Brooke Nichols, PhD
Adjunct Assistant Professor
Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine
Global Health

PhD, Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam
MS, University of Massachusetts Amherst
BA, Mount Holyoke College

Pronouns: she/her/hers



Brooke Nichols, PhD, MSc, is an infectious disease mathematical modeller and health economist working on both transmission dynamics for pathogens such as SARS-CoV-2, HIV and tuberculosis as well as optimal resource allocation to minimize the impact of these pathogens on human health. She is currently the co-lead of the World Health Organization (WHO) and Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND)’s Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator (ACT-A) SARS-CoV-2 diagnostics modelling consortium. The modelling consortium focuses on optimizing the use of rapid antigen testing for SARS-CoV-2 in low- and middle-income countries.

Dr. Nichols’ research team is a multi-continental group of quantitative scientists and modellers focused on bridging the gap between traditional clinical science, epidemiology, health economics, mathematical modelling and actionable implementation. Through the development of novel quantitative methods and repurposing of existing methods, they design cost-effective and implementable interventions and programmes aimed at the reduction of transmission, morbidity, and mortality of infectious diseases. Using these novel approaches, Dr. Nichols and team have successfully guided and advised on national and international policy related to HIV (pre-exposure prophylaxis, HIV self-testing, differentiated service delivery, viral load monitoring), tuberculosis (diagnostics, multi-drug resistant tuberculosis treatment regimens), and SARS-CoV-2 (diagnostic testing algorithms).


Innovative linkage strategies for index HIVST
12/03/2019 - 07/31/2024 (PI of Sub-Project / SP)
University of California, Los Angeles Bill & Melinda Gates


Scaling facility-based HIV self-testing
06/01/2019 - 11/30/2020 (Subcontract PI)
Clinton Health Access Initiative, Inc. Dept for Intl Dev-UK


Specimen transportation route mapping and optimisation: South Africa
02/01/2019 - 12/31/2019 (Subcontract PI)
The Health Economics and Epidemiology Research Office (HE2RO) HHS CDC




Title


Yr Title Project-Sub Proj Pubs

Publications listed below are automatically derived from MEDLINE/PubMed and other sources, which might result in incorrect or missing publications. Faculty can login to make corrections and additions.

iCite Analysis       Copy PMIDs To Clipboard

  1. Bezuidenhout C, Long L, Nichols B, Meyer-Rath G, Fox MP, Theron G, Fourie B, Olifant S, Penn-Nicholson A, Ruhwald M, Medina-Marino A. Sputum and tongue swab molecular testing for the in-home diagnosis of tuberculosis in unselected household contacts: a cost and cost-effectiveness analysis. medRxiv. 2024 Oct 18.View Related Profiles. PMID: 39484233; PMCID: PMC11527052; DOI: 10.1101/2024.10.18.24315746;
     
  2. Hansen MA, Han AX, Chevalier JM, Klock E, Pandithakoralage H, Nooy A, Ockhuisen T, Girdwood SJ, Lekodeba NA, Khan S, Jenkins HE, Johnson CC, Sacks JA, Russell CA, Nichols BE. Cost-effectiveness of SARS-CoV-2 self-testing at routine gatherings to minimize community-level infections in lower-middle income countries: A mathematical modeling study. PLoS One. 2024; 19(10):e0311198.View Related Profiles. PMID: 39365802; PMCID: PMC11451991; DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0311198;
     
  3. Gleeson B, Ferreyra C, Palamountain K, Jacob ST, Spotswood N, Kissoon N, Nisar YB, Fitzgerald F, Murless-Collins S, Okomo U, Cross JH, Molyneux E, Piriou E, Iloh KK, Santorino D, Goldfarb D, Stevenson A, Kirby R, Nichols BE, Blumel B, Kelly-Cirino C, Walsh T, Lloyd L, Liaghati-Mobarhan S. A call to bridge the diagnostic gap: diagnostic solutions for neonatal sepsis in low- and middle-income countries. BMJ Glob Health. 2024 Sep 10; 9(9). PMID: 39260829; PMCID: PMC11404204; DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2024-015862;
     
