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Dr Behzad Kiani
Dr

Behzad Kiani

Email: 

Overview

Background

Dr. Behzad Kiani is a dedicated researcher specialising in spatial epidemiology of infectious diseases and human health, with a keen interest in advancing methodologies and applications within the field. Dr Kiani is currently a Research Fellow within UQ's ODeSI team. Previously, he was a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Montreal, Canada and before that an Assistant Professor at Mashhad University of Medical Science in Iran.

Dr. Kiani's research expertise is geoinformatics using spatial regression models and spatial cluster analysis. He has a PhD in medical informatics and a Master's degree in computer science. His work has informed global public policy and making, including urban planning and health, health resource allocation and identifying high-risk areas for different diseases at specific locations over time to implement more efficient and effective health interventions. He is a member of the executive of the International Society of Geospatial Health and is an associate editor of the Geospatial Health Journal. Dr Kiani has over 70 scientific publications in high-impact journals, including seminal work related to identify high-risk spatiotemporal patterns of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Iran and gentrification, neighborhood socioeconomic factors and urban vegetation inequities in Canada". He is an accomplished and passionate teacher, as well as supervisor and dedicated to nurturing the next generation of spatial epidemiologists and instilling in them a deep understanding of the field's principles and applications to improve global health.

Availability

Dr Behzad Kiani is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Research interests

  • Comparing spatial epidemiology models to investigate health outcomes

    Comparative analysis of spatial epidemiology models. Evaluation of efficacy and predictive accuracy of spatial epidemiology models. Spatial regression modeling and geoinformatics. Understanding disease patterns, risk factors, and health disparities.

  • Effect of environmental and socioeconomic factors on human health

    Investigation of how climate patterns, built environments, and socioeconomic conditions influence population health outcomes.

  • Gentrification and human health

    Exploration of gentrification's impact on human health through spatial epidemiology. Investigation of socio-economic shifts, housing policies, and public health outcomes. Contribution to evidence-based policies for equitable health outcomes amidst urban development.

Research impacts

I conducted extensive research in Iran aimed at identifying high-risk areas for both communicable and non-communicable diseases. This research played a pivotal role in assisting policymakers in the efficient allocation of health resources across various geographical regions. During the COVID-19 pandemic, my research significantly contributed to the formulation of informed quarantine policies and the prioritization of COVID-19 vaccination efforts.

My research in Canada through meticulous analyses of cycling infrastructure expansions, urban vegetation increases, and the temporal dynamics of gentrification sheds light on crucial aspects of urban planning and social equity. By uncovering disparities in the distribution of cycling infrastructure and urban vegetation, particularly in areas characterized by material deprivation, visible minorities, and gentrification, the findings underscore the importance of prioritizing equitable access to resources and amenities across diverse communities. Importantly, the research highlights the need for informed, equity-based urban planning policies that consider the complex interplay of sociodemographic dynamics and infrastructure investments. By integrating these insights into decision-making processes and engaging a diverse range of stakeholders, cities can strive towards creating more inclusive, sustainable, and healthy urban environments for all residents.

Works

Search Professor Behzad Kiani’s works on UQ eSpace

88 works between 2017 and 2025

1 - 20 of 88 works

2025

Journal Article

Spatial multilevel analysis of individual, household, and community factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in the Dominican Republic

Kiani, Behzad, Sartorius, Benn, Martin, Beatris Mario, Cadavid Restrepo, Angela, Mayfield, Helen J., Paulino, Cecilia Then, Jarolim, Petr, De St Aubin, Micheal, Ramm, Ronald Skews, Dumas, Devan, Garnier, Salome, Etienne, Marie Caroline, Peña, Farah, Abdalla, Gabriela, Kucharski, Adam, Duke, William, Baldwin, Margaret, Henríquez, Bernarda, de la Cruz, Lucia, Nilles, Eric J. and Lau, Colleen L. (2025). Spatial multilevel analysis of individual, household, and community factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in the Dominican Republic. Scientific Reports, 15 (1) 11203. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-94653-3

Spatial multilevel analysis of individual, household, and community factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in the Dominican Republic

2025

Other Outputs

Effectiveness and impact of rotavirus vaccination, real-world study: a systematic review

Yu, Fan, Cao, Jin, Furuya Kanamori, Luis, Kiani, Behzad, Lau, Colleen and Sartorius, Benn (2025). Effectiveness and impact of rotavirus vaccination, real-world study: a systematic review. Middletown, DE United States: INPLASY - International Platform of Registered Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Protocols. doi: 10.37766/inplasy2025.3.0055

Effectiveness and impact of rotavirus vaccination, real-world study: a systematic review

2025

Journal Article

Nationwide spatial epidemiological dataset of over 100,000 influenza-like illness notifications in Iran by county (2015-2019)

Sedghian, Atieh, Mohammadebrahimi, Shahab, Sartorius, Benn and Kiani, Behzad (2025). Nationwide spatial epidemiological dataset of over 100,000 influenza-like illness notifications in Iran by county (2015-2019). Bmc Research Notes, 18 (1) 72. doi: 10.1186/s13104-025-07139-w

