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

• 

  Asher Schranz and Ross Boyce Appointed IDSA Fellows

  The Infectious Diseases Society of America recognized Asher Schranz, MD, MPH, and Ross Boyce, MD, MSc, in this year’s class of Fellows of IDSA — distinguished clinicians and scientists from across the U.S. and around the world — whose contributions continue to move the field forward. Fellowship in IDSA (FIDSA) is one of the highest … Read more

• 

  Boyce Receives Distinguished Clinical Research Achievement Award for “Treated Baby Wraps for Malaria Prevention”

  Dr. Ross Boyce, a member of the UNC Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases at the UNC School of Medicine, has been honored with the “Distinguished Clinical Research Achievement Award” by the Clinical Research Forum. The award recognizes his groundbreaking project in Uganda, “Treated Baby Wraps for Malaria Prevention,” nominated by UNC’s North Carolina … Read more

• 

  A Malaria Prevention Innovation Designed for Refugee Settings

  Malaria remains a threat to young children in refugee settlements, where displacement, temporary housing, and limited access to healthcare reduce the effectiveness of conventional prevention tools. There are an estimated 35 million refugees in Africa alone with women and children comprising more than 80% of those displaced. New arrivals lack permanent shelter, and therefore cannot … Read more

• 

  Sawyer Accelerates the Fight Against Childhood Malaria

  Dr. Ross Boyce, a researcher with the UNC Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases, tested a military uniform treatment idea on wraps used to carry babies in many parts of Africa and South America. Would treating these baby wraps with permethrin protect babies in Uganda from malaria? The answer was yes. In a six-month … Read more

Education