Sharmistha Mishra

Mishra, a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Mathematical Modeling and Program Science, is an internationally recognized leader in the mathematical modelling and epidemiology of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. She develops novel infectious disease transmission models that explicitly integrate social and structural inequalities as both causes and consequences of epidemics. These methodological advancements—and their applications—have transformed public health policies and programs in response to epidemics of HIV, sexually transmitted infections, Ebola, and SARS-CoV-2 at international, national and local levels.

Mishra’s contributions to modeling unequal risks of infection have transformed how epidemic models and performance metrics are designed, interpreted, and applied to guide HIV programs and prioritization across countries. Methods developed by Mishra and her lab have been incorporated into The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) framework and inform World Health Organization technical guidance on vaccine effectiveness studies, as well as international recommendations on Community Led Monitoring 2.0. Her work on decolonizing infectious disease modeling is the foundation for a community-led platform for infectious disease modeling embedded within local data-to-decision systems across First Nations communities in Ontario.

Mishra has authored more than 200 peer-reviewed publications, including papers in Nature Communications, BMJ, CMAJ, and the American Journal of Epidemiology. A highly sought-after speaker, she has delivered keynote and plenary presentations at more than 20 national and international scientific meetings. In recognition of her impact, Mishra has been elected to the Royal Society of Canada College and named a Fields Institute Fellow, distinguishing her as one of Canada’s leading mid-career scholars at the intersection of mathematics, medicine, and public health. She has also been recognized as a Top Reviewer by CIHR for outstanding contributions to peer review.