Courses

Introduction to Infectious Disease Modelling and its Applications

The Introduction to Infectious Disease Modelling and its Applications two-week course takes place every summer, here at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.

Mathematical modelling is increasingly being applied to interpret and predict the dynamics and control of infectious diseases. Applications include predicting the impact of vaccination strategies against common infections such as measles and rubella and determining optimal control strategies against HIV and vector-borne diseases.

This two-week intensive course is intended to introduce professionals working on infectious diseases in either developing or developed countries to this exciting and expanding area. The emphasis will be on developing a conceptual understanding of the basic methods and on their practical application, rather than the manipulation of mathematical equations. The methods will be illustrated by "hands-on" experience of setting up models in spreadsheets as well as other specialist modelling packages, small group work, and seminars in which the applications of modelling will be discussed. By the end of the course participants will have gained an understanding and practical experience of the basics of infections disease modelling which will be useful in their future work.

The course is organised jointly between the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and the Health Protection Agency Centre for Infections (formerly know as the Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre). It is taught by staff from all three academic departments at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, the Modelling and Economics Unit at the Health Protection Agency Centre for Infections, London, and the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Staff have extensive experience in working closely with epidemiologists and non-modellers, in applying modelling to field data from developed and developing countries and in teaching modelling techniques to professionals in medical and biological disciplines.

For further information please contact Emilia Vynnycky or Richard White