Jeffrey Gilbert holds qualifications in both medicine (Belfast, 1986) and veterinary medicine (Edinburgh, 1993) with clinical experience in both. In 1998 he took up position as research assistant for a World Health Organization (WHO)-TDR funded onchocerciasis project with the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, based in Cameroon.
 
TDR, a Special Program for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases, is a global program of scientific collaboration that helps coordinate, support and influence global efforts to combat a portfolio of major diseases of the poor and disadvantaged. It is sponsored by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the World Bank and WHO.
 
In 2000 he returned to the UK to undertake an MSc in veterinary epidemiology, jointly awarded by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and Royal Veterinary College.
 
After 12 months in Afghanistan overseeing a training and support program for animal health workers (paravets) he moved to WHO in China, as technical advisor during the outbreaks of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and subsequently avian influenza. During 2006-2009 he was Chief Technical Advisor and team leader of the avian influenza program in FAO Viet Nam.
 
Jeffrey moved to ILRI in February 2009 as project co-ordinator for the Ecohealth approach to the control of zoonotic emerging infectious diseases project for Southeast Asia. He is based at the International Centre for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT)-Asia office in Vientiane, Lao PDR.
 
 
AREAS OF EXPERTISE
::  Epidemiology
::  Zoonoses (emerging and endemic/neglected)
 
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Integrated approaches – which are feasible and practical – to assist the prevention and control of zoonoses in developing countries
 
CURRENT RESEARCH ACTIVITIES
Managing and mentoring national teams in Southeast Asia as they undertake research using Ecohealth principles
 
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
Domenech J, Dauphin G, Rushton J, McGrane J, Lubroth J, Tripodi A, Gilbert J and Sims LD. 2009. Experiences with vaccination in countries endemically infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza: The FAO perspective. OIE Scientific and Technical Review 28(1).
 
Stevens KB, Gilbert J, Strachan WD, Robertson J, Johnston AM and Pfeiffer DU. 2007. Characteristics of commercial pig farms in Great Britain and their use of antimicrobials. Veterinary Record 161:45-52.
 
Gilbert J, Nfon CK, Makepeace BL, Njongmeta LM, Hastings IM, Pfarr KM, Renz A, Tanya VN and Trees AJ. 2005. Antibiotic chemotherapy of onchocerciasis: In a bovine model, killing of adult parasites requires a sustained depletion of endosymbiotic bacteria (Wolbachia). Journal of Infectious Diseases 192(8): 1483-1493.
 
Njongmeta LM, Nfon CK, Gilbert J, Makepeace BL, Tanya VN, Trees AJ. 2004. Cattle protected from onchocerciasis by ivermectin are highly susceptible to infection after drug withdrawal. International Journal of Parasitology 34(9):1069-1074.