The Zeeman Institute
Combatting Diseases
One area where we believe our quantitative approaches can have a profound impact on the real world is in offering better control of disease. We do this by working closely with clinicians and public-health officials to understand the problem, ensure we are addressing major challenges and obtain access to the latest biological data.
Our work spans a range of scales and problem areas, from understanding how the clocks inherent in our cells can help cancer treatment to population level predicts of the impact of vaccination against influenza, from problems with a distinct UK-focus to work in Kenya and the DRC, and from human infections to livestock diseases. Throughout, our goal is to use appropriate mathematical and stasticial methods to better understand the control of diseases.
Data Generation
Clinical, field and laboratory work is key for underpinning much of the work in the Zeeman Insitutute. Our close relationship with these groups is vital to keep our research grounded and practically useful.
Data Analysis
Much of our work focuses on the analysis of complex high-dimensional data or noisy sparse data; our aim is to quantify underlying mechanisms from from such information to improve biological understanding.
Prediction
In main contexts the ulitimate goal is forward prediction: taking what we understand of the system and predicting future events often under a range of different control measures.
Genomics & Immunology
Modern microbiology tools provide profound insights into the behaviour of the immune-system and the genome of infecting pathogens; allowing us a better understanding of infection, transmission and evolution.
NTD modelling
Neglected Tropic Diseases affect the