Michael Johansson

Professor Johansson (he/him) began his career at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Dengue Branch in Puerto Rico where he developed statistical and mathematical models to improve surveillance, prevention, and control of infectious diseases with a focus on dengue and other mosquito-borne viral diseases. His research on dengue ranges from assessing climate impacts on basic virus and mosquito biology to the short-term drivers of local epidemics and the long-term drivers of changing global dynamics.

Beyond epidemiological research, Professor Johansson has worked to connect science and public health needs across pathogens and scales. He played critical roles in CDC emergency responses including leading or co-leading of the Modeling Team in responses for Zika, COVID-19, and dengue. He also co-founded the CDC Epidemic Prediction Initiative in 2015, which pioneered open, collaborative infectious disease forecasting challenges to improve the science of infectious disease forecasting and led to the real-time implementation and use of forecasts by public health authorities (e.g., for influenza and COVID-19). Working with partners from local health departments to the World Health Organization, he has developed quantitative tools and capacity to improve risk assessment, situational awareness, policy, and mitigation planning to improve public health preparedness and control.