About

Dr. Boyce’s research focuses on the spatial and clinical epidemiology of malaria and other vector-borne diseases, particularly in rural, underserved communities. Current projects include (i) an NIH career development award (K23AI141764) that aims to develop more efficient methods of locating and targeting Anopheles mosquito breeding sites and (ii) a randomized controlled trial of insecticide-treated baby carriers, known as “lesus” in Uganda, funded by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. He has previously received funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Thrasher Research Fund, among others. The driving force behind this work is the goal of developing and operationalizing evidence-based interventions to improve care delivery in resource-limited settings. More locally, Dr. Boyce leads a multi-disciplinary research collaboration, the Vector-Borne Disease Epidemiology, Ecology, and Response (VEER) Hub, focused on issues of tick- and mosquito-borne diseases endemic to North Carolina. The collaboration includes investigators from diverse fields including clinical medicine, epidemiology, immunology, entomology, geography, and veterinary science with partners at North Carolina State University, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the NC Division of Public Health, and Fort Bragg.

Honors and Awards

• Doris Duke Charitable Foundation Clinician Scientist Development Award- 2021
• Best Clinical Article of the Year, American Journal of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene- 2018
• Elsevier Clinical Research Award, ASTMH Annual Meeting- 2015
• Outstanding Resident Research Award, MGH Internal Medicine- 2015
• Okeke Prize & William Simpson Prize, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine- 2011
• Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society, UNC School of Medicine- 2010

In the News

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  Recent Changes to Testing Methods and Case Definitions Impact Our Knowledge of Lyme Disease in NC.

  Many cases of Lyme disease are under-recognized because early symptoms – typically fever, fatigue and achiness, are common in many other illnesses. At the same time, testing is fraught with pitfalls, including poor sensitivity early in the course of disease and complicated algorithms that often are misinterpreted. While historically considered a low-incidence state, North Carolina … Read more

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  Applying Army Skills to Public Health Challenges

  In his Carolina office, above a collage of drawings by his three young children, Dr. Ross Boyce displays a 20-year-old photo of himself with 29 other soldiers. The photo captures a proud memory of U.S. Army service for the man who is now a leading epidemiologist and a research expert on diseases caused by ticks … Read more

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  Bourbon Virus Infections in North Carolina

  Vector-borne diseases are a growing public health issue in the U.S. with more than 70,000 cases of tick-borne disease reported in 2022 alone. While the majority of these cases are due to bacteria that cause Lyme disease, tick-borne viruses represent an emerging but poorly understood threat. The Bourbon virus (BRBV) is a relatively newly discovered tick-borne … Read more

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  Routine Pet Dog Checkup Data Can Be Used to Understand Risk of Lyme Disease

  Ross Boyce, MD, MSc, a member of the Institute and assistant professor of medicine and epidemiology, working with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, North Carolina State University and the Animal Hospital of Boone, found data collected from pet dogs at routine veterinary checkups can be used to approximate the risk of … Read more

Education