Global Health Institute

In a hallway conversation at Georgetown University, Margaret Baker, Ph.D., heard an idea that would change the way she approaches global health research.

A colleague suggested that she run a “dry lab” that relies on interviews, surveys, and real-world observation rather than test tubes and microscopes.

The idea resonated and within months, IN Lab, short for INnovating on INfectious Disease INterventions, was born. The lab is a growing collaborative research community dedicated to improving how health interventions reach communities that need them the most.

How the Lab Works

IN Lab studies how health interventions are delivered and how they can reach people who are often overlooked, including communities in urban areas or conflict zones.

One key goal is sustainability, ensuring interventions fit into local systems so they can endure as external support ebbs and flows. Another goal is ensuring equity, expanding access to those who need it the most.

Baker, an associate professor in the Department of Global Health, explained that the lab uses implementation research, which examines how interventions are carried out in real-world settings. “Sometimes people implementing activities think implementation research is a researcher’s job and researchers assume the implementers will do it. In reality, we need researchers, implementers, and communities working together to design interventions that reach the people who need them,” she said.

Translating Global Experience into Lab Leadership

Baker brings more than 25 years of global health experience to the lab.

Growing up in Lima, Peru, and later living on remote islands in Scotland and Vanuatu, she developed a deep understanding of geographic and social inequalities.

After earning a master’s degree in infectious disease control from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, she worked on tuberculosis surveillance in London and lymphatic filariasis elimination programs in Vanuatu, the Dominican Republic, and globally.

“I have always worked at the intersection of research and implementation, and IN Lab is an extension of that approach,” Baker said.

Engaging Students in Research

From the beginning, students have played a central role in IN Lab’s work.

Annika Bjork (SFS’25) and Seth Epling (G’23) were among the first research assistants. They remember huddling around a whiteboard and trying to include as many “IN”s in the lab’s name as possible.

As part of the lab’s early projects, the pair also contributed to a scoping review on infectious disease interventions that was later published in The Lancet Infectious Disease.

Epling, now a medical student in Vermont, said the lab shaped the direction of his career. “IN Lab opened my eyes to the barriers that prevent people from receiving care,” he said. “It showed me that effective health interventions depend on understanding the people they are meant to serve.”

Today, students continue to contribute to projects that explore how health interventions can adapt to different contexts, including areas affected by conflict or limited resources. They examine which services are necessary and feasible under these conditions, considering factors such as local infrastructure, funding, and population movement during crises.

Graduate student Mohamed Abu Jafar (G’25) said the lab allows him to connect professional experience with academic research. “As a former senior officer at the Palestinian Ministry of Health, I can apply my on-the-ground insights and see how they fit into the bigger picture of improving how interventions are designed and delivered,” he said.

A similar perspective comes from Aarman Khayat (H’27), a volunteer emergency medical technician for Georgetown Emergency Response Medical Service, the university’s student-run emergency medical service. “In emergency response, everyone’s needs are different and there is no one-size-fits-all solution,” he said. “The same idea guides our work at the IN Lab. We have to understand where people go for care and ensure services are accessible and equitable.”

Research That Serves the Common Good

Collaboration and practical impact define the lab’s current projects.

One major initiative, supported by the Global Institute for Disease Elimination (GLIDE), studies how disease elimination interventions integrate into existing health systems. Working with GLIDE has also provided a platform for Baker to share preliminary findings at the World Health Assembly, connecting the work to global policy discussions.

Another project focuses on sustaining neglected tropical disease interventions. The lab works with former U.S. Agency for International Development colleagues and international partners to document programs across several countries. The goal is to capture lessons that can guide long-term planning and strengthen global health interventions.

Looking Ahead

As IN Lab grows, Baker hopes it will continue to bridge the gap between research and practice. 

“We want to make sure the work we do matters to the communities we aim to serve,” she said.