Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Diseases

Course goals

ALL PARTICIPANTS WILL BE PLACED ON THE WAITING LIST UNTIL TWO WEEKS BEFORE THE START OF THE COURSE

After completing this course the student:

1. understands the basic concepts of infectious disease modelling;
2. has the ability of formulating and analyzing a simple model;
3. has knowledge of how to estimate some basic parameters.

Content

Contact details: Educational Office Epidemiology
E-mail: msc-epidemiology@umcutrecht.nl

Course coordinator:
Dr. G. (Ganna) Rozhnova, UMC Utrecht, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, Utrecht, the Netherlands

Course description:
In recent years mathematical modeling has become a valuable tool in the analysis of infectious disease dynamics and to support the development of control strategies. This course will give a thorough introduction to the conceptual ideas and mathematical tools needed for infectious disease modeling.

The focus will be on the dynamics of infectious diseases, the analysis of transmission patterns in various populations and methods to assess the effectiveness of control strategies. These methods will be illustrated with examples of specific infections such as HIV, childhood infections, influenza, and vector borne diseases. The principles of modeling will be addressed in the first week of the course and expanded to more in-depth level in the advanced second week of the course.

The aim is to provide the participants with the knowledge to evaluate and judge infectious disease epidemiology research and data analysis using mathematical modeling techniques. Topics are among others: basic reproduction ratio, deterministic and stochastic models, population heterogeneity, statistical inference, population biology and vaccination. Participants will learn to design and analyze mathematical models using specialized software.
 
Literature/study material used:

• Scientific papers
• Handouts ppt presentations  

Registration:
Epidemiology students  can register for this course via Osiris Student. More information about the registration procedure can be found here on the Students' site. NOTE Students of the MSc Epidemiology (Post Graduate) that register in time (i.e. at least two weeks before the start of a course) will always be admitted to the course unless it is completely full.
IMPORTANT! Students from other masters programmes need to register via Home | Utrecht Summer School. Costs may be associated with this course.

Mandatory for students in own Master’s programme:
Yes, EPIM/EPMM students
 
Optional for students in other GSLS Master’s programme:
No.
 
Prerequisite knowledge:
Introduction to Epidemiology
Study Design in Etiological Research
Classical Methods in Data Analysis
Modern Methods in Data Analysis (preferred)