Dr James Rudge

Profile

I am an epidemiologist specialising in One Health research on the ecology and impact of infectious diseases to inform risk-based surveillance and control strategies. I joined the Nuffield Centre for International Health & Development as Associate Professor in One Health & Epidemiology in May 2025.

Prior to joining the University of Leeds, I was employed at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, where I continue to hold an Honorary Appointment. During my time at LSHTM (2009-2024), I was based overseas in Southeast Asia within the Communicable Diseases Policy Research Group, which I also led between 2020-2024, steering interdisciplinary research programmes with a focus on (but not limited to) low- and middle-income countries in the region. Key areas of experience include designing and conducting observational studies, leading quantitative and modelling analyses, developing and sustaining international collaborations, and providing technical support for governmental, academic, and development partners.

Research interests

I am interested in interdisciplinary, One Health-focused research on the emergence, epidemiology, and dynamics of infectious diseases at the human-animal-environment interface, and the capacity of health systems to respond. A main area of recent focus has been on zoonotic risk of influenza in relation to livestock (swine) production systems. My interests extend to the epidemiology, surveillance and control of infectious disease more broadly, including helminth infections such as schistosomiasis (which was the focus of my doctoral research), and the role of sustainable food-production systems in improving global health security.

Recent projects as Principal Investigator/Co-Investigator include:

• Understanding zoonotic and pandemic risk in relation to swine production systems in Cambodia (‘PigFluCam+’). U.S. Defense Threat Reduction Agency - Biological Threat Reduction Program (Principal Investigator; $3,907,307; 2018-2024).
• Characterizing Influenza Risk at the Poultry-Pig Interface to Strengthen Surveillance for Novel Influenza Viruses in Lao PDR. Global Emerging Infections Surveillance (Principal Investigator; $341,433; 2020-2024).
• Improving biosurveillance for African Swine Fever in Cambodia (PigFluCam+: ASF Follow-on). U.S. Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Scientific & Technical Engagement Partnership Program (Principal Investigator; $630,479; 2022).
• COVID-19 Modelling support for the WHO Western Pacific Region Office and Ministries of Health from Member States. World Health Organization (Principal Investigator; £39,000; 2020).
• A multi-disciplinary approach to optimize the impact of a novel point of care diagnostic test for targeted treatment of zoonotic hybrid and livestock schistosomiasis in sub-Saharan Africa. Bloomsbury SET, UKRI (Co-Investigator; £208,000; 2019-2021).
• Respiratory infectious diseases among a community-based cohort in Vientiane Province, Lao PDR (‘LaCoRIS’). US Naval Medical Research Center (Co-Investigator; $220K; 2014-2019)
• Livestock systems and zoonotic risk: porcine cysticercosis in Cambodia. London International Development Centre (Co-Principal Investigator; £6,000; 2016-2017).
• Determining the association between livestock systems and influenza prevalence and diversity in swine, Cambodia (PigFluCam). US Naval Medical Research Center (Principal Investigator; $265,124; 2014-2016).

Qualifications

• PhD, Infectious Disease Epidemioloy (Imperial College London)
• MSc, Modern Epidemiology (Imperial College London)
• BSc, Biological Sciences - Microbiology (Imperial College London)

Student education

I will be teaching on the MPH programme at Leeds, including the Principles in Public Health module.

Research groups and institutes

• Nuffield Centre for International Health and Development