Faculty Facilitator: Yesim Tozan, PhD
Under the supervision of Dr. Yesim Tozan, the Health Economics Learning Lab (HELLab) conducts research in the fields of health economics, systems thinking, and decision science to design more equitable and efficient health policies and programs. Our geographic focus is on the tropical and sub-tropical areas of the developing world, which bears a disproportionate share of the global burden of disease. The Lab’s work is directed at costing and cost-effectiveness analyses, and at epidemiological and economic modeling, with the aim of generating actionable evidence for health policy-making. Our multidisciplinary projects provide a platform for Lab members to engage in applied health economics and policy research. The primary focus is on infectious disease prevention and control, with an emphasis on vector-borne diseases, and on improving health and mental health outcomes of vulnerable populations in resource-poor settings.
Dr. Tozan is currently leading a variety of health economic studies in several research projects. Currently, these studies include:
- a multi-country costing study on dengue, Zika, chikungunya, and malaria to evaluate out-of-pockets costs of travel-acquired infections in international travelers (CHIZIDEMA project)
- a cost-effectiveness analysis alongside a clinical trial to evaluate the effectiveness of an innovative economic empowerment intervention to reduce the risk and incidence of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases in adolescent girls (Suubi4Her project) in southern Uganda
- a cost-effectiveness analysis alongside a quasi-experimental study to evaluate the effectiveness of a village-based intervention for malaria prevention through mass screening and treatment in poorly accessible areas (DAMAN project) in Odhisha, India and an epidemiologic modeling study to evaluate the impact on malaria transmission dynamics of a mix of commonly used and new interventions towards successful and efficient control of the disease in the same setting
- a cost-effectiveness analysis alongside a clinical trial to evaluate the effectiveness of a combination intervention that adds economic empowerment to traditional HIV risk reduction sessions to reduce the incidence of sexually transmitted infections and HIV among female sex workers (Kyaterekera project) in the greater Masaka region, Uganda
- a cost-effectiveness analysis alongside a longitudinal experimental study to evaluate the effectiveness of an evidence-based multiple group family strengthening intervention to improve the behavioral outcomes of children (SMART Africa project) in southern Uganda
- an economic modeling study in the context of a multi-institutional research project aimed at improving global arbovirus risk models to enhance outbreak preparedness and response for Aedes-borne diseases (ARBO-PREVENT project)
Fun fact about Dr. Tozan: She served as a Senior Task Force Associate for the UN Millennium Project’s Task Force on HIV/AIDS, Malaria, Tuberculosis and Access to Essential Medicines.
To get involved in the Health Economics Learning Lab, please email our coordinator Ariadna Capasso (ac7113@nyu.edu).