Najmul Haider

Biography

Dr Najmul Haider is a veterinarian, epidemiologist, and public health researcher experienced in conducting primary research in Asia (Bangladesh), Europe (Denmark, Finland, and the United Kingdom), and Africa (Republic of Congo and Sierra Leone). Dr Haider Obtained his bachelor’s (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine) and master’s degree (MSc in Vet Science and MPH with Epidemiology as major) from Bangladesh. During 2008-2014, Najmul worked with UC CDC-funded research projects on zoonotic diseases at International Centre for Diarrhoeal Diseases Research, Bangladesh (ICDDrB), an international health research organization based in Bangladesh. In Feb 2015, Najmul moved to Denmark to obtain his doctoral degree in epidemiology from the Technical University of Denmark. In 2019, Najmul joined as a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Royal Veterinary College, United Kingdom to work on ‘OneHealth’ research projects in a consortium called “PANDORA-ID-NET” primarily working in Sub-Saharan Africa. Najmul Joined as a Lecturer in Epidemiology at the School of Life Sciences, Keele University on 1st Oct 2022.

Najmul's PhD research was on modelling vector-borne disease transmission potential in Northern Europe with a special emphasis on microclimatic temperature. Biological parameters of insects such as biting rate, vector survival rate, and extrinsic incubation period are highly dependent on temperature. Most current models use temperatures recorded by meteorological weather stations. Najmul’s PhD studies demonstrate that microclimatic temperatures are generally warmer than the temperature recorded by meteorological weather stations, and this temperature disparity has a significant impact on vector-borne disease transmission that was not previously recognized by models using traditional meteorological temperature monitoring.

With the emergence of COVID-19 and the resulting pandemic, Najmul was able to quickly pivot his epidemiological skill to support response efforts. At the beginning of the epidemic, Najmul developed a mathematical model to predict the global risk of COVID-19 transmission from China to the rest of the world and compared African countries in the global context. Results from the risk assessment were immediately shared with Africa CDC so they could use the findings to disburse available resources, such as airport thermal scanners, to countries with a higher risk of importing coronavirus cases from China. Subsequently, Najmul published a series of articles on COVID-19 including articles on lockdown measures in Sub-Saharan Africa, the country’s response to COVID-19 pandemic, and the Global case-fatality rate of COVID-19.

Najmul is interested in conducting research on the epidemiology of re/emerging infectious diseases of pandemic potential, Vector-borne diseases, and Covid-19. Najmul uses statistical and mathematical models to identify the pathways to interrupt the chain transmission (spillover) of pathogens from animals/vectors to humans and between humans.

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Research and scholarship

• Understanding the transmission mechanisms of zoonotic diseases between animals and humans (OneHealth)
• Risk factors of zoonotic and infectious diseases
• Mathematical modelling of vector-borne diseases
• Epidemiology and global response to the COVID-19 pandemic
• Role of microclimatic temperature on vector-borne disease transmission
• Outbreak investigation in a multi-disciplinary approach
• Conducting field epidemiological studies (longitudinal, case-control, and cross-sectional studies)
• West African One Health actions for understanding, preventing, and mitigating outbreaks
• Area of research interest: Lassa fever, Chikungunya, Mosquito-borne diseases, COVID-19, One Health Epidemiology

Collaborations and grants awards

• The Royal Veterinary College, United Kingdom
• Njala University, Sierra Leone
• PANDORA-ID-NET
• ICDDR,B