Infectious Diseases, Michael G. DeGroote Chair in Infectious Diseases.
What is your primary area of research expertise?
Epidemiological studies in the area of infectious diseases studying viruses such as influenza and dengue.
Can you summarize your submission to the Stars in Global Health competition?
The focus of the submission is to monitor serious adverse vaccine events among children in Vietnam using text messaging and maternal education.
What is the wider local or global impact of your research?
Although the proposed project would be conducted in one particular Hamlet in Vietnam, the plan would be to expand to others.
How would winning the Stars in Global Health competition further your research efforts?
This would provide our team in Vietnam and at McMaster the opportunity to conduct this important feasibility project. This would be essential to expanding activity to other regions.
What makes McMaster a unique or exciting environment for conducting world-class research?
McMaster provides an outstanding environment for testing new ideas because of the excellence of research staff, support from administration, the ability to collaborate for colleagues in various fields. The fact that the Institute for Infectious Diseases Research exists allows all of this to happen.
