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Josh M Colston, PhD, MSc.

Josh M Colston, PhD, MSc.

Research Assistant Professor of Medicine, Infectious Disease

Primary Location
MR-6, Room 2528
PO Box 801340
Charlottesville, Virginia 22908
Primary Phone Number
Fax Number
434.924.0075

Bio & Overview

Josh is an epidemiologist and spatial demographer with research interests that include childhood undernutrition and infectious diseases and their socio-economic and environmental determinants in low-resource settings. He provides analytical expertise to numerous NASA-, NIH-, CDC-, WHO- and Gates Foundation-funded research projects, mostly carried out under the supervision of his longtime mentor Dr. Margaret Kosek. This research involves characterizing environmental drivers of enteric diseases, emerging febrile illnesses, and COVID-19 using earth observation (satellite), household survey, and surveillance data. A US-born Brit, he has a masters’ degree from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and a PhD from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Academic Information

Department
Infectious Disease

Primary Education

  • MS, Demography and Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, 2008
  • PhD, Global Disease Epidemiology and Control, Johns Hopkins University - Bloomberg School of Public Health, 2018

Research Interests

Childhood undernutrition and infectious diseases and their socio-economic and environmental determinants in LMICs.

Research Disciplines

  • Global Health
  • Infectious Diseases/Biodefense
  • Translational Science

Selected Publications

2024

Mullen, B., Houpt, E. R., Colston, J., Becker, L., Johnson, S., Young, L., . . . Heysell, S. K. (2024). Geographic Variation and Environmental Predictors of Nontuberculous Mycobacteria in Laboratory Surveillance, Virginia, USA, 2021-2023. EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES, 30(3), 548-554. doi:10.3201/eid3003.231162

Villanueva, K. M., Vasquez, T. P., Yori, P. P., Cacique, L. R., Bardales, P. F. G., Lopez, W. V. S., . . . Kosek, M. N. (2024). The Enterics for Global Health (EFGH) Shigella Surveillance Study in Peru. OPEN FORUM INFECTIOUS DISEASES, 11, S121-S128. doi:10.1093/ofid/ofad655

Dodd, R., Awuor, A. O., Bardales, P. F. G., Khanam, F., Mategula, D., Onwuchekwa, U., . . . McGrath, C. J. (2024). Population Enumeration and Household Utilization Survey Methods in the Enterics for Global Health (EFGH): Shigella Surveillance Study. OPEN FORUM INFECTIOUS DISEASES, 11, S17-S24. doi:10.1093/ofid/ofae018

Colston, J. M., Fang, B., Houpt, E., Chernyavskiy, P., Swarup, S., Gardner, L. M., . . . Kosek, M. N. (2024). The Planetary Child Health & Enterics Observatory (Plan-EO): A protocol for an interdisciplinary research initiative and web-based dashboard for mapping enteric infectious diseases and their risk factors and interventions in LMICs. PLOS ONE, 19(2). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0297775

2023

Colston, J. M. (2024). Elucidating the Impacts of Climate on Dengue Transmission Through Mathematical Models: New Evidence From a Recent Outbreak on the Island of Réunion. JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES, 229(1), 1-3. doi:10.1093/infdis/jiad473

Badr, H. S., Zaitchik, B. F., Kerr, G. H., Nguyen, N. -L. H., Chen, Y. -T., Hinson, P., . . . Gardner, L. M. (2023). Unified real-time environmental-epidemiological data for multiscale modeling of the COVID-19 pandemic. SCIENTIFIC DATA, 10(1). doi:10.1038/s41597-023-02276-y

Yori, P. P., Olortegui, M. P., Schiaffino, F., Colston, J. M., Vasquez, T. P., Bardales, P. F. G. F., . . . Kosek, M. N. (2023). Etiology of acute febrile illness in the peruvian amazon as determined by modular formatted quantitative PCR: a protocol for RIVERA, a health facility-based case-control study. BMC PUBLIC HEALTH, 23(1). doi:10.1186/s12889-023-15619-6

Kerr, G. H., Badr, H. S., Barbieri, A. F., Colston, J. M., Gardner, L. M., Kosek, M. N., & Zaitchik, B. F. (2023). Evolving Drivers of Brazilian SARS-CoV-2 Transmission: A Spatiotemporally Disaggregated Time Series Analysis of Meteorology, Policy, and Human Mobility. GEOHEALTH, 7(3). doi:10.1029/2022GH000727

