2024 Scientific Days of the Infectious Disease Modelling Coordinated Action

More than 80 specialists in modelling and its applications — from biomathematics to field epidemiology — from academia, university hospitals and health agencies, gathered to present and discuss recent and ongoing work in the field of infectious disease modelling. This event was organised with the support of the ANRS Emerging infectious diseases and of the EHESP.

Scientific program

The six plenary sessions as well as the poster session showed the diversity of modelling approaches (mathematical, statistical, computational) at different levels of dynamics (within-host, within households, local, global) for a broad spectrum of infections (HIV, Ebola, SARS-CoV-2, influenza, RSV, cholera, meningococcus) and their possible vectors (ticks).

Interactions and working groups

• These two days provided an opportunity to strengthen interactions between the French modelling teams.
• They also provided an opportunity to continue the structuring and thematic and methodological collaboration initiated in the five CA working groups, which were active throughout the year.
• The variety and quality of the talks given by young researchers, both doctoral and post-doctoral, was ample proof of the dynamism of the community.

Focus on young researchers

Supporting the training and integration of young researchers in the field of infectious disease modelling is an important mission for the CA, which has been working since its inception to build an active research network that includes the younger generation.

For the first time this year, the conference was preceded by a day dedicated to young researchers, with a round-table discussion bringing together the various players involved in modelling infectious diseases and public health.

The two thesis projects funded by ANRS MIE under the 2024 call for proposals and the exchange grants were highlighted by the doctoral students who had benefited from them.

The ANRS MIE young investigators programme was presented to the entire CA by the team in charge of the programme within the agency.

Prospects for 2025

With a dynamic research network of over a hundred participants in France, the Modelling CA continues to develop and promote the role of modelling in understanding and combating infectious diseases. In order to exchange ideas with other public health players, the CA is also organising open days on topics combining modelling, clinical & fundamental research, and public health.

The next meeting will take place in Paris in spring 2025 and will focus on the theme of vaccination (from the pre-clinical development of vaccines to decision support for interventions).

More about the coordinated action