Derek A Cummings

Derek A Cummings is a Professor at the University of Florida's Department of Biology and serves as the EPI Associate Director for Education and Graduate Programs. His research focuses on infectious disease epidemiology, virology, and public health, with a particular emphasis on dengue, Zika, and SARS-CoV-2. He has contributed to understanding disease transmission dynamics, vaccine efficacy, and the role of immunity in viral infections.

Dr. Cummings has taught courses such as ZOO4926 (Special Topics in Zoology), PHC7916 (National Field Epidemiology), and BMS4905 (Medical Sciences Senior Research). His work integrates epidemiological modeling, immunology, and data science to address global health challenges.

His research has explored antigenic evolution of dengue viruses, household immunity dynamics, and the impact of vaccination on SARS-CoV-2 transmission. Key contributions include studies on vaccine effectiveness in Brazil and Thailand, as well as the use of mobility data to improve disease surveillance.

Dr. Cummings has led or co-led numerous grants, including projects on dengue vaccine efficacy, SARS-CoV-2 immunity in high-transmission settings, and vector-borne disease control. He collaborates with institutions like the CDC, NIH, and global health organizations to advance disease prevention strategies.