Research Program in Disease Ecology, Health, and Development at Stanford University: Reversing Disease-Driven Poverty Traps with Win-Win Ecological Solutions

We propose the formation of an innovative interdisciplinary research group, organized in a Research Program in “Disease Ecology, Health, and Development” based at Stanford, and designed to advance our understanding of the ecological and economic drivers of “poverty traps” — cycles of poverty that arise from the interactions among disease, economic productivity, and human and natural capital. The program’s activities will develop the methodology and research core for discovering, investigating, and applying “wealth-generating ecological solutions” to health, environment and poverty problems. Research on the ground will occur by leveraging existing projects in Senegal, Tanzania and Bangladesh. This project is an extraordinary opportunity to add capacity and connect Stanford’s existing world-class centers, programs, and expertise by bringing together faculty working on infectious diseases, public health policies, economics, natural capital, earth systems, and food security. Our ultimate goal is to create the scientific foundation and gather the necessary support to expand the program and, eventually, establish a Stanford Center for Disease Ecology, Health, and Development.