RECENTRE (undeRstanding EpidemiCs in prEgnaNt and lacTating people and infants: an inteRdisciplinary nEtwork)

I plan to establish a leading interdisciplinary research network in (re)emerging infections in pregnant/lactating people and infants, groups with distinct vulnerabilities during epidemics/pandemics who are often not the subject of research. This complex area requires collaboration across sectors and disciplines, involving not only medicine and epidemiology but also art/linguistics/human-computer interaction (HCI)/medical history/social sciences/affected communities. Such interdisciplinarity brings unique perspectives, enhancing our understanding and improving interventions. I will bring together a study team of artists/clinicians/co-production practitioners/epidemiologists/HCI experts/historians/linguists/social scientists. Together, we will map existing work; exchange and synthesise insights from our disciplines; establish a wider interdisciplinary research network of communities, stakeholders and researchers (RECENTRE); and host a research sandpit and symposium. This proposal is supported by collaborators Penta (global scientific network in paediatric infections), and Tommy's (UK’s leading pregnancy research charity), contributing policy expertise, international research networks, and links to communities. In summary, my ambitious and creative proposal brings together people who are rarely ‘in a room’ together, to tackle a pressing public health concern. I will identify novel interdisciplinary research questions and approaches. Ultimately, I will establish an innovative interdisciplinary programme in (re)emerging infections, prioritising pregnant/lactating people and infants, ensuring they are not left behind.