2022/2023

Social Science Meets Biology

Indigenous People and Severe Influenza Outcomes

Social Sciences

Principal investigators

Svenn-Erik
Mamelund

Professor
Oslo Metropolitan University (OsloMet)
Year at CAS

Abstract

Influenza pandemics are most pressing global threats to human life and security. The state of the art in medical, epidemiological and social science research on the extreme vulnerability of Indigenous people to severe influenza disease is carried out in silos, and the factors uniting the infectious disease experiences of Indigenous peoples across continents of the world are rarely considered in concert. We will do the first interdisciplinary research project integrating genetic, epidemiological and social factors to unravel common factors for why Indigenous groups in Scandinavia, North America and Oceania are all highly susceptible to influenza, both in historical times and today. This project is also very timely and relevant as indigenous people also are extremely vulnerable towards COVID-19.

Fellows

Michael G.
Baker

Professor
University of Otago
Year at CAS

Heather
Battles

Lecturer
University of Auckland
Year at CAS

Gerardo
Chowell-Puente

Professor
Georgia State University
Year at CAS

Jessica
Dimka

Researcher
Oslo Metropolitan University (OsloMet)
Year at CAS

Elienai
Joaquin Damas

Professor
Universidad Tecnológica de la Huasteca Hidalguense
Year at CAS
profile image illustration

Kirsty
Renfree Short

Senior Lecturer
University of Queensland
Year at CAS

Lisa
Sattenspiel

Professor
University of Missouri
Year at CAS

Lauren
Steele

PhD Candidate
University of Queensland
Year at CAS
profile image illustration

Emma
Tinker-Fortel

PhD Candidate
University of Missouri-Coloumbia
Year at CAS

Taylor
van Doren

Research Fellow
Sitka Sound Science Center
Year at CAS

Amanda
Wissler

Dr.
University of South Carolina
Year at CAS

Affiliated researchers

Alexandra
Blinkova

Researcher
Oslo Metropolitan University (OsloMet)

Courtney
Heffernan

Research Associate
University of Alberta

Vibeke Narverud
Nyborg

Associate Professor
University of South-Eastern Norway (USN)

Hilde
Orderud

Senior Researcher
University of Turku

Benjamin
Schneider

Postdoctoral Fellow
Oslo Metropolitan University (OsloMet)

News

01 June 2023

It has been a year since Professor Svenn-Erik Mamelund and his team embarked on their CAS project on Indigenous people and severe influenza outcomes. We sat down with him to discuss the progress made and what the future holds.

Events