Dr Laith Yakob
BSc MSc DPhil
Associate Professor
I am particularly interested in the epidemiology of infectious diseases and in novel technologies for their control. Main research themes include the relationships between climate and disease ecology, cutting-edge methods for combatting diseases (vaccines, integrated control strategy) and disease vectors (systemic insecticides, Wolbachia and genetic control). My research centres at the confluence of the lab, the field and computational modelling.
Affiliations
Centres
Teaching
I am on the Senate Postgraduate Taught Committee. I am the Exam Board Chair for Medical Parasitology and Medical Entomology for Disease control. I am the module organiser for Parasitology and Entomology (3122) supermodule, and module co-organiser for the Medical Parasitology & Medical Entomology 1-week field trip (3133). I teach on Parasitology and Entomology (3122) supermodule; Vector Sampling, Identification & Incrimination (3141); Vector-Parasite Interactions (3166); Modelling & the Dynamics of Infectious Diseases (2464); Integrated Vector Management (3176). I am a short course instructor for 'Introduction to Infectious Disease Modelling and Its Applications', and, 'Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR): a Multidisciplinary Approach'
Research
I am one of the founding eight core members of the UK Public Health Rapid Support Team, who support countries responding to and controlling disease outbreaks before they can develop into a global threat. I am also a founding member of the Antimicrobial Resistance Centre at LSHTM, where I previously acted as the disciplinary head for Epidemiology and Modelling.
ACTIVE RESEARCH PROJECTS:
2021-2023
Cost-effectiveness of a Clostridium difficile vaccine in the UK
Pfizer Inc. project grant
2021-2022
Developing target characteristics for mosquito suppression and replacement programmes using modelling
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation grant
2019-2021
Modelling the impact of a transmission blocking vaccine against leishmaniasis on sand fly vectorial capacity
VALIDATE Network grant