Research defines the biomedical and behavioral factors influencing the emergence and spread of disease. Increased understanding of these factors will permit prediction of potential problems and application of preventive measures. Research in such diverse disciplines such as microbiology, epidemiology, molecular biology, and immunology is essential to the development of improved diagnostics for better surveillance and targeted treatment. Research in related fields, such as ecology and entomology, can lead to alternative control strategies focused on vectors or reservoir hosts. Disease transmission can be altered by changing ecologies.
Research identifies new opportunities that can be exploited to enhance infectious disease control.