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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  Webinar: Global Threats, Local Actions

  “We at the Institute for Global Health and infectious diseases are a large community of multi-disciplinary investigators,” said Sonia Napravnik, PhD, in her webinar welcome message during University Research Week. “And essentially, we all focus on improving health globally and locally, here in North Carolina and across the US.” “Our focus is really on research, … Read more

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  The Lone star Tick & One Patient’s Experience With Ehrlichiosis

  In a recent podcast, The Lone Star Tick & One Patient’s Experience With Ehrlichiosis, Dr. Ron Falk speaks with Dr. Ross Boyce, an expert in tick-borne illnesses, and Dr. Katherine Huffman-Falk, a retired nephrologist who was recently bitten by a tick. This podcast talks about what a tick-borne disease is and what it entails. It … Read more

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  Purposeful Discovery: Why Carolina Students Find Pathways to Global Health Through Boyce

  Dr. Ross Boyce challenges learners to see beyond the data, to understand the patient, the family, and the community at the heart of every research question. His latest study in the New England Journal of Medicine has captured the attention of students and colleagues alike, validating a simple intervention for malaria.   For many students arriving … Read more

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  UNC-Led Study Published in the New England Journal of Medicine Demonstrates Repellent-Treated Baby Wraps Can Substantially Reduce Malaria Among Young Children

  Published today in the New England Journal of Medicine, this trial led by Ross Boyce, MD, MSc and colleagues highlights the potential impact of permethrin-treated textiles as a novel tool in the fight against malaria. Malaria remains a major cause of childhood mortality in sub-Saharan Africa, responsible for nearly 600,000 deaths in 2023 alone–almost of … Read more

Education