An Open-Source Pandemic: Genomes, Metadata, and Real-Time Outbreak Science

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Justin Bahl, a UGA Professor of Epidemology and Biostatistics. David and Kim explore how modern epidemiology uses genomic data and statistics to track the spread of infectious diseases.

From studying fungi on palm leaves across Asia and Australia to analyzing viral genomes during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, Dr. Bahl shares how global field experience and biostatistical tools come together to reveal how pathogens move through populations.

We discuss molecular epidemiology, the importance of metadata, and how real-time data sharing transformed outbreak investigations during pandemics like H1N1 and COVID-19.