Animal Breeding & Genetics
Short Course
Summer2016
atIowaStateUniversity
Ames,IAUSA
Mathematical modeling of infection dynamics
May 23 (8:30 AM) - 27 (12:00 PM), 2016, at Iowa StateUniversity
Drs. Andrea Doeschl-Wilson and Osvaldo Anacleto
The Roslin Institute & University of Edinburgh
Mathematical modeling has become a valuable tool in the analysis of infection
processes and to support the development of control strategies. This short course will
introduce the conceptual ideas and mathematical tools needed for formulating and
evaluating mathematical models of infectious disease, with an emphasis
on livestock diseases. A hands-on approach will be adopted in the form of interactive
lectures and tutorials.
The program will cover fundamental and advanced principles of mathematical modeling
of infection dynamics, including:
- review of mathematical essentials
- introduction to different types of models of infection dynamics
- theory and examples of modeling infection spread within and between hosts
- investigation of host genetic influences on infection dynamics
- hands-on experience with computer-based simulations
- introduction to Bayesian inference for infectious disease modeling.
The course will provide participants with the relevant theory of mathematical modeling
of infection dynamics and hands-on experience with relevant modeling techniques.
Upon course completion, participants can expect to have a basic understanding of the
purpose, essential building-blocks, assumptions and limitations of different types of
mathematical models, have the fundamental knowledge to build mathematical models
from scratch and analyze model behavior, and will be able to interpret published results
from diverse modeling studies.
The course is aimed at animal scientists (post-graduate level or above) and
professionals in the field of livestock production or health with good numeracy skill and
an interest in quantitative approaches to study infectious diseases. The course is not
aimed at researchers with advanced modeling skills. The course tutorials will use the
statistical and modeling package R. Experience with R is desired, but not essential.
Further details and registration information will follow in the near future.
In part funded by USDA-NIFA Translational Genomics grant #2013-68004-20362 Genetically Improving Resistance of Pigs to PRRS Virus Infections
Registration is at: https://goo.gl/72rSgV
Space is limited, so please register early
Limited shared on-campus housing is available on a first-come basis (book through
registration page).
For other housing opportunities, a list of hotels in Ames is
at: https://www.visitames.com/Come_And_Stay/
Please note, however that, starting May 24, hotel rooms may be very scarce in Ames
because the Odyssey of The Mind World Finals will be held at Iowa State May 25-29.
However, Ankeny is about 35 minutes by car from Ames and should have hotel rooms
available, see: http://www.ankeny.org/HotelMotel
For transportation to and from the Des Moines airport,
see: http://www.executiveexpress.biz/shuttle-service