Gillings School Directory
Allison E. Aiello, PhD
Allison E. Aiello, PhD
Professor and Social Epidemiology Program Leader
Department of Epidemiology
Fellow
Carolina Population Center
Dr. Allison E. Aiello is professor of epidemiology, director of the Graduate Studies Committee and a Carolina Population Center Fellow at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Gillings School of Global Public Health. Dr. Aiello also serves as co-director of the Biosocial Training Program and as an adjunct faculty member at UNC's School of Medicine.
Research Interests
Prevention of infectious diseases in the community setting: We have conducted applied studies of pandemic preparedness measures, including randomized trials of hand hygiene and mask use. The results from these studies have informed national and international health and pandemic response guidelines.
Life course, infection, and chronic disease: We conduct life course studies of infection and immunity, the influence of stress on immunity and the relationship between infection and chronic diseases, such as Alzheimer’s Disease.Genomics, aging, and immunity: We have several ongoing projects examining social, environmental and genomic risk factors for aging and immunity.
Allison Aiello in the Gillings news
- A single vaccine dose may offer protection to those who have had COVID-19
- UNC researchers discuss pitfalls of convenience samples for COVID-19 antibody testing
- The Gillings Community Responds to COVID-19: Tracking the Spread
- Gillings School partners with state, local agencies in North Carolina to study COVID-19 cases with mild or no symptoms
- These basic public health measures can slow the spread of COVID-19
Honors and Awards
PhD with Distinction in EpidemiologyColumbia University's Mailman School of Public Health
Ana C. Gelman Award for Outstanding Achievement and Promise in the Field of EpidemiologyColumbia University
John G. Searle Assistant Professor of EpidemiologyUniversity of Michigan
Carol Rowland Hogue Award for Outstanding Mid-Career Achievement in EpidemiologySociety for Epidemiological Research (SER)
Representative Courses
EPID 726: Grant Writing
EPID 826: Introduction to Social Epidemiology
Research Activities
- Cohort studies
- Community-based studies
- Randomized intervention trials
- Social network study design
- Biomarkers
Key Publications
Social Media- and Internet-Based Disease Surveillance for Public Health. Aiello AE, Renson A, Zivich PN (2020). Annu Rev Public Health.
Design and methods of a social network isolation study for reducing respiratory infection transmission: The eX-FLU cluster randomized trial. Aiello AE, Simanek AM, Eisenberg MC, Walsh AR, Davis B, Volz E, Cheng C, Rainey JJ, Uzicanin A, Gao H, Osgood N, Knowles D, Stanley K, Tarter K, Monto AS (2016). Epidemics, 15( ), 38-55.
Epigenetic and immune function profiles associated with posttraumatic stress disorder. Uddin M, Aiello AE, Wildman DE, Koenen KC, Pawelec G, de Los Santos R, Goldmann E, Galea S (2010). Proc Natl Acad Sci, 107(20), 9470-5. PMID: 20439746, PMCID: PMC2889041.
Socioeconomic differentials in immune response. Dowd JB and Aiello AE (2009). Epidemiology, 20(6), 902-908, PMCID: PMC2765221.
Mask use, hand hygiene, and seasonal influenza-like illness among young adults: a randomized intervention trial. Aiello AE, Murray GF, Perez V, Coulborn RM, Davis BM, Uddin M, Shay DK, Waterman SH, Monto AS (2010). The Journal of Infectious Diseases, 201(4), 491-498.
Effect of hand hygiene on infectious disease risk in the community setting: A meta-analysis. Aiello AE, Coulborn RM, Perez V, Larson EL (2008). Journal of Public Health, 98(8), 1372-81.
Complete List of Published Work in MyBibliography.
View publication
Education
PhD (with distinction), Epidemiology, Columbia University, 2003
MS, Environmental Sciences, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, 1998
BS, Environmental Sciences, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, 1995
