BIO
Dr. Quique Bassat, is a specialist in Pediatrics (Barcelona 2004), Tropical Medicine (University of Barcelona, 2004), Epidemiology (London School of tropical medicine and hygiene, London 2007-08) and holds a Doctorate (PhD) in Medicine from the University of Barcelona (Title: “Malaria in the pediatric wards of a rural Mozambican hospital and the clinical development of new antimalarial drugs”, Barcelona, 2009). As a pediatrician with a special interest in the epidemiology of infectious diseases and global public health, Dr. Bassat has sought to combine his clinical work with biomedical research in those diseases that most affect the most vulnerable populations.
His main area of interest has been the prevention and treatment of childhood malaria, with a particular focus on understanding the clinical overlap of malaria and other common pediatric conditions. His research has also covered the new paradigm of malaria eradication and other infectious diseases, with a particular interest in evaluating the role of drugs in elimination strategies. He has also worked on the description of the epidemiology and etiology of respiratory infections (viral and bacterial), diarrheal diseases and neonatal infections in places like Mozambique, Morocco or Bhutan. Currently, he is very interested in the validation and evaluation of technological devices for global health purposes, and in particular in the evaluation of a new non-invasive approach for the diagnosis of meningitis, and the use of biomarkers for the triage and risk stratification of children with fever.
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Bassat has participated in different studies and trials of new tools for the prevention and treatment of this infection. Likewise, he has investigated SARS-CoV-2 infection and disease in children, having advised the Spanish Government on issues related to pediatric COVID-19 and the reopening of schools. Dr. Bassat is also particularly interested in the differential impact of the pandemic in the poorest countries, and how it has affected pre-existing health inequities.
Photo: IS GLOBAL