National Centre for Disease Control and Prevention | Armenia
Dr. Ruben Danielyan is an accomplished Medical Zoologist and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Specialist with extensive expertise in the surveillance, mapping, and control of zoonotic and vector-borne diseases. With a career spanning over two decades, he has played a pivotal role in the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Armenia, contributing to public health protection through innovative GIS-based approaches and epidemiological research. His multidisciplinary expertise combines medical zoology, entomology, and spatial modeling to enhance disease monitoring and preventive strategies.
Professional Profiles
Education
Dr. Danielyan’s educational background reflects his commitment to advancing his expertise in both animal health sciences and cutting-edge geospatial technologies. He holds a degree in Zoo-Veterinary Engineering from the State Agricultural University of Belgorod, complemented by advanced qualifications in GIS applications from prestigious institutions including the American University of Armenia, Avia-GIS (Belgium), and the Pasteur Institutes in Paris and Algeria. His professional training includes specialized courses in medical entomology, plague surveillance, spatial modeling, and modern epidemiological tools.
Experience
Throughout his career at the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Yerevan, Armenia, Dr. Danielyan has specialized in the epidemiology of zoonotic and parasitic diseases, integrating GIS technologies to improve disease tracking and response strategies. His experience extends to international collaborations, where he has worked with organizations such as the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), Stimson Center, and MediLabSecure to implement disease surveillance and mapping programs across the South Caucasus region. His expertise encompasses a wide range of tools including ArcGIS, QGIS, RStudio, VECMAP, Earth Engine, and SPSS.
Research Interests
Dr. Danielyan’s research focuses on the ecological dynamics, spatial distribution, and epidemiological patterns of vector-borne and zoonotic diseases, including plague, tularemia, Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever, and African swine fever. He is particularly interested in the integration of advanced GIS modeling with medical entomology to forecast disease outbreaks, identify high-risk zones, and develop effective intervention strategies. His contributions aim to enhance regional and global preparedness against emerging infectious diseases through data-driven approaches.
Awards & International Projects
Dr. Danielyan has actively contributed to numerous international research and surveillance initiatives funded by leading global organizations. These include the development of an Atlas of Zoonotic Infections in the South Caucasus, ecological surveillance of plague, and improved epidemiological monitoring of vector-borne diseases in Armenia and Georgia. His participation in projects funded by DTRA, ECDC, and CH2M HILL International Services underscores his role as a key scientific collaborator in global health security.
Publications
Milano, A., Juache, A., Houben, S., Dente, M.G., Robbiati, C., Declich, S., Danielyan, R., Ozkul, A., Karayel-Hacıoglu, I., Drakulović, M.B., et al. (2025). “Multicriteria Decision Analysis as a Tool for Assessing Vector-Borne Diseases Risk: The Case of Crimean–Congo Hemorrhagic Fever in Türkiye” in Microorganisms.
Manukyan, A.H., Danielyan, R.R., Paronyan, L.V., Sahakyan, G.F., Vanyan, A.V., Hovhannisyan, H.A., Melik-Andreasyan, G.G. (2024). “History of Leprosy Prevention and Control in Armenia” in Medical Science of Armenia.
Kosoy, M., Imnadze, P., Malania, L., Bolashvili, N., Kandaurov, A., Webb, C.T., Gilbertson, K., Danielyan, R. (2024). Atlas of Zoonotic Diseases in the South Caucasus.
Babayan, L., Manucharyan, A., Paronyan, L., Vardanyan, H., Danielyan, R., Melik-Andreasyan, G., Achenbach, J.E. (2024). “Distribution of vectors and arboviruses, and healthcare workers’ knowledge of vector-borne diseases in Armenia” in The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries.
Korogodina, V.L., Arakelyan, V.B., Chilingarian, A.A., Danielyan, R., Gustova, M.V., Kaplina, S.P., Khachatryan, G.E., Manucharyan, A.F., Melik-Andreasyan, G.G., Sargsyan, B. (2024). “Adaptation to mountain γ-background: bacteria speciation” in International Journal of Radiation Biology.
Danielyan, R. (2024). “Results of Field and Laboratory Studies of Rodents and Their Ectoparasites in Armenia” in ASM Microbe 2024 (Conference abstract).
Conclusion
Through his dedication to research, capacity building, and cross-border collaborations, Dr. Ruben Danielyan has become a recognized figure in the fields of medical zoology and GIS for public health. His work bridges science, technology, and policy to strengthen zoonotic disease surveillance systems and protect populations from emerging health threats. With over 28 publications in international journals, his contributions continue to inform evidence-based practices and innovative approaches in vector-borne disease control and epidemiological research.