Nationwide spatial epidemiological dataset of over 100,000 influenza-like illness notifications in Iran by county (2015-2019)

2025

Journal Article

A study protocol for developing a spatial vulnerability index for infectious diseases of poverty in the Caribbean region

Kiani, Behzad, Mario Martin, Beatris, Cadavid Restrepo, Angela, Mayfield, Helen J., Skinner, Eloise, Karina Maldonado Alcaíno, Ana, Nilles, Eric J., Lau, Colleen L. and Sartorius, Benn (2025). A study protocol for developing a spatial vulnerability index for infectious diseases of poverty in the Caribbean region. Global Health Action, 18 (1) 2461867, 2461867-1. doi: 10.1080/16549716.2025.2461867

A study protocol for developing a spatial vulnerability index for infectious diseases of poverty in the Caribbean region

2025

Journal Article

Spatiotemporal clusters of acute respiratory infections associated with socioeconomic, meteorological, and air pollution factors in South Punjab, Pakistan

Fatima, Munazza, Butt, Ibtisam, MohammadEbrahimi, Shahab, Kiani, Behzad and Gruebner, Oliver (2025). Spatiotemporal clusters of acute respiratory infections associated with socioeconomic, meteorological, and air pollution factors in South Punjab, Pakistan. BMC Public Health, 25 (1) 469, 1. doi: 10.1186/s12889-025-21741-4

Spatiotemporal clusters of acute respiratory infections associated with socioeconomic, meteorological, and air pollution factors in South Punjab, Pakistan

2025

Journal Article

Empowering access: unveiling an overall composite spatial accessibility index to healthcare services in Southeastern Iran

Raeesi, Ahmad, Hashtarkhani, Soheil, Tara, Mahmood, Sargolzaei, Narjes and Kiani, Behzad (2025). Empowering access: unveiling an overall composite spatial accessibility index to healthcare services in Southeastern Iran. International Journal for Equity in Health, 24 (1) 35, 35-1. doi: 10.1186/s12939-025-02399-1

Empowering access: unveiling an overall composite spatial accessibility index to healthcare services in Southeastern Iran

2025

Journal Article

Cardiovascular health in perspective: a comprehensive five-year geodatabase of hospitalizations and environmental factors in Mashhad, Iran

Mohammadebrahimi, Shahab, Dehghan, Mohammad and Kiani, Behzad (2025). Cardiovascular health in perspective: a comprehensive five-year geodatabase of hospitalizations and environmental factors in Mashhad, Iran. Bmc Research Notes, 18 (1) 12. doi: 10.1186/s13104-025-07087-5

Cardiovascular health in perspective: a comprehensive five-year geodatabase of hospitalizations and environmental factors in Mashhad, Iran

2025

Journal Article

Klebsiella pneumoniae species complex bloodstream infection in adult patients: changing epidemiology and determinants of poor outcomes

Stewart, Adam G., Harris, Patrick N. A., Edwards, Felicity, Kiani, Behzad, Paterson, David L. and Laupland, Kevin B. (2025). Klebsiella pneumoniae species complex bloodstream infection in adult patients: changing epidemiology and determinants of poor outcomes. Infection. doi: 10.1007/s15010-024-02457-w

Klebsiella pneumoniae species complex bloodstream infection in adult patients: changing epidemiology and determinants of poor outcomes

2025

Journal Article

Fatal journeys: causes of death in international travellers in South America

Allel, Kasim, Cabada, Miguel M, Kiani, Behzad, Martin, Beatris Mario, Tanabe, Melinda, Restrepo, Angela Cadavid, De Souza Dos Santos, Gabriela, Lloveras, Susana, Shiferaw, Wondimeneh, Sartorius, Benn, Mills, Deborah J, Lau, Colleen L and Furuya-Kanamori, Luis (2025). Fatal journeys: causes of death in international travellers in South America. Journal of Travel Medicine, 32 (1) taae119, 1-11. doi: 10.1093/jtm/taae119

Fatal journeys: causes of death in international travellers in South America

2024

Journal Article

STROBE-GEMA: a STROBE extension for reporting of geographically explicit ecological momentary assessment studies

Kingsbury, Célia, Buzzi, Marie, Chaix, Basile, Kanning, Martina, Khezri, Sadun, Kiani, Behzad, Kirchner, Thomas R., Maurel, Allison, Thierry, Benoît and Kestens, Yan (2024). STROBE-GEMA: a STROBE extension for reporting of geographically explicit ecological momentary assessment studies. Archives of Public Health, 82 (1) 84. doi: 10.1186/s13690-024-01310-8

STROBE-GEMA: a STROBE extension for reporting of geographically explicit ecological momentary assessment studies

2024

Journal Article

Geospatial modelling of ambient air pollutants and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases at regional scale in Pakistan

Fatima, Munazza, Ahmad, Adeel, Butt, Ibtisam, Arshad, Sana and Kiani, Behzad (2024). Geospatial modelling of ambient air pollutants and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases at regional scale in Pakistan. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 196 (10) 929, 1-26. doi: 10.1007/s10661-024-13105-z

