Mathematical Models for Infectious Disease Dynamics

Course summary
Over the last two decades, mathematical models have seen a huge development in all aspects of infectious diseases, from microbiology to epidemiology and evolution. Professionals in these fields are now exposed to a wide range of models, often without receiving appropriate training.

This intensive, two-week course is aimed at any life scientist, public health officer, or medical or veterinary professional with an interest in quantitative approaches to infectious disease dynamics and control in humans or animals.

The programme will cover introductory and advanced concepts in mathematical modelling of infectious diseases, including:

population dynamics
deterministic and stochastic models
network analysis
within-host dynamics of viral and bacterial infections
mathematical review (calculus, probabilities...)
applied programming with R
statistical modelling
computer-based simulations.

On completion, course participants can expect to understand the general principles, assumptions and basic techniques used in mathematical models for infectious diseases, read scientific articles that include mathematical models, appreciate the value and limits of mathematical models in their own field, explore the behaviour of simple models themselves, and engage in collaborations with mathematical modellers.

Course instructors
Olivier Restif, Andrew Conlan, TJ McKinley, Cerian Webb (University of Cambridge, Department of Veterinary Medicine)
Ken Eames (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine)
Joshua Ross (King's College, Cambridge)
Roberto Saenz, Johann von Kirchbach (University of Cambridge, Department of Applied Mathematics)
Nik Cunniffe (University of Cambridge, Department of Plant Sciences)
Colin Russell (Clare College, Cambridge)

Guest speakers
Professor Michael Begon (Liverpool University)
Professor Bryan Grenfell OBE FRS (Penn State University)
Professor Marc Lipsitch (Harvard University)
Professor Derek Smith (University of Cambridge)
Professor Mark Woolhouse OBE FRSE (University of Edinburgh)

Cost
This is a residential course, without exception. Course fees are subsidised by the Wellcome Trust for non-commercial applicants but there is a charge of £975 towards board and lodging.The fee for commercial applicants is £3200.

Bursaries
Limited bursaries are available for academics (50 per cent of fee) and are subject to open competition.

Applications
Applicants will be required to complete an application form containing a 300-word outline of the relevance of the course to their research/clinical work. Please note that documentation supporting their application will be required from the applicant's supervisor/head of department.

Bursaries for Wellcome Trust Advanced Courses
The Wellcome Trust subsidises all courses and workshops, so there are no tuition fees. The ‘course fee' for the UK courses (held at Hinxton) covers on-site accommodation and food for the duration of the course. Bursaries are available to assist with UK course fees, but not travel costs. We are committed to building scientific capacity in developing countries and are expanding the number of courses and workshops run outside of the UK (‘overseas' courses). There is no fee for these courses and bursaries are available for travel, sustenance and accommodation. Please see below for full details.

UK Courses (held at the Wellcome Trust Genome Campus in Hinxton)
A limited number of bursaries are available for each course. These are awarded by the selection committee according to merit. The bursary usually covers 50 per cent of the course fee, though in exceptional circumstances an application for the total course fee may be considered. Where there are many bursary applications, the selection committee may issue smaller amounts. We cannot assist with travel costs. All bursary requests to attend UK courses must be accompanied by a bursary application form. This must be completed and signed by your scientific sponsor (supervisor or head of department) and include justification for the bursary. Applicants will be notified of a bursary award along with their place on the course, usually within one month of the application deadline. We will reject incomplete applications. Both the application form and sponsor's letter must be received before the application deadline. The decision of the selection committee is final.

Overseas courses (held outside the UK)
A number of bursaries are available for each overseas course. These are awarded by the selection committee according to merit. There is no course fee.The bursary will cover travel, accommodation and sustenance. The maximum award for travel (in economy/second class) will be £750. All likely travel costs must be detailed in the overseas bursary application form, which must accompany all bursary requests for courses held outside of the UK. We will notify you of the chosen hotel and sustenance award if successful. The selection committee may judge that a partial award should be granted. We will reject incomplete applications. Both the application form and sponsor's letter must be received before the application deadline.