Megan Hansen’s doctoral research, Quantifying the value of diagnostics for infectious disease burden mitigation: a health economic modeling perspective, uses mathematical and health economic modeling to inform the development and implementation of diagnostic tools for infectious diseases in resource-limited settings. Her work examines the cost-effectiveness of existing diagnostics and interventions across diseases, including HIV, Covid-19, sepsis, and malaria, while also helping to define the technical specifications and pricing of novel diagnostics to support equitable and impactful innovation. She is supervised by Dr. Brooke Nichols.

Megan’s research has informed health policy at the global level. Between 2022 and 2023, her work supported the World Health Organization’s Covid-19 testing guidelines, contributed to the development of a target product profile for a novel point-of-care test for neonatal sepsis in collaboration with WHO and FIND, and was cited in the UNAIDS 2025 Global AIDS Update. Through these initiatives, Megan aims to generate evidence that supports cost-effective and equitable health policies worldwide, with a particular interest in how improved diagnostic access can reduce unnecessary antimicrobial use and help curb the emergence of resistance.

Before joining AIGHD, Megan earned a B.Sc. in biology from Miami University and an M.P.H. in epidemiology from Boston University. In Boston, she worked as a research assistant in the department of global health and the Biostatistics and Epidemiology Data Analytics Center (BEDAC).

Alongside her research, Megan serves as a PhD representative for AIGHD Fellows, organizing monthly sessions that foster peer engagement and offering opportunities for PhD students to learn from faculty and guest speakers about career development both within and beyond academia. PhD students interested in participating are encouraged to reach out to her.