  4. Broger T, Marx FM, Theron G, Marais BJ, Nicol MP, Kerkhoff AD, Nathavitharana R, Huerga H, Gupta-Wright A, Kohli M, Nichols BE, Muyoyeta M, Meintjes G, Ruhwald M, Peeling RW, Pai NP, Pollock NR, Pai M, Cattamanchi A, Dowdy DW, Dewan P, Denkinger CM. Diagnostic yield as an important metric for the evaluation of novel tuberculosis tests: rationale and guidance for future research. Lancet Glob Health. 2024 Jul; 12(7):e1184-e1191. PMID: 38876764
     
  5. Nooy A, Ockhuisen T, Korobitsyn A, Khan SA, Ruhwald M, Ismail N, Kohli M, Nichols BE. Trade-offs between clinical performance and test accessibility in tuberculosis diagnosis: a multi-country modelling approach for target product profile development. Lancet Glob Health. 2024 Jul; 12(7):e1139-e1148. PMID: 38876761
     
  6. Hansen MA, Nichols BE. Integration of sexual health and HIV services. Lancet HIV. 2024 Jul; 11(7):e429-e430. PMID: 38925730
     
  7. Thorp M, Balakasi K, Khan S, Stillson C, van Oosterhout JJ, Nichols BE, Cornell M, Dovel K. Men's Satisfaction with General Health Services is Associated with Future Use of HIV Testing in Malawi: A Community-Representative Survey. AIDS Behav. 2024 Aug; 28(8):2639-2649. PMID: 38869760; PMCID: PMC11286645; DOI: 10.1007/s10461-024-04352-9;
     
  8. Marbán-Castro E, Muhwava L, Kamau Y, Safary E, Rheeder P, Karsas M, Kemp T, Freitas J, Carrihill M, Dave J, Katambo D, Kimetto J, Allie R, Ndungu J, Sigwebela N, Akach D, Girdwood S, Erkosar B, Nichols BE, Haldane C, Vetter B, Shilton S. Implementation research: a protocol for two three-arm pragmatic randomised controlled trials on continuous glucose monitoring devices in people with type 1 diabetes in South Africa and Kenya. Trials. 2024 May 21; 25(1):331. PMID: 38773658; PMCID: PMC11107040; DOI: 10.1186/s13063-024-08132-7;
     
  9. Hansen MA, Lekodeba NA, Chevalier JM, Ockhuisen T, Del Rey-Puech P, Marban-Castro E, Martínez-Pérez GZ, Shilton S, Radzi Abu Hassan M, Getia V, Weinert-Mizuschima C, Tenorio Bezerra MI, Chala L, Leong R, Peregino R, Keller S, Spruijt I, Johnson CC, Girdwood SJ, Nichols BE. Cost of SARS-CoV-2 self-test distribution programmes by different modalities: a micro-costing study in five countries (Brazil, Georgia, Malaysia, Ethiopia and the Philippines). BMJ Open. 2024 Apr 17; 14(4):e078852. PMID: 38631825; PMCID: PMC11029185; DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-078852;
     
  10. Chevalier JM, Hansen MA, Coskun E, Sy KTL, Drakes J, Dowling S, Williams A, Jenkins S, Amole C, Haimbe P, Mpasela F, Shakwelele H, Nichols BE. Cost-effectiveness of intervention combinations towards the elimination of vertical transmission of HIV in limited-resource settings: a mathematical modelling study. Lancet Glob Health. 2024 Mar; 12(3):e457-e466. PMID: 38365416
     
Showing 10 of 116 results. Show More

This graph shows the total number of publications by year, by first, middle/unknown, or last author.

Bar chart showing 115 publications over 14 distinct years, with a maximum of 21 publications in 2021

YearPublications
20111
20122
20134
20144
20152
20161
20174
20183
201911
202015
202121
202216
202319
202412

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Is Covid ‘Under Control’ in the US? Experts Say Yes

Kaiser Health News 9/26/2022

A guide to help you keep up with the Omicron subvariants

The Salt Lake Tribune 5/9/2022

A guide to help you keep track of all the Omicron subvariants

Los Angeles Times 5/6/2022

Trying to keep up with the omicron subvariants? Here’s a guide

PolitiFact 5/2/2022

How to have a COVID-safe Thanksgiving gathering

National Geographic 11/18/2021

The coronavirus variants: What you need to know

PolitiFact 7/7/2021

This chart shows how younger people are lagging in getting COVID vaccinations in Mass.

