EPICENTER explored the social life of epidemics - including cultural epidemics. The Centre served to fill a gap in scientific as well as popular understandings of contagion, by asking: What is contagion? The traditional distinction between communicable and non-communicable diseases was challenged through research. Whereas epidemics of non-communicable diseases continue to spread, the social dynamics of how these diseases spread called for theoretical reflection.
The Centre hosted studies in Denmark, South Africa, Uganda, Siberia, India, and Egypt on cancer, HIV, diabetes, tuberculosis, drug addiction, trauma, suicide, migration, prevention and treatment regimens and antimicrobial resistance.
The Centre also hosted a museum exhibition at Moesgaard Museum.