Badr, H. S., Colston, J. M., Nguyen, N. -L. H., Chen, Y. T., Burnett, E., Ali, S. A., . . . Kosek, M. N. (2023). Spatiotemporal variation in risk of Shigella infection in childhood: a global risk mapping and prediction model using individual participant data. LANCET GLOBAL HEALTH, 11(3), E373-E384. doi:10.1016/S2214-109X(22)00549-6

2022

Shih, D. C., Silver, R., Henao, O. L., Alemu, A., Audi, A., Bigogo, G., . . . Cohen, A. L. (2022). Incorporating COVID-19 into Acute Febrile Illness Surveillance Systems, Belize, Kenya, Ethiopia, Peru, and Liberia, 2020-2021. EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES, 28, S34-S41. doi:10.3201/eid2813.220898

Colston, J. M., Hinson, P., Nguyen, N. -L. H., Chen, Y. T., Badr, H. S., Kerr, G. H., . . . Zaitchik, B. F. (2023). Effects of hydrometeorological and other factors on SARS-CoV-2 reproduction number in three contiguous countries of tropical Andean South America: a spatiotemporally disaggregated time series analysis. IJID REGIONS, 6, 29-41. doi:10.1016/j.ijregi.2022.11.007

Colston, J., Kosek, M., Zaitchik, B., & Badr, H. (2022). Spatiotemporal variation and environmental sensitivity of childhood enteric pathogen infection risk: a Planetary Health approach to predictive modelling and risk mapping.. The Lancet. Planetary health, 6 Suppl 1, S13. doi:10.1016/s2542-5196(22)00275-3

Colston, J. M., Chen, Y. T., Hinson, P., Nguyen, N. -L. H., Yori, P. P., Olortegui, M. P., . . . Kosek, M. N. (2022). Enteropathy Markers in Early Life Were Associated with Adipokine, Apolipoprotein, and Cytokine Profiles Consistent with an Adverse Cardiometabolic Disease Risk Profile Later in Childhood in a Peruvian Birth Cohort. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HYGIENE, 107(4), 754-765. doi:10.4269/ajtmh.21-1024

Schiaffino, F., Colston, J. M., Paredes Olortegui, M., Rengifo Pinedo, S., Zamora Babilonia, M., Ramal Asayag, C., . . . Kosek, M. N. (2023). Antibiotic Use and Stewardship Practices in a Pediatric Community-based Cohort Study in Peru: Shorter Would be Sweeter. CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES, 76(3), E1054-E1061. doi:10.1093/cid/ciac500

Colston, J. M., Taniuchi, M., Ahmed, T., Ferdousi, T., Kabir, F., Mduma, E., . . . Platts-Mills, J. A. (2022). Intestinal Colonization With Bifidobacterium longum Subspecies Is Associated With Length at Birth, Exclusive Breastfeeding, and Decreased Risk of Enteric Virus Infections, but Not With Histo-Blood Group Antigens, Oral Vaccine Response or Later Growth in Three Birth Cohorts. FRONTIERS IN PEDIATRICS, 10. doi:10.3389/fped.2022.804798

Colston, J. M., Zaitchik, B. F., Badr, H. S., Burnett, E., Ali, S. A., Rayamajhi, A., . . . Kosek, M. N. (2022). Associations Between Eight Earth Observation-Derived Climate Variables and Enteropathogen Infection: An Independent Participant Data Meta-Analysis of Surveillance Studies With Broad Spectrum Nucleic Acid Diagnostics. GEOHEALTH, 6(1). doi:10.1029/2021GH000452

2021

Schiaffino, F., Rengifo Trigoso, D., Colston, J. M., Paredes Olortegui, M., Shapiama, L. W. V., Garcia Bardales, P. F., . . . Kosek, M. N. (2021). Associations among Household Animal Ownership, Infrastructure, and Hygiene Characteristics with Source Attribution of Household Fecal Contamination in Peri-Urban Communities of Iquitos, Peru. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HYGIENE, 104(1), 372-381. doi:10.4269/ajtmh.20-0810

2020

Colston, J. M., Faruque, A. S. G., Hossain, M. J., Saha, D., Kanungo, S., Mandomando, I., . . . Kosek, M. N. (2020). Associations between Household-Level Exposures and All-Cause Diarrhea and Pathogen-Specific Enteric Infections in Children Enrolled in Five Sentinel Surveillance Studies. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH, 17(21). doi:10.3390/ijerph17218078

