Early-warning system to protect and promote human health and inform Houston’s response to viral outbreaks
A lot of progress has been made to protect and promote human health with the most notable result being increased life expectancy. Yet, the emergence of prominent outbreaks of infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance have remained as critical threats to global public health today.
To address the challenge of anticipating and responding to prominent outbreaks of infectious diseases, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, Houston Wastewater Epidemiology has implemented a comprehensive, cost-effective system to monitor community infection dynamics of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus that causes COVID-19. We are also working to expand the comprehensive wastewater monitoring system to target influenza, mpox, antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and other pathogens.

New features help Houstonians understand the prevalence of COVID-19, influenza at the community level
A Consensus Study Report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
With grant, Rice engineer intends to harness microbiomes to improve wastewater treatment processes.
The Houston Wastewater Epidemiology team will deliver an honorary lecture at the 6th Annual TMC Antimicrobial Resistance and Stewardship Conference.
- February 2023
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- March 2023
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- April 2023
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April 7
NSF Research Coordination Network Webinar
8:00 – 9:00 a.m. (Pacific Time)Wastewater Surveillance for SARS-CoV-2
Loren Hopkins, Ph.D.
Chief Environmental Science Officer and Bureau Chief, Data Science Division
Houston Health Department
Professor in the Practice of Statistics
Rice UniversityApril 13
10:45 – 11:15 a.m.
George R. Brown Convention Center
Houston, Texas
Wastewater Surveillance for Monitoring COVID-19 and Other Infectious Diseases in Houston, TexasCamille McCall, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Rice UniversityApril 24-27
National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO)
Preparedness SummitHyatt Regency Atlanta
Atlanta, GALoren Hopkins, Ph.D.
Chief Environmental Science Officer and Bureau Chief, Data Science Division
Houston Health Department
Professor in the Practice of Statistics
Rice University
- May 2023
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- June 2023
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June 15 - 19
George R. Brown Convention Center
Houston, TXLauren Stadler, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Civil & Environmental Engineering
Rice University