Dr. Kayla King and Dr. Selena Sagan
Infectious diseases are among the most significant causes of death and debilitation worldwide. The World Health Organization includes antimicrobial resistance, global influenza pandemics, and high threat pathogens (e.g. SARS-CoV-2, Zika virus, Dengue virus, HIV and tuberculosis), on its list of the top global threats facing humanity. Deaths and prolonged morbidity caused by infectious diseases can result in substantial personal, economic, and societal loss, creating strain on our health care systems and posing further threats to vulnerable populations. Amidst climate change and the heightened potential for another zoonotic pandemic, there is a global realization that we must collectively ensure we are prepared for the next threat.
The continual evolution of pathogens in animals and humans makes infectious disease control extremely challenging. The Prepare for Pandemics through Advanced Research in Evolution (PrePARE) cluster will help to ensure we are knowledgeable and well equipped to face the next emerging and evolving threat. Together, this interdisciplinary team of world-class researchers – from ecologists and evolutionary biologists to microbiologists and immunologists – fostered by the collaborative environment at UBC, will take a science-to-solutions approach to infectious disease control. We warmly invite you to learn more about our research cluster, the amazing research, and the breakthroughs being made by our members. We hope that you will explore opportunities to get involved in our collective efforts to preserve global health.