VACCINES, INFECTIOUS DISEASE PREVENTION, & EPIDEMIOLOGY RESEARCH (VIPER) GROUP
NICOLE E. BASTA, PHD MPHIL
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR
Dr. Nicole E. Basta is PI of the VIPER Group. Nicole is an infectious disease epidemiologist and vaccinologist with expertise in designing and implementing epidemiological studies that generate critical biological, clinical, and behavioral evidence. The goal of her research is to optimize disease prevention and control. She draws upon her background in epidemiology, biostatistics, ecology and evolutionary biology, public health and global health to advance our understanding of the epidemiology of multiple globally important diseases.
The aim of Dr. Basta's research is to 1) maximize the impact of vaccines and immunization programs, 2) increase vaccine awareness, acceptance, and uptake, and 3) improve our understanding of infectious disease transmission dynamics to tailor prevention strategies.
DAWN NEDERHOFF, MPH
STUDY COORDINATOR
Since 2011 Dawn has been a study coordinator in the Division of Epidemiology and Community Health at the University of Minnesota. Dawn is interested in research pertaining to infectious disease and vaccines, both internationally and locally. Dawn enjoys the hands on experience of working closely with team members and study participants.
BRIDGET GRIFFITH, PHD
POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHER
Bridget Griffith (she/her) is an infectious disease epidemiologist with research interests in vaccines, health emergencies, and access to healthcare. She completed her PhD in Epidemiology at the University of Minnesota in 2021. Her dissertation work, which focuses on the barriers and facilitators of achieving on-time measles vaccination, is based on a 1000-person survey of caretakers of young children living in Kampala, Uganda that she administered in 2019. Bridget is currently a postdoctoral researcher at McGill University where she is continuing her research on vaccine epidemiology.
ANDY BECKER
RESEARCH ASSISTANT
Andy is a PhD student in Biostatistics. His research focuses on causal inference methods for sensor data collected by smartphones. His collaborations have included transportation research and vaccine studies.
KATIE GRAVAGNA, MSC EPIDEMIOLOGY CANDIDATE
Katie Gravagna is completing her MSc Epidemiology degree at McGill University for Spring 2022. Her research interests in infectious disease and vaccine epidemiology include her thesis research on identifying influenza non-vaccination prevalence and associated factors in Canadian adults.
ALEXANDRA PEEBLES, MSCPH
RESEARCH ASSISTANT
Alexandra obtained her Master’s of Science in Public Health from McGill University in Spring 2021. Her research interests include impact and economic evaluations of vaccine interventions, as well as factors influencing vaccine coverage in special populations.
GIORGIA SULIS, MD PHD DTM&IH
POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHER
Giorgia is an infectious disease epidemiologist with clinical background and a strong interest in global health research. Prior to receiving her PhD in epidemiology from McGill University (2021), she obtained her medical degree (2011) and specialized in infectious and tropical diseases (2017) in Italy. Giorgia’s research interests and activities have evolved through three main areas of utmost global importance: tuberculosis control, the use of antibiotics in lower resource settings and its impact on antibiotic resistance, and – more recently – vaccine epidemiology.
VALÉRIE RODRIGUE, MSC
RESEARCH ASSISTANT
Valérie completed a Master's degree in Epidemiology at McGill University. Her research interests include vaccine development, emerging infectious diseases and vaccination during pregnancy. She is also contributing to systematics reviews on vaccine immunogenicity, safety and effectiveness.
JI YOON (TIFFANY) KIM, MPH
PHD EPIDEMIOLOGY STUDENT
Tiffany is a PhD student at McGill University in the department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health. Her research interests include vaccination coverage, as well as factors influencing vaccine uptake and vaccine hesitancy.
SANDRA CHYDERIOTIS, PHARMD, MPH
CONSULTANT
Sandra is finishing a PhD in epidemiology from Sorbonne Université using discrete choice experiments to optimize vaccine communication. She is interested in vaccine confidence and evidence-based interventions and policies to increase vaccine uptake.
ANGIE ULRICH, PHD
POST-DOCTORAL FELLOW
As an infectious disease epidemiologist, Angie's research interests broadly involve the prevention and control of infectious diseases. Her research focuses on assessing vaccines in a real-world setting and strategies for HIV prevention including antiretroviral treatment as prevention (TasP).
MIRANDA HORN, MSC PUBLIC HEALTH
RESEARCH ASSISTANT
Miranda Horn is a full time research assistant who completed her MScPH in Public Health at McGill University in 2021. She is currently collaborating on projects that examine vaccination policies in various settings and social perceptions concerning vaccination.
MANUELA TOMIC, BSC
RESEARCH ASSISTANT (VOLUNTEER)
Manuela is pursuing a Master’s degree in Epidemiology offered by the University of Edinburgh. She is also responsible for coordinating clinical trials at the Cancer Research Program affiliated with McGill University. Her interests include: emerging infectious diseases, the use of CRISPR/Cas 9 as a tool in disease surveillance, and disease modelling. Interesting fact: Manuela speaks 5 languages.
JACQUELINE YAO, BSC
RESEARCH ASSISTANT
Jacqueline is a part-time research assistant who graduated McGill University with a Bachelor of Science in 2021. Having previously worked on the McGill COVID-19 Vaccine Tracker, she is now working on a project investigating where COVID-19 vaccine trials are being held.
