Institute: Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health
Biography
I am interested in understanding the determinants for the acquisition and transmission of infectious diseases. This is vital for effective implementation of prevention strategies such as vaccination. I have built expertise in the following three themes:
1. Evidence synthesis
2. Co-infections between STIs and HIV
3. Vulnerable populations and social determinants of health
My research history has focused on the study of epidemiology of different STIs with experience in both bacterial and viral STIs. In my research, I use mathematical modeling of infectious diseases, systematic reviews, meta-analysis and statistical analysis. My skillset can be applied to wide range of problems. Mathematical modeling of infectious diseases is a useful tool at different stages of vaccine development. Vaccine development for STIs is at various stages from basic research (e.g.
Trichomonas vaginalis) to phase III trials (e.g. herpes simplex virus). Mathematical models of hypothetical vaccines can offer insight on their potential benefits, and we can use modeling to compare the benefits of different vaccine mechanisms (e.g. prophylactic versus therapeutic vaccine, degree- versus take-type vaccine protection, vaccine which reduces infectivity versus vaccine which reduces susceptibility).
I have conducted research in the study of HPV vaccination programs, and how these are influenced by HIV. My previous work has suggested that in the presence of biological interactions the impact of girls only HPV vaccination is reduced due to increasing heterogeneity in susceptibility at population level. I am interested in understanding both the individual and population-level impact HPV vaccination has for people living with HIV. My background allows for multidisciplinary approach to evaluate the interactions between HIV and HPV. The questions and methodologies pertaining to HPV can be applied more broadly for the development of novel vaccines for STIs.
Key Publications
A list of publications can be found here.
Web Links of Interest
Twitter @mintturonn
https://prevention-policy-modeling-lab.sph.harvard.edu/minttu-ronn/