Research - Ayel L. R. Batac

RESEARCH

Research Summary

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

I also explore 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 gonorrhea and chlamydia testing among MSM, and I maintain broader interests in respiratory infections, including tuberculosis (TB), respiratory syncytial virus infection (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, evidence synthesis, and epidemiological analysis. I am actively involved in knowledge translation (KT) and knowledge mobilization (KMb) efforts to bridge research into policy and practice and ensure 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, especially in the areas of epidemiology, evidence synthesis, 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

Learn more by clicking on each tile.

STBBIs

Tuberculosis

Mpox

Anaphylaxis

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Research Interests

  • Social epidemiology of STBBIs and HIV
  • Health equity among MSM and sex worker populations
  • Respiratory infectious diseases (e.g., TB, RSV, flu, COVID-19)
  • Infectious disease prevention and control in LMICs and low-resource settings
  • Behavioural interventions for health service uptake (e.g., pay-it-forward)
  • Mixed-methods research in public health and epidemiology
  • Evidence synthesis (scoping and systematic reviews)
  • Knowledge translation and knowledge mobilization (KT/KMb)
  • Infectious disease modelling
  • Implementation science
  • Health economics and pharmacoeconomics (HIV, allergy)
  • Allergy and clinical immunology (anaphylaxis, asthma, drug and food allergy)

Research Areas

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

Keywords

STBBIs, HIV/AIDS, MSM health, social epidemiology, behavioural interventions, LMICs, health equity, mixed-methods research, evidence synthesis, knowledge translation, knowledge mobilization, allergy, asthma, anaphylaxis, implementation science, mathematical modelling