معرفی
Cristian Koepfli is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Notre Dame and a faculty member of the Eck Institute for Global Health. His research focuses on the molecular epidemiology of malaria and other infectious diseases, using advanced molecular tools to improve diagnosis, understand transmission, and support elimination efforts.
Research Interests: His lab develops and applies molecular diagnostics to detect and genotype parasites, with a focus on asymptomatic and low-density infections. Key areas include Plasmodium gametocyte dynamics, parasite genetics and genomics, transmission heterogeneity, and the impact of diagnostic failures due to hrp2/hrp3 deletions. His work supports global health capacity building in malaria-endemic regions.
Research Trends: Recent publications highlight the use of archived diagnostic samples for surveillance, seasonal investment in transmission stages, and the genetic structure of Plasmodium vivax. His studies integrate field epidemiology with molecular and genomic analyses across Africa, Asia, and Oceania.
Collaborations and Training: He collaborates extensively with institutions in malaria-endemic countries and hosts visiting researchers for training at Notre Dame. Projects are active in Bangladesh, Kenya, Zanzibar, Ethiopia, and Papua New Guinea.
Scientific Contributions: His work has advanced understanding of hidden reservoirs of infection, molecular surveillance, and the evolution of diagnostic escape in malaria parasites.
Advising and Grants: While no current students are listed, his lab conducts large-scale population studies and develops novel molecular methods, likely supported by external grants from global health and infectious disease funding agencies. He has mentored researchers through international collaborations and training programs.
