MSU QMRA Interdisciplinary Program Provides Education on QMRA
Print
EmailThe Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment Interdisciplinary Vehicle (QMRA IV) provides education on QMRA and impacts on topics such as SARS-CoV-2 and Monkeypox
The Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment Interdisciplinary Vehicle (QMRA IV) (year 2) took place in July-August, 2022, which was led by Dr. Jade Mitchell from Michigan State University and Dr. Mark H. Weir from The Ohio State University, and co-led by Drs. Amirpouyan Nejadhashemi (MSU), Julie Libarkin (MSU), Joan Rose (MSU), and Carmen M. McCallum (Eastern Michigan University).The QMRA IV is funded by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number 1R25GM135058.
The QMRA IV is an interdisciplinary program for the training and mentoring in addressing the exposures to microbial pathogens and infectious disease processes in order to characterize human health effects. There were 9 resource faculty, 2 PIs and 1 co-PI trained and mentored the participants in the program and they are top scientists in biosystems engineering, public health, environmental engineering, microbiology, epidemiology, communications, public policy. A total of 69 applications were received: 39 from U.S. institutions and 30 from international institutions. Based on the domestic status, scientific background, career stage, research focus, application area or interests, diversity consideration, recommendation letter, and statement, 35 applicants were selected and 31 of them attended the 2022 QMRA IV.
An online asynchronous course was launched on the educational site on July 5, 2022, providing the fundamentals and core concepts of QMRA. An online synchronous course took place in July 2022 focusing on (1) team science; (2) introduction to QMRA IV teams and institute projects; (3) identifying data needs and reviewing the literature critically; (4) how to obtain personal academic, instrumental and psychosocial mentoring; and (5) risk communication. An in-person workshop was held at Michigan State University from August 7-12, 2022.
With the completion of online asynchronous and synchronous course, participants worked in groups for real-world projects during the in-person workshop, including (a) Risk and Benefit Analysis of School Policy and Operations Changes for SARS-CoV-2 Control; (b) Healthcare Associated Infection Control Using Disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) for Comparative Assessments; (c) Health Risks Associated with Persistent Fungal Pathogens in Dust and Sand; (d) Comparison of Dermal and Droplet Exposures for Monkeypox Infection Risks; and (e) Human Health Risks for Communities that Cohabitate with Livestock Animals. There will be on-going mentoring through the year 2022-2023, and participants will continue work on the institute projects to deliver projects, such as peer-reviewed articles and conference presentations.
Join the QMRA IV in 2023, please contact qmraiv@msu.edu for more information.
