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Biosurveillance

Report
Environmental Biodetection and Human Biosurveillance Research and Development for National Security: Priorities for the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate
This report examines the Department of Homeland Security's chemical and biological defense research and development portfolio to identify priorities for future investments to effectively address biological threats.
Nov 28, 2018
Dissertation
Value of Information for Policy Analysis
This dissertation considers the viability of applying Value of Information methods in complex systems for policy analysis, concluding that these methods can be applied, but that different methods are appropriate in different cases.
May 15, 2018
Testimony
Federal Research and Development for Agricultural Biodefense: Addendum
Document submitted December 5, 2017, as an addendum to testimony presented before the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, Subcommittee on Research and Technology on November 2, 2017.
Dec 6, 2017
Testimony
Agriculture Security in America
The United States has made progress in developing systems to safeguard the nation's agriculture. But threats persist because of socioeconomic, environmental, and ecological factors.
Nov 2, 2017
Journal Article
Local Cross-Border Disease Surveillance and Control: Experiences from the Mekong Basin
The Mekong Basin Disease Surveillance cooperation (MBDS) is one of several sub-regional disease surveillance networks that have emerged in recent years as an approach to transnational cooperation for infectious disease prevention and control.
Apr 7, 2015
Report
Measuring Cooperative Biological Engagement Program (CBEP) Performance: Capacities, Capabilities, and Sustainability Enablers for Biorisk Management and Biosurveillance
This report describes a project to develop a comprehensive evaluation framework for the Cooperative Biological Engagement Program and recommends metrics for assessing and communicating progress toward the program's goals.
Aug 21, 2014
Journal Article
Improving the Value of Analysis for Biosurveillance
Biosurveillance provides information that improves decisions about mitigating the effects of disease outbreaks and bioterrorism.
Mar 1, 2014
Journal Article
The National Response for Preventing Healthcare-Associated Infections: Data and Monitoring
Historically, the ability to accurately track healthcare–associated infections (HAIs) was hindered due to a lack of coordination among data sources and shortcomings in individual data sources.
Jan 31, 2014
Report
Toward Integrated DoD Biosurveillance: Assessment and Opportunities
More near-real-time analysis and better internal and external integration could enhance the performance and value of the Department of Defense's biosurveillance programs. This study, conducted at the request of the Office of Management and Budget, finds that improvements are needed in key enablers, including funding.
Dec 4, 2013
Journal Article
Measuring and Assessing Public Health Emergency Preparedness
The National Health Security Strategy calls for a systematic quality improvement efforts to improving health security.
Sep 1, 2013
Journal Article
Learning About After Action Reporting from the 2009 H1N1 Pandemic: A Workshop Summary
The after action report/improvement plan (AAR/IP) can be useful for both accountability and quality improvement, but these objectives require different foci and methodological approaches.
Apr 12, 2013
Journal Article
Promising Pathways for Regional Disease Surveillance Networks
The globalization of trade and travel has led to the globalization of communicable diseases and, in turn, increased need for globalization of solutions to fight them.
Jan 1, 2013
Journal Article
Modeling Influenza Vaccination Behavior Via Inductive Reasoning Games
The authors show that individual immunization choices can cause severe influenza epidemics and illustrate the actions that might be undertaken to prevent them.
Jan 1, 2013
Journal Article
Nation's Health Security Research Is Not Balanced Enough to Meet Broad Safety Goals
Federal support for health security research is heavily weighted toward preparing for bioterrorism and other biological threats, providing significantly less funding for challenges such as monster storms or attacks with conventional bombs.
Dec 1, 2012
Journal Article
Global Dimensions of Public Health Preparedness and Implications for US Action
This study suggests four timely US actions to address today's competing realities of globalization and economic austerity: raise awareness among clinicians and local health departments; capture and share exemplary disaster management practices across countries; ensure that US global health investments are effective, efficient, and sustainable; and think globally while acting locally to enhance US health security.
Jun 1, 2012
Journal Article
Using Geographic Information Systems to Match Local Health Needs with Public Health Services and Programs
Large local health departments could better inform planning and investments by using geographic information systems to align community needs and health outcomes with public health programs.
Jan 1, 2011
Journal Article
Small Area Variations in Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest: Does the Neighborhood Matter?
Using surveillance data, researchers identified neighborhoods in a Georgia county with a persistently high incidence of cardiac arrest and low rates of bystander CPR. Such neighborhoods are promising targets for community-based interventions.
Jul 1, 2010
Journal Article
Research Priorities for Syndromic Surveillance Systems Response: Consensus Development Using Nominal Group Technique
This paper describes an expert panel process that identified a set of fundable and practically feasible research priorities in the field of syndromic surveillance.
Jan 1, 2010
Journal Article
Federal Initiative Increases Community Preparedness for Public Health Emergencies
This article describes an evaluation of the Cities Readiness Initiative, a federal program to improve communities' ability to dispense medications rapidly during emergencies.
Jan 1, 2010
News Release
Live Operators Crucial Factor for Public Health Department Disease-Reporting Hotlines
Public health departments that staff disease-reporting hotlines with live operators at all times are more likely to meet federal guidelines designed to help stop the spread of infectious diseases.
Jan 2, 2008

Researcher Spotlight

Sella Nevo

Senior Information Scientist

Sella Nevo is a senior information scientist at the RAND Corporation, in parallel to acting as Venture Partner at the climate-focused VC firm Firstime, and advisory board member of ALLFED - the Alliance to Feed the Earth. He focuses on high-leverage interventions to prevent or mitigate pandemics…
Daniel M. Gerstein

Senior Policy Researcher

Daniel M. Gerstein is a senior policy researcher at the RAND Corporation. Previously, he served at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as under secretary (acting) and deputy under secretary in the Science & Technology Directorate. He has extensive experience in security and defense…

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