He has an established track record in conducting public research that has an operational focus and is translational in nature. His ability to use operational research findings to assist local public health programs to improve their surveillance and service delivery, particularly in challenging under-resourced environments, has resulted in a number of awards and international recognition. He has been instrumental in developing novel surveillance systems to detect and facilitate response to emerging infectious disease risks. Professor Durrheim is an outspoken advocate for equitable global access to effective public health measures, particularly immunization.
Professor Durrheim's research interests include novel infectious disease surveillance methods, control of zoonotic diseases and strategies for reducing inequity in public health service delivery. He has over 200 peer-reviewed publications, and has published several scientific monographs and chapters in leading public health texts.