Schiaffino, F., Pisanic, N., Colston, J. M., Rengifo, D., Paredes Olortegui, M., Shapiama, V., . . . Kosek, M. N. (2020). Validation of microbial source tracking markers for the attribution of fecal contamination in indoor-household environments of the Peruvian Amazon. SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT, 743. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140531

Giallourou, N., Fardus-Reid, F., Panic, G., Veselkov, K., McCormick, B. J. J., Olortegui, M. P., . . . Swann, J. R. (2020). Metabolic maturation in the first 2 years of life in resource-constrained settings and its association with postnatal growths. SCIENCE ADVANCES, 6(15). doi:10.1126/sciadv.aay5969

Colston, J., Olortegui, M. P., Zaitchik, B., Yori, P. P., Kang, G., Ahmed, T., . . . Kosek, M. (2020). Pathogen-Specific Impacts of the 2011-2012 La Nina-Associated Floods on Enteric Infections in the MAL-ED Peru Cohort: A Comparative Interrupted Time Series Analysis. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH, 17(2). doi:10.3390/ijerph17020487

2019

Colston, J. M., Yori, P. P., Moulton, L. H., Olortegui, M. P., Kosek, P. S., Rengifo Trigoso, D., . . . Kosek, M. N. (2019). Penalized regression models to select biomarkers of environmental enteric dysfunction associated with linear growth acquisition in a Peruvian birth cohort. PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES, 13(11). doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0007851

Colston, J. M., Zaitchik, B., Kang, G., Yori, P. P., Ahmed, T., Lima, A., . . . Kosek, M. N. (2019). Use of earth observation-derived hydrometeorological variables to model and predict rotavirus infection (MAL-ED): a multisite cohort study. LANCET PLANETARY HEALTH, 3(6), E248-E258. doi:10.1016/S2542-5196(19)30084-1

Colston, J. M., Francois, R., Pisanic, N., Yori, P. P., McCormick, B. J. J., Olortegui, M. P., . . . Kosek, M. N. (2019). Effects of Child and Maternal Histo-Blood Group Antigen Status on Symptomatic and Asymptomatic Enteric Infections in Early Childhood. JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES, 220(1), 151-162. doi:10.1093/infdis/jiz072

Schiaffino, F., Colston, J. M., Paredes-Olortegui, M., Francois, R., Pisanic, N., Burga, R., . . . Kosek, M. N. (2019). Antibiotic Resistance of Campylobacter Species in a Pediatric Cohort Study. ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY, 63(2). doi:10.1128/AAC.01911-18

2018

Colston, J. M., Ahmed, T., Mahopo, C., Kang, G., Kosek, M., de Sousa Junior, F., . . . Zaitchik, B. (2018). Evaluating meteorological data from weather stations, and from satellites and global models for a multi-site epidemiological study. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH, 165, 91-109. doi:10.1016/j.envres.2018.02.027

Colston, J. M., Ahmed, A. M. S., Soofi, S. B., Svensen, E., Haque, R., Shrestha, J., . . . Kosek, M. N. (2018). Seasonality and within-subject clustering of rotavirus infections in an eight-site birth cohort study. EPIDEMIOLOGY AND INFECTION, 146(6), 688-697. doi:10.1017/S0950268818000304

Exum, N. G., Lee, G. O., Paredes Olortegui, M., Penataro Yori, P., Siguas Salas, M., Rengifo Trigoso, D., . . . Kosek, M. N. (2018). A Longitudinal Study of Household Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Characteristics and Environmental Enteropathy Markers in Children Less than 24 Months in Iquitos, Peru. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HYGIENE, 98(4), 995-1004. doi:10.4269/ajtmh.17-0464

2017

Colston, J. M., Yori, P. P., Colantuoni, E., Moulton, L. H., Ambikapathi, R., Lee, G., . . . Kosek, M. N. (2017). A methodologic framework for modeling and assessing biomarkers of environmental enteropathy as predictors of growth in infants: an example from a Peruvian birth cohort. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NUTRITION, 106(1), 245-255. doi:10.3945/ajcn.116.151886

2013

Colston, J., & Saboya, M. (2013). Soil-transmitted helminthiasis in Latin America and the Caribbean: modelling the determinants, prevalence, population at risk and costs of control at sub-national level. GEOSPATIAL HEALTH, 7(2), 321-340. doi:10.4081/gh.2013.90

2012

Colston, J. (2012). The neglected tropical diseases (NTD) initiative for Latin America and the Caribbean of the Inter-American Development Bank and the role of geospatial analysis in health programmes. GEOSPATIAL HEALTH, 6(3), S11-S14. Retrieved from https://www.webofscience.com/