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MRC Biostatistics Unit

We are delighted to be holding a special two-day workshop that will explore the use of agent-based models (ABMs) to enhance epidemic preparedness, by offering fine-scaled insights into disease transmission.

Traditional compartmental models, like those used during the COVID-19 pandemic, segment populations broadly by age or geography but struggle to address finer details such as the transmission within particular socio-economic groups. ABMs, by simulating transmission at the individual level, provide a solution by allowing more precise evaluation of how interventions could affect different groups and regions.

ABMs can capture complex systems ranging from large-scale vaccine studies to localised outbreaks. However, their complexity requires careful calibration to real-world data, such as infection trends and population behaviours, to give credence to any insights generated and to improve the accuracy of predictions.

This is intended to be a community-building workshop aimed to discuss the challenges of building, calibrating, and deploying these models in real time during outbreaks, highlighting their potential to inform more effective public health responses. Invited presenters have been selected to span a range of disciplines and career stages. It is international in focus, though numbers are limited to improve the likelihood of open discussion and increase the potential for future collaboration.

Speakers will include:

  • Frank Krauss – University of Durham
  • Christophe Fraser – University of Oxford
  • Thomas Finnie – UK Health Security Agency
  • Keiran Suchak – University of Leeds
  • TJ McKinley – University of Exeter
  • Jørgen Midtbø - Norwegian Institute of Public Health
  • Elizabeth Hunter – University of Galway
  • Arnau Quera-Bofarull - University of Oxford
  • Kevin Fong - University College London Hospitals NHS Trust
  • Jan Sheppard - ESR, Science and Research
  • Francesco Di Ruscio - Norwegian Institute of Public Health
  • Simon Spencer – University of Warwick
  • Andy Iskauskas – University of Durham
  • Nicky McCreesh – London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
  • Ronni Bowman - Dstl S&T Capability (remote)
  • Jasmina Panovska-Griffiths - University of Oxford (remote)
  • David Banks - Duke University (remote)
  • Fernando Benitez-Paez - University of St Andrew's (remote)

Programme

The full programme is available to view by clicking on the link below.


This workshop is being kindly supported by:

 

     

     


Registration

Registration is now full.


Accommodation in Cambridge

For delegates travelling from outside Cambridge to attend the workshop, we recommend going to https://www.universityrooms.com/en-GB/ to find accommodation. You can also book a B&B room at Clare College by going to https://www.clarehall.cam.ac.uk/guest-rooms/

 

Date: 
Tuesday, 17 December, 2024 - 09:30 to Wednesday, 18 December, 2024 - 17:00
Event location: 
Elton-Bowring Room, Memorial Court, Clare College, Cambridge CB2 1TL