Preventing the Next Pandemic through Disease Transmission Modeling
In this project, we will work to prevent the next pandemic by developing a cutting-edge disease surveillance tool and implementing it at public health authorities around the world.
Keywords: pandemics, public health, technology, health policy
In disease outbreaks, it is often difficult to determine who transmits an infectious pathogen to whom. Reconstructed disease transmission networks are essential to epidemic response, as they can help quantify vaccine efficacy, identify settings with high risk of exposure (e.g. hospitals), and predict future variants of concern. The rise of pathogen genome sequencing in recent years, however, has made it possible to infer transmission events with a high degree of fidelity. In this project, we will forge partnerships with public health agencies to incorporate JUNIPER, a proprietary software package for transmission analysis, into outbreak response protocols in the US and around the world. This work will help policymakers, researchers, and citizens alike develop data-driven pandemic response plans, helping fortify our world against future catastrophes.
Skillset needs: Combination of engineers, bioinformaticians, and health policy experts
Contact: Ivan Specht