Geospatial modelling of ambient air pollutants and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases at regional scale in Pakistan

2024

Journal Article

Investigating the role of the built environment, socio-economic status, and lifestyle factors in the prevalence of chronic diseases in Mashhad: PLS-SEM model

Irankhah, Kiyavash, Asadimehr, Soheil, Kiani, Behzad, Jamali, Jamshid, Rezvani, Reza and Sobhani, Seyyed Reza (2024). Investigating the role of the built environment, socio-economic status, and lifestyle factors in the prevalence of chronic diseases in Mashhad: PLS-SEM model. Frontiers in Public Health, 12 1358423, 1-13. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1358423

Investigating the role of the built environment, socio-economic status, and lifestyle factors in the prevalence of chronic diseases in Mashhad: PLS-SEM model

2024

Journal Article

The relationship between sidewalk access and weight-related outcomes: a systematic review

Irankhah, Kiyavash, Asadimehr, Soheil, Ranjbar, Golnaz, Kiani, Behzad and Sobhani, Seyyed Reza (2024). The relationship between sidewalk access and weight-related outcomes: a systematic review. Nutrition and Food Science, 54 (4), 732-750. doi: 10.1108/NFS-09-2023-0214

The relationship between sidewalk access and weight-related outcomes: a systematic review

2024

Journal Article

A gender-specific geodatabase of five cancer types with the highest frequency of occurrence in Iran

Faramarzi, Sharareh, Kiani, Behzad, Hoseinkhani, Mohammedreza and Firouraghi, Neda (2024). A gender-specific geodatabase of five cancer types with the highest frequency of occurrence in Iran. BMC Research Notes, 17 (1) 83, 1-5. doi: 10.1186/s13104-024-06737-4

A gender-specific geodatabase of five cancer types with the highest frequency of occurrence in Iran

2024

Journal Article

Associations between gentrification, census tract-level socioeconomic status, and cycling infrastructure expansions in Montreal, Canada

Kiani, Behzad, Thierry, Benoit, Apparicio, Philippe, Firth, Caislin, Fuller, Daniel, Winters, Meghan and Kestens, Yan (2024). Associations between gentrification, census tract-level socioeconomic status, and cycling infrastructure expansions in Montreal, Canada. SSM - Population Health, 25 101637, 1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.ssmph.2024.101637

Associations between gentrification, census tract-level socioeconomic status, and cycling infrastructure expansions in Montreal, Canada

2024

Journal Article

Mastering geographically weighted regression: key considerations for building a robust model

Kiani, Behzad, Sartorius, Benn, Lau, Colleen L. and Bergquist, Robert (2024). Mastering geographically weighted regression: key considerations for building a robust model. Geospatial Health, 19 (1) 1271. doi: 10.4081/gh.2024.1271

Mastering geographically weighted regression: key considerations for building a robust model

2024

Journal Article

Cancer patterns in Iran: a gender-specific spatial modelling of cancer incidence during 2014–2017

Faramarzi, Sharareh, Kiani, Behzad, Faramarzi, Shahla and Firouraghi, Neda (2024). Cancer patterns in Iran: a gender-specific spatial modelling of cancer incidence during 2014–2017. BMC Cancer, 24 (1) 191, 1-14. doi: 10.1186/s12885-024-11940-4

Cancer patterns in Iran: a gender-specific spatial modelling of cancer incidence during 2014–2017

2024

Journal Article

Space-time analysis of tuberculosis (2016–2020) in South Punjab, Pakistan

Fatima, Munazza, Butt, Ibtisam, Firouraghi, Neda, Khalil, Maria and Kiani, Behzad (2024). Space-time analysis of tuberculosis (2016–2020) in South Punjab, Pakistan. GeoJournal, 89 (1) 1. doi: 10.1007/s10708-024-11020-x

Space-time analysis of tuberculosis (2016–2020) in South Punjab, Pakistan

2024

Journal Article

Food waste in hospitals: implications and strategies for reduction: a systematic review

Mahmoudifar, Kamiar, Raeesi, Ahmad, Kiani, Behzad and Rezaie, Mitra (2024). Food waste in hospitals: implications and strategies for reduction: a systematic review. Management of Environmental Quality, ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print), 50-71. doi: 10.1108/MEQ-07-2023-0221

Food waste in hospitals: implications and strategies for reduction: a systematic review

2023

Journal Article

Gentrification, neighborhood socioeconomic factors and urban vegetation inequities: A study of greenspace and tree canopy increases in Montreal, Canada

Kiani, Behzad, Thierry, Benoit, Fuller, Daniel, Firth, Caislin, Winters, Meghan and Kestens, Yan (2023). Gentrification, neighborhood socioeconomic factors and urban vegetation inequities: A study of greenspace and tree canopy increases in Montreal, Canada. Landscape and Urban Planning, 240 104871, 1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.landurbplan.2023.104871

Gentrification, neighborhood socioeconomic factors and urban vegetation inequities: A study of greenspace and tree canopy increases in Montreal, Canada

Supervision

Availability

Dr Behzad Kiani is:
Available for supervision

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Supervision history

Current supervision

Media

Enquiries

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