Imperial WHO Collaborating Centre
Imperial WHO Collaborating Centre
Linkedin Instagram Youtube Threads Facebook Twitter

Send Email

info@imperialwhocc.org

Research Themes

  1. Home
  2. Research Themes

Our core research themes:

1. Global Health and Disease Prevention 

This theme focuses on understanding, addressing, and reducing the global burden of diseases, promoting health equity, and improving health outcomes through research on epidemiology, prevention strategies, and healthcare interventions. 

Latest: 

  1. GBD 2021 Forecasting Collaborators. Burden of disease scenarios for 204 countries and territories, 2022–2050: a forecasting analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021, The Lancet, Volume 403, Issue 10440, 2024, Pages 2204-2256, ISSN 0140-6736, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(24)00685-8.  
  2. GBD 2019 MSK in Adolescents Collaborators. Global pattern, trend, and cross-country inequality of early musculoskeletal disorders from 1990 to 2019, with projection from 2020 to 2050. Med, Volume 5, Issue 8, 2024, Pages 943-962.e6, ISSN 2666-6340, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.medj.2024.04.009. 

High Impact: 

  1. GBD 2021 Demographics Collaborators. Global age-sex-specific mortality, life expectancy, and population estimates in 204 countries and territories and 811 subnational locations, 1950–2021, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic: a comprehensive demographic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. Lancet 2024 May Volume 403, Issue 10440, 2024, Pages 1989-2056, ISSN 0140-6736, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(24)00476-8. 
  2. GBD 2017 Disease and Injury Incidence and Prevalence Collaborators. Global, regional, and national incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability for 354 diseases and injuries for 195 countries and territories, 1990-2017: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017. Lancet. 2018 Nov 10;392(10159):1789-1858. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(18)32279-7. Epub 2018 Nov 8. Erratum in: Lancet. 2019 Jun 22;393(10190):e44. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(19)31047-5. PMID: 30496104; PMCID: PMC6227754.  

 

2. Healthcare System Resilience and Policy 

Research in this theme aims to enhance the capacity of healthcare systems to withstand crises, adapt to changing health demands, and implement policies that improve accessibility, quality, and equity in healthcare delivery. 

Latest: 

  1. Al Asfoor, D., Tabche, C., Al-Zadjali, M. et al. Concept analysis of health system resilience. Health Res Policy Sys 22, 43 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12961-024-01114-w 
  2. Santos, J.V., Padron-Monedero, A., Bikbov, B. et al. The state of health in the European Union (EU-27) in 2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease study 2019. BMC Public Health 24, 1374 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-18529-3  
  3. Abuhaloob L, El-Osta A, Newton T, Rawaf S, Banerjee A. Could the minimum intervention oral care framework help improve the quality of oral health delivery and access to NHS primary dental care? Br Dent J. 2024 Aug 14. doi: 10.1038/s41415-024-7627-x. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39143226. 

High Impact: 

  1. Rawaf, S., Tabche, C., Christodoulou, G.N., Rawaf, D., Quezada-Yamamoto, H. (2023). Person-Centered Prevention. In: Mezzich, J.E., Appleyard, W.J., Glare, P., Snaedal, J., Wilson, C.R. (eds) Person Centered Medicine. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-17650-0_17 
  2. Rawaf S, Quezada Yamamoto H, Rawaf D. Unlocking towns and cities: COVID-19 exit strategy. East Mediterr Health J. 2020 May 21;26(5):499-502. doi: 10.26719/emhj.20.028. PMID: 32538441. 

 

3. Virology and Infectious Diseases 

This theme covers research on viruses, their transmission, and the development of treatments and vaccines, with a focus on understanding and combating infectious diseases that pose significant public health threats. 

