Thematic Program on the Mathematics of Drug Resistance in Infectious Diseases
July 1 - August 31, 2010
Program Outline
The spread of an infectious disease involves characteristics of the agent (e.g. virus, bacteria, etc.), the host (e.g., susceptibility due to genetic, environmental and other factors), and the environment in which transmissions take place. The purpose of modeling infectious diseases, in relation to public health, is to evaluate the agent-host-environment interface and to understand, and alter, the interface through interventions advantageous to the host, be they preventive or therapeutic.
The two-month thematic program at the Fields Institute will focus on the Emergence of Drug Resistance in Infectious Diseases, and will bring together leading researchers in mathematical epidemiology/immunology from around the world in order to stimulate major progress in this area of applied mathematics. The program will also provide a unique opportunity for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows to interact with these researchers in a productive and sustained way over this two-month duration.
Subthemes
The program will consist of two main sub-themes that are of fundamental importance to understanding and predicting the emergence of drug resistance:
- Mathematical Immunology: from In-host to Population
- Transmission Heterogeneity in Infectious Diseases
The majority of our efforts throughout the program will be directed towards furthering research on the mathematical aspects of these issues. Each topic will also involve a one-day workshop of a more applied nature, bringing together public health officials and policy makers with applied mathematicians.
Workshops and Conferences
Special and Public Lectures
The thematic program will also include four colloquia, invited speakers include Professor Marc Lipsitch and Dr. Ram Laxminarayan.
Graduate courses
Each event will start with a short introductory course (3-4 hours) on the basic modeling techniques and fundamental medical and public health issues to be addressed by these techniques. These courses are aimed at the participating graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, and will ensure that they are able to participate fully in the program.
Program Visitors
All scientific events are open to the mathematical sciences community. Visitors who are interested in office space or funding are requested to apply by filling out the application form. Additional support is available (pending NSF funding) to support junior US visitors to this program. Fields scientific programs are devoted to research in the mathematical sciences, and enhanced graduate and post-doctoral training opportunities. Part of the mandate of the Institute is to broaden and enlarge the community, and to encourage the participation of women and members of visible minority groups in our scientific programs.
