Dr. Nuño is interested in the application of statistics and applied mathematical to solve public health challenges, reduce health disparities, and improve patient health outcomes. Her expertise lies at the interface of biostatistics, mathematical modeling, epidemiology, and public health. She is an author of more than 130 peer-reviewed publications and her areas of expertise include statistical methods for multivariable and clustered longitudinal study design, observational studies, and big data analytics.

Her recent research on COVID-19 builds on her early work on influenza pandemics, multiple strain dynamics, and the role of cross-immunity. Her work on the impact of pandemics on nursing home residents has contributed to the development of models that highlight critical opportunities for prevention. Over the last two years, Dr. Nuño has led several projects related to COVID-19. She currently serves as the biostatistics core director for the Healthy Davis Together (HDT), a community demonstration project designed to lower the burden of COVID-19 in Davis, CA. She leads COVID-19 vaccine uptake efforts for several counties in California’s central valley in collaboration with RAD-x-UP ÓRALE COVID-19! (Organizations to Reduce, and to Advance, and Lead for Equity against COVID-19). Dr. Nuño also leads the analytics arm of MOVE IT UP (Mobilizing Organizations Via Equitable Immunizations and Testing Unified Partnerships), a program aimed to improve vaccination in two California counties.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Nuño’s involvement with community-based organizations and stakeholders has been instrumental in the development of solutions to reduce health disparities in racial/ethnic minorities. She has conducted numerous studies during the COVID-19 pandemic, including the use of non-pharmaceutical interventions and isolation to mitigate the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in nursing homes, understanding the role of testing in hospitalization in California, and examining social, demographic, and clinical risk factors in COVID-19 hospitalizations. Her research also involves studying the impact of COVID-19 vaccination on California’s modification of COVID-19 response, as well as inequities in vaccination efforts in California, particularly among high-risk populations.