The Boston Globe 6/2/2021

Why did the federal guidance about wearing face masks change?

Poynter 5/26/2021

About face on mask-wearing: Why did the federal guidance change?

PoltiFact 5/25/2021

‘Youth is not invincible’: 9 experts dispute Joe Rogan’s vaccine advice for healthy 21-year-olds

PolitiFact 4/28/2021

Tucker Carlson falsely claims COVID-19 vaccines might not work

PolitiFact 4/15/2021

You’re fully vaccinated against COVID-19. What can you do now?

PolitiFact 3/11/2021

Vaccines are up and infections are down under Biden, but it’s not all his doing

PolitiFact 2/23/2021

“COVID-19 infections down 61% from Trump’s last day. COVID-19 vaccinations up 85% from Trump’s last day. Competence Matters.”

Politifact 2/23/2021

Many States Don't Know Who's Getting COVID-19 Vaccines. That's a Huge Problem for Equity

TIME 1/28/2021

Where the coronavirus pandemic stands, holiday edition

PolitiFact 12/21/2020

Where the coronavirus pandemic stands, holiday edition

PolitiFact 12/21/2020

Many Americans say they don’t want a vaccine. Should we be worried?

PolitiFact 12/8/2020

Many Americans say they don’t want a vaccine. Should we be worried?

PolitiFact 12/8/2020

Former Pfizer employee wrong that coronavirus pandemic is ‘effectively over’ in UK

PolitiFact 12/2/2020

Is Florida doing better on COVID-19 than “locked down” states?

PolitiFact 12/2/2020

Closing Schools Alone Is Not Going to Stop the Coronavirus

The New York Times 11/19/2020

Doctors may be better equipped to handle latest virus surge

Associated Press 11/11/2020

US hits record COVID-19 hospitalizations amid virus surge

Associated Press 11/11/2020

Three ways the US CDC can regain the public’s trust

Quartz 11/9/2020

Three ways the US CDC can regain the public’s trust

Quartz 11/9/2020

Donald Trump stated on October 22, 2020 in a presidential debate: “We are rounding the turn (on coronavirus). We are rounding the corner.”

PolitiFact 10/23/2020

A C.D.C. scientist acknowledged dated guidance on schools and childhood transmission.

The New York Times 10/23/2020

Schoolchildren Seem Unlikely to Fuel Coronavirus Surges, Scientists Say

The New York Times 10/22/2020

Covid-19 Live Updates: Boston Public Schools Stop In-Person Learning

The New York Times 10/21/2020

Donald Trump stated on October 12, 2020 in a tweet.: “The World Health Organization just admitted that I was right. Lockdowns are killing countries all over the world. The cure cannot be worse than the problem itself.”

PoltiFact 10/15/2020

BU Expert Urges Putting the Brakes on Massachusetts Relaxed COVID-19 Rules

BU Today 10/9/2020

Not so fast on indoor gatherings

The Boston Globe 10/4/2020

A QR code could decide whether you go back to work

Quartz 9/30/2020

National survey finds low school COVID-19 rates after first week back

Boston 25 News 9/23/2020

Population Density Does Not Doom Cities to Pandemic Dangers

Scientific American 9/16/2020

“Florida is doing over five times better” than New Jersey and New York in COVID-19 deaths per million

PolitiFact 7/31/2020

COVID-19 cases are “up only because of our big number testing.”

Politifact 6/24/2020

Is a second wave of coronavirus coming?

PolitiFact 6/22/2020

A number of Southern and Western states are seeing a spike in COVID-19 cases. Why aren’t their death rates rising, too?

The Boston Globe 6/22/2020

“Cases, numbers and deaths (of COVID-19) are going down all over the Country!”

PolitiFact 5/28/2020

2022 Boston University School of Public Health: Excellence in Research Early Career Award
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