Derek Cummings is the Bloomberg Distinguished Professor of Infectious Disease Dynamics at Johns Hopkins University, with joint appointments in the Department of Epidemiology at the Bloomberg School of Public Health and the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the Whiting School of Engineering. He is a key member of the 'Preparing and Responding to Emerging Pandemics' interdisciplinary research cluster. His research spans the ecology, evolution, and transmission dynamics of infectious diseases, with a focus on dengue, influenza, measles, chikungunya, and SARS-CoV-2. He integrates theoretical modeling, field studies, clinical trials, and laboratory work to develop science-based public health interventions. Derek Cummings is particularly known for his work in immuno-epidemiology, exploring how immune responses influence pathogen spread and how this knowledge can improve vaccine strategies and outbreak forecasting. His current research includes leading a large-scale intervention trial in Brazil using Wolbachia -infected mosquitoes to suppress dengue transmission, representing a systems-level approach to disease control. His work during the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to understanding immune responses and genetic factors in disease severity. He emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration across molecular, clinical, and population sciences to address complex public health threats. Bloomberg Distinguished Professor Derek Cummings is actively involved in mentoring the next generation of scientists and translating research into real-world public health solutions. He leads collaborative teams across engineering, public health, and biological sciences, focusing on innovation in pandemic preparedness and response. His leadership bridges theoretical and applied research, aiming to reduce the global burden of infectious diseases through scalable, evidence-based interventions.