Latest: 

  1. Khaleel H, Alhilfi R, Rawaf S, Atwan Z, Al-Alwany A, Raheem M, Tacbhe C. Determining the bacterial and viral meningitis trend in Iraq from 2007 till 2023 using joinpoint regression 
  2. Khaleel H, Alhilfi R, Rawaf S, Tabche C. Identify future epidemic threshold and intensity for influenza-like illness in Iraq by using the moving epidemic method. IJID Regions, Volume 10, 2024, Pages 126-131, ISSN 2772-7076, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijregi.2023.12.005. 

High Impact: 

  1. Atwan Z, Alhilfi R, Mousa A, Rawaf S, Torre J, Hashim A, Sharquie I, Khaleel H, Tabche C. Alarming update on incidence of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever in Iraq in 2023. IJID Regions, Volume 10, 2024, Pages 75-79, ISSN 2772-7076, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijregi.2023.11.018. 
  2. AlHilfi R, Khaleel H, Raheem B, Mahdi S, Tabche C, Rawaf S. Large outbreak of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever in Iraq, 2022, IJID Regions, Volume 6, 2023, Pages 76-79, ISSN 2772-7076, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijregi.2023.01.007. 
  3. Local Burden of Disease HIV Collaborators. Subnational mapping of HIV incidence and mortality among individuals aged 15-49 years in sub-Saharan Africa, 200-18: A modelling study. The Lancet HIV. Volume 8, June 2021. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2352-3018(21)00051-5 

 

4. Emergency Preparedness and Response 

This theme addresses the development of strategies and policies to effectively respond to health emergencies, such as pandemics or natural disasters, with a focus on preparedness, mitigation, and rapid response. 

Latest: 

  1. Kufoof L, Hajjeh R, Al Nsour M, Saad R, Bélorgeot V, Abubakar A, Khader Y, Rawaf S. Learning From COVID-19: What Would It Take to Be Better Prepared in the Eastern Mediterranean Region? JMIR Public Health Surveill. 2024 Feb 15;10:e40491. doi: 10.2196/40491. PMID: 38359418; PMCID: PMC10871069. 
  2. Abuhaloob L, Purnat TD, Tabche C, Atwan Z, Dubois E, Rawaf S. Management of infodemics in outbreaks or health crises: a systematic review. Front Public Health. 2024 Mar 15;12:1343902. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1343902. PMID: 38566799; PMCID: PMC10986759. 

High Impact: 

  1. Research Team at WHOCC and WHO. Global competency  and outcomes framework  for the essential public  health functions. 2024 9789240091214-eng.pdf (who.int) 
  2. Khaleel H, Alhilfi R, Rawaf S, Tabche C. Identify future epidemic threshold and intensity for influenza-like illness in Iraq by using the moving epidemic method. IJID Regions, Volume 10, 2024, Pages 126-131, ISSN 2772-7076, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijregi.2023.12.005. 

 

5. Health Behaviour and Education 

This theme investigates the role of behaviour and education in health outcomes, focusing on how health education, interventions, and behaviour modification can lead to healthier populations and more effective disease prevention. 

Latest: 

  1. Tabche C, Raheem M, Arwa A, Rawaf S. Effect of Electronic Record on Doctor-patient Relationship in Arabian Gulf Countries: A Systematic Review. Frontiers in Digital Health, Volume 5, 2023. Doi: 10.3389/fdgth.2023.1252227 
  2. Rawaf S, Tabche C. Public Health Workforce Development Through Virtually Interactive Training Courses. Public Health Reviews. March 2022. https://doi.org/10.3389/phrs.2022.1604657  

High Impact: 

  1. Research Team at WHOCC and WHO. Global competency  and outcomes framework  for the essential public  health functions. 2024 9789240091214-eng.pdf (who.int) 
  2. Hertelendy A, Chekijian S, McNulty C, Mitchell J, Grimes P, Durneva J, Ranse A, Voskanyan, Rawaf S, Tabche C, Ciottone G. Crisis leadership: a case for inclusion in accredited Master of Public Health program curricula panel. RSPH Public Health. Volume 209, June 2022, Doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2022.05.012 

 Individual Staff Imperial Publication Profiles

For more information and contact information about collaboration, please contact any of our staff members below: