Antimicrobial-resistant pathogens arise from the overuse of antimicrobials in humans, agriculture, and the environment, rendering many existing antimicrobial treatments ineffective. The number of annual deaths due to resistant infections will continue to increase, as will the economic and social impacts of drug resistance. Coordinated global action is needed to successfully address the threat of antimicrobial resistance, through new innovation, collaboration, and attention among global health actors and the public.

We are working to bring the science of global strategy to bear on how to achieve the necessary level of global action.

Global legal epidemiology is the scientific study of international law as a factor in the cause, distribution and promotion of health around the world. New treaties have often been proposed to address many global health issues, including chronic diseases, nutrition, research and development, and healthcare corruption. With so many calls for treaties, it is imperative that a closer look is taken at their overall potential effectiveness and value for the future.

We are pioneering new approaches for evaluating existing treaties and informing the design of future international instruments.

Numerous international, national, and sub-national institutions play a critical role in public health. However, relatively little research has been conducted on these institutions, and few existing studies draw on the rich body of insights from political science, public administration, and international relations. Similarly, the existing literature on public health policy does not typically integrate concepts and theories from political science and, in particular, the rapidly-growing body of research on the complex role of scientific evidence in policymaking. 

We are bridging disciplinary divides to better understand today’s public health institutions and advise governments around the world on how to design those capable of addressing tomorrow’s challenges.