Respiratory viruses have caused the majority of pandemics throughout the human history and my research centers on understanding the factors that influence the generation of outbreak and pandemic strains. To this end, I have conducted extensive research studies on the various influenza strains in humans, domestic animals, and birds while working with the World Health Organization (WHO) Reference Center for over a decade. This work significantly contributed to understanding of the molecular epidemiology and molecular pathology of different influenza strains and its transmission. During the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) epidemic (mortality 36%), I investigated the origins of MERS-CoV in humans across Saudi Arabia and African Peninsula. My work is one of the first two studies that identified camels as the direct source of human MERS-CoV infections. In collaboration with WHO , Pasteur global network and other global health partners, we conducted molecular epidemiological and molecular pathological studies that detailed MERS-CoV infection in both camels and humans globally. Findings from these studies informed the WHO to implement preventive measures to mitigate MERS-CoV transmission among humans. Currently, we are investigating the prevalence and pathological differences of different MERS-CoV strains in humans, camels, and bats across the Arabian Peninsula and African continent.