Mathematical modelling of Infectious diseases

This course is focused on the dynamic nature of infectious diseases, which clearly distinguishes infectious disease epidemiology from the epidemiology of other diseases, such as cardiovascular and oncology. In addition ot the dynamics of specific infections such as HIV, dynamics of genotypes and genes (such as those encoding antimicrobial resistance) and principles of population biology will be addressed.

Modelling has become a valuable tool for infectious disease epidemiology. The principles of modelling will addressed in the basic course and to more in-depth level in the advanced course. The aim is to provide the participants with the knowledge to evaluate and judge infectious disease epidemiology research and data analysis and give a sufficient scientific and methodological background to actively participate in clinical and epidemiological studies. Topics are: transmission dynamics, basic reproduction ratio, deterministic and stochastic models, heterogeneity, statistical inference, population biology and vaccination.

The objective of the course is to provide the student with insight in the principles and important issues of infectious disease epidemiology. Specific objectives of the course are to:

• illustrate characteristics of infectious diseases which require specific approaches for epidemiological designs and analysis, such as patient-dependency.
• illustrate features of population structures of relevant pathogens, in relation to epidemiology of infections.
• illustrate the impact of interventions to prevent transmission of infections and pathogens.
• provide practical training in performing specific epidemiological analyses.

Our courses are aimed at clinical researchers, nurses, general practitioners, and other health professionals who want to improve their skills in epidemiology, statistics and (clinical) research.

1 week, fulltime (face to face)