Research - Ayel L. R. Batac

RESEARCH

RESEARCH SUMMARY

My research centres on the social epidemiology of sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBIs), with a focus on marginalised and underserved populations, including men who have sex with men (MSM) and sex worker communities. I am particularly interested in STBBI prevention and control, with an emphasis on the structural, behavioural, and social determinants that shape health inequities.

I also examine infectious disease prevention and response in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and low-resource settings. My current work includes evaluating pay-it-forward models as innovative behavioural interventions to improve access to gonorrhoea and chlamydia testing among MSM. I also maintain broader interests in respiratory infections, including tuberculosis (TB), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza (flu), and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). While I have growing interests in implementation science and infectious disease modelling, my current focus lies in mixed-methods research, knowledge synthesis, and epidemiological analysis. I am actively engaged in knowledge translation (KT) and knowledge mobilisation (KMb) efforts to bridge research with policy and practice, ensuring that evidence informs real-world decision-making.

In addition to my work in infectious diseases, I have a longstanding interest in allergy and clinical immunology, particularly in the areas of paediatric allergy and immunology, allergen immunotherapy, and the health economics of allergy medications. I am also interested in the pharmacoeconomic evaluation of HIV prevention strategies, including pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP).

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CURRENT RESEARCH

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STBBIs

Tuberculosis

Mpox

Anaphylaxis

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RESEARCH INTERESTS

  • Social epidemiology of sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBIs)
  • Health equity among men who have sex with men (MSM) and sex worker populations
  • Respiratory infectious diseases (e.g., tuberculosis [TB], respiratory syncytial virus [RSV], influenza [flu], COVID-19)
  • Infectious disease prevention and control in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and low-resource settings
  • Allergy (asthma, atopic dermatitis, drug allergy, food allergy, anaphylaxis)
  • Allergen immunotherapy (subcutaneous immunotherapy [SCIT], sublingual immunotherapy [SLIT])
  • Dermatoepidemiology
  • Behavioural interventions for health service uptake (e.g., pay-it-forward approach, behavioural economic models)
  • Knowledge synthesis in allergy and infectious diseases
  • Knowledge translation and knowledge mobilisation (KT/KMb)
  • Infectious disease modelling
  • Implementation science
  • Health economics and pharmacoeconomics (allergic and infectious diseases)

RESEARCH AREAS

  • Epidemiology (communicable and non-communicable diseases)
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Sexually Transmitted and Blood-Borne Infections (STBBIs)
  • HIV/AIDS
  • Allergy and Clinical Immunology
  • Dermatology
  • Paediatrics
  • Public Health
  • Global Health
  • Health Systems Research
  • Health Economics and Outcomes Research
  • Implementation Science
  • Knowledge Synthesis
  • Knowledge Translation and Mobilisation

KEYWORDS

Infectious diseases, epidemiology, sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBI), sexual health, HIV/AIDS, MSM health, allergy, clinical immunology, asthma, atopic dermatitis, drug allergy, food allergy, anaphylaxis, low- and middle-income countries, health equity, mixed-methods research, implementation science, knowledge synthesis, knowledge translation, knowledge mobilisation, mathematical modelling