Helen Johnson BSc MRes MSc

Research Fellow in Infectious Disease Modelling

My long-standing interest in understanding and modelling complex dynamical systems has found a home in the Centre for Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Diseases at LSHTM. Prior to this it was developed through a BSc in Physics and MRes in Biomolecular Science, both at Imperial College, and an MSc in Control of Infectious Disease here at the School.

Since 2008 I have been working at LSHTM on diverse computational projects including:

Affiliation

Teaching

I primarily teach modelling as part of the MSc component course, "Modelling and the Dynamics of Infectious Diseases" and the short course, "Introduction to Infectious Disease Modelling and its Applications". Previously I have also taught maths, statistics and economics at LSHTM.

Together with Ellen Brooks-Pollock I arranged a one-day workshop on Approximate Bayesian Computation (ABC Day) attracting infectious disease modellers from throughout the UK, and beyond! Plans are afoot for ABC Day II and a 'Burn-in' day to introduce MCMC methods.

As a supporter of the flusurvey team, I have twice taken part in the Birmingham Science Museum's Meet the Scientist event - great fun with bubbles and sticker epidemics.

 

Research

I am currently modelling Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) transmission and progression for an EC-funded project (PreHdict). To do this, we have developed a stochastic individual-based model. Individual-based models are essentially a simulation of a virtual population with diverse biological and behavioural characteristics. The virtual individuals are able to make and break partnerships and transmit infections.

Such models are becoming increasingly popular for informing policy but they are heavily dependent on the realism of the simulated population and infectious agents. 

One of my keenest interests is in calibrating such complex models, to which it's not possible to apply 'standard' model fitting techniques. Recent developments in the fields of Approximate Bayesian Computation (ABC) and Bayesian Emulation are giving me plenty to think about. I'm delighted to be part of a team that has recently been awarded an MRC grant to develop new methodology for the 'Calibration and analysis of complex models'.

Research areas

  • Economic evaluation
  • Modelling
  • Statistical methods

Disciplines

  • Epidemiology
  • Mathematics

Disease and Health Conditions

  • Infectious disease
  • Sexually transmitted disease

Other interests

  • Model Calibration
Back to top