Introduction to Mathematical Models of the Epidemiology and Control of Infectious Diseases
An Interactive Short Course for Public Health Professionals, since 1990
In 2011 50 CME credits were awarded for this course
10 – 21 September 2012
Course Details
- Duration: 10 days
- Fees:
£1950 before 30 June 2012
£2250 after 30 June 2012 - Optional Free Maths and Excel refresher day: Sunday 9 September 2012
- Stage I: Apply for acceptance on the course
- Stage II: Register Online (for those accepted on the course)
Directed by Prof Christophe Fraser, Dr Anne Cori and Dr John Marshall
Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College London
Introduction
In recent years our understanding of infectious-disease epidemiology and control has been greatly increased through mathematical modelling. Insights from this increasingly-important, exciting field are now informing policy-making at the highest levels, and playing a growing role in research. The transmissible nature of infectious diseases makes them fundamentally different from non-infectious diseases, so techniques from 'classical' epidemiology are often invalid and hence lead to incorrect conclusions - not least in health-economic analysis.
Mathematical modelling now plays a key role in policy making, including health-economic aspects; emergency planning and risk assessment; control-programme evaluation; and monitoring of surveillance data. In research, it is essential in study design, analysis (including parameter estimation) and interpretation.
With infectious diseases frequently dominating news headlines, public health and pharmaceutical industry professionals, policy makers, and infectious disease researchers, increasingly need to understand the transmission patterns of infectious diseases, to be able to interpret and critically-evaluate both epidemiological data, and the findings of mathematical modelling studies. Recently there has been rapid progress in developing models and new techniques for measurement and analysis, which have been applied to outbreaks and emerging epidemics, such as Influenza A (H1N1) and SARS. A simple but powerful new technique for assessing the potential of different methods to control an infectious-disease outbreak was recently developed by course presenters.
Since 1990, this course has "demystified" mathematical modelling and kept public-health professionals, policy makers, and infectious disease researchers up-to-date with what they need to know about this fast-moving field, taught by individuals who are actively engaged in research and who advise leading public health professionals, policy-makers, governments, international organisations and pharmaceutical companies, both nationally and internationally, including on pandemic influenza, SARS, HIV, foot-and-mouth disease.
The Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College London has been the world leader in mathematical modelling of the epidemiology and control of infectious diseases of humans and animals in both industrialised and developing countries for 20 years. It hosts the MRC Centre for Outbreak Analysis & Modelling, UNAIDS Epidemiology reference Group, Partnership for Child Development and and the Schistosomiasis Control Initiative that, to date, has treated over 40 million children for Neglected Tropical Diseases. This multi-disciplinary department has publishes frequently in Nature, Science, Lancet, PNAS, AIDS and other leading journals. It has developed models of Iinfluenza A (H1N1), avian influenza, SARS, HIV, TB, foot-and-mouth-disease, vector-borne diseases including malaria and flariasis, helminth infections, childhood vaccine-preventable infections, sexually-transmitted infections, drug-resistant bacterial infections and others.
Comments from previous participants
- I feel a lot more confident in reading modelling papers now.
- This is a must if you are dealing with infectious diseases.
- A comprehensive course with training delivered by experts.
- Everyone has been so incredibly helpful and supportive.
- Exceeded my expectat ions . Excellent.
Past part icipants have included hospital clinicians, senior public health executives, health economists, veterinary researchers, biologists, and mathematicians; they have come from 48 countries, both developed and developing.
Course Aims
This course will enable you to:
- Understand the key concepts of infectious -disease transmission and control - and the differences with non-infectious diseases - taught by people who apply those concepts every day.
- Learn ho w modelling informs policy-making, from case-studies presented by the individuals who a dvise public health professionals and governments, nationally and internationally.
- Learn about developments at the cutting edge, taught by leaders of the field .
- Read modelling papers to critically-evaluate and interpret their findings.
- Understand how different control measures (e.g. vaccination, treatment, isolatio n, qu arantine, travel res tric tions ) will be effective - or ineffective - for different diseases.
- Explore models of different types of infectious disease, including influenza, TB, SARS, HIV, and vector-borne diseases.
- Design and use simple but powerful models, using Excel or Berkeley Madonna (licence included in the course fee).
- Collaborate effectively with mathematical modellers.
Who Should Attend?
The course caters for:
- Policy-makers, public-health and disease-control professionals who need to
(i) set appropriate goals for, and monitor performance of, infection-control programmes;
(ii) interpret the findings of mathematical modelling studies; or
(iii) question modelling experts effectively. - All who need to apply modern methods of analysis in the epidemiology and control of infectious diseases, in medical, veterinary and conservation contexts.
- Health economists who need to develop appropriate models of infectious-disease control programmes.
- Researchers who need experience of using modern quantitative approac hes to infectious disease epidemiology.
- Professionals plannin g for the control of a delibera tely of accidentally released pathogen.
- Mathematic ians who wish to learn key biological concepts and how they are translated into model ling.
What math ematical ability is required?
Participants only need a very basic mathematical ability (high school level is more than sufficient): since most participants do not use maths regularly, if at all, we introduce concepts gently, step-by-step, and we offer the reassurance of an optional 'maths refresher' day.
Calculation is done using Excel and the user-friendly modelling package, Berkeley Madonna; hence manipulation of equations is not required. We emphasise how to express biological and clinical principles in a model and how to interpret results from a biological and clinical perspective.
Optional free Maths and Excel refresher day
In addition to the support that we offer throughout the course we also offer an optional free Maths and Excel refresher day on Sunday the 9th of September where delegates are introduced to the latest version of the programme and can learn techniques that will help them with practical work throughout the course.
