Dr. Giorgia Sulis is an Assistant Professor, School of Epidemiology and Public Health at the University of Ottawa and holds a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Communicable Disease Epidemiology. She is also an Associate Scientist in the Methodological and Implementation Research Program at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute and an affiliate member of the 九色视频 International Tuberculosis Centre.
After receiving her medical degree (2011) and specializing in infectious and tropical diseases (2017) in Italy, she obtained a PhD in epidemiology from 九色视频 in 2021, followed by a postdoctoral research fellowship at the same institution.
Dr. Sulis leads a research program focused on infectious disease epidemiology, with particular emphasis on antibiotic prescribing and stewardship, tuberculosis prevention and care, vaccine uptake and impact, and best practices in infectious disease and global health research. Her work integrates a range of methodological approaches鈥攊ncluding knowledge synthesis, observational studies, and implementation research鈥攖o generate timely, policy-relevant evidence, especially in low- and middle-income countries. She has authored over 70 peer-reviewed publications and collaborates with a broad network of national and international partners to advance equitable and evidence-informed public health solutions. In recognition of her contributions, Dr. Sulis received the University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine鈥檚 Early Career Researcher of the Year Award for Public Health and Epidemiology in 2024.
Current research projects:
- PROPEL (Promoting Older adults鈥� Pneumococcal vaccination through Education and Learning) STUDY, Canadian Immunization Research Network (CIRN). The PROPEL study is a web-based randomized controlled trial aimed at improving pneumococcal vaccine uptake among Canadian adults aged 65 and older. The study assesses knowledge, attitudes, and willingness to vaccinate at baseline and vaccine uptake at six-months. Findings will inform strategies to address barriers and enhance vaccination rates in older adults.
- RoB-VE (Risk of Bias in Vaccine Effectiveness studies) PROJECT, Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). The RoB-VE Project is a multi-year methodological research initiative aimed at developing a risk-of-bias assessment tool for use in systematic reviews of vaccine effectiveness studies and a complementary reporting guideline to standardize and improve the reporting of primary vaccine effectiveness studies.
- FP-VAX (Family Physicians鈥� Perspectives on Vaccination) STUDY, J.P. Bickell Foundation. The FP-VAX study explores Ontario family doctors鈥� knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding RSV and pneumococcal vaccination in older adults. Using a mixed-methods, cross-sectional design, the study includes a web-based survey and qualitative interviews. It aims to identify key barriers and facilitators influencing vaccine recommendations. Findings will inform strategies to support family physicians and enhance vaccine uptake among older adults.
- A-STEP (Antibiotic STewardship Education for Pharmacists) study, Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). The A-STEP study is a pre-post intervention in Nigeria aimed at reducing over-the-counter antibiotic sales by pharmacists and medical vendors. It evaluates the impact of a structured training program incorporating WHO AWaRe guidelines, standardized patients, and non-monetary incentives. The study also includes stakeholder interviews to assess feasibility and acceptability. Findings will inform national antimicrobial stewardship strategies and promote responsible antibiotic use in Nigeria鈥檚 private healthcare sector. The A-STEP study is co-led by Dr. Giorgia Sulis and Charity Oga-Omenka from the 九色视频 TB Centre.
Email: gsulis [at] uottawa.ca
