Outbreak: the impact of Infectious Disease on Public Health

Infectious diseases pose an enduring and evolving threat to global health. In this episode of the SGH Hospital of the Future Podcast, Epidemiologist Azra Ghani, Professor of Infectious Disease Epidemiology at Imperial College London, speaks about the future of pandemics and shares how mathematical modelling and statistical methods can illuminate transmission dynamics, guide policy, and shape intervention strategies for diseases ranging from malaria to emerging viral threats.

Triggered by our experience with the COVID-19 pandemic and the SARS epidemic, when infectious disease is mentioned, we might think of viral diseases like Ebola, Nipah or Hantavirus. 

Infectious disease can also be bacterial resulting in tuberculosis, pneumonia or food poisoning, fungal that cause yeast infection, ringworm or athlete’s foot, or parasitic that can lead to malaria.

At Singapore General Hospital, doctors in the Department of Infectious Diseases play a critical supportive role across multiple disciplines at the hospital, ensuring infection control and prevention. They treat a wide spectrum of infections of varying complexity, ranging from simple community acquired infections to complex infections in immunocompromised patients.

Podcast guest, Professor Azra Ghani, prominent Epidemiologist and Professor of Infectious Disease Epidemiology at Imperial College London, discusses the future of pandemics with our podcast hosts Associate Professor Goh Su-Yen and Professor Jenny Low in this SGH Hospital of the Future Podcast.

Professor Azra provides insights into her research on mathematical models and statistical methods to understand the transmission dynamics and control of a range of infectious diseases, and developing models to explore the impact of interventions and to inform and guide policy. She also shares about her work with the World Health Organization on their technical strategy for malaria and as a member of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) Scientific Advisory Committee.

In addition to being a Professor at the NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, Professor Azra is Academic Director of Imperial Global Singapore. She explains why it’s important for Imperial College London to have a presence in  Singapore and how collaboration with universities, industry, government and private sector partners in Singapore will benefit the region.

SGH Hospital of the Future podcast guest Professor Azra Ghani and hosts, Professor Jenny Low and Associate Professor Goh Su-Yen, in the SGH Studio.

About Professor Azra Ghani
Professor Azra Ghani directs Imperial College London's research and collaborative efforts in Singapore, forging partnerships to tackle global challenges,such as integrating artificial intelligence into scientific research.

Her primary research involves mathematical modelling and infectious disease epidemiology, with a focus on malaria, pandemic preparedness, and vaccine-preventable diseases.

About SGH Hospital of the Future Podcast Hosts
Associate Professor Goh Su-Yen is Senior Consultant, Endocrinology, at Singapore General Hospital (SGH), Head and Senior Consultant, SingHealth Duke-NUS Diabetes Centre, and Group Director, Innovation and Transformation, SingHealth, with an interest in innovation and transformation. 

Professor Jenny Low is a Senior Consultant with the Department of Infectious Diseases, SGH. In addition to caring for her patients, her research work includes drug trials for dengue fever. Professor Jenny’s passion for research is driven by her hope and conviction that the discovery of effective drugs and vaccines prevent people from dying of infectious diseases.

Tune in to the full podcast on:

 Tune in to Youtube here 

 Tune in to spotify here

 Tune in to apple podcast

About the SGH Hospital of the Future Podcast

What comes to mind when you think about the hospital of the future? How will rapidly-evolving technology enhance the human touch which is so essential in reshaping healthcare?

Join us as we dive into emerging medical technologies and trends, and significant healthtech innovations making an impact on integrated future health systems and new models of care. We bring you industry experts and luminaries from across the globe and their exclusive insights, as we explore how to unlock new value and better outcomes while looking after both patients and healthcare workers.

Whether you're a healthcare professional, tech enthusiast, or curious about the future of medicine, our healthcare innovation podcast keeps you ahead of the curve in the advancing world of healthcare.

Tune in to more episodes in the series at SGH Hospital of the Future Podcast.