Jessica Briggs

Jessica Briggs, MD, is an Assistant Professor of Medicine specializing in malaria and infectious disease epidemiology, focusing on molecular diagnostics, antimalarial resistance, and public health interventions in Uganda. Her research addresses persistent malaria transmission dynamics, SARS-CoV-2 epidemiology in vulnerable populations, and the impact of vector control strategies. She has conducted longitudinal cohort studies in high-transmission regions to understand reservoirs of infection and sex-based disparities in disease susceptibility.

Key research areas include molecular sequencing of Plasmodium falciparum drug resistance markers, serological surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in rural and pregnant populations, and evaluating intervention efficacy through ecological and intervention modeling. Her work frequently collaborates with the East Africa International Center of Excellence for Malaria Research, addressing challenges in malaria elimination and emerging infectious diseases.

Publications highlight contributions to understanding asymptomatic malaria reservoirs, gender differences in infection clearance, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on malaria care access. Her findings emphasize the need for combined strategies (vector control, mass drug administration) to reduce persistent malaria transmission in effectively controlled areas.

Dr. Briggs’ studies on gestational SARS-CoV-2 infections revealed associations with infant stunting, underscoring the need for integrated maternal-child health approaches in global health crises. She has pioneered scalable serosurveillance platforms using electronic health records to monitor pathogen exposure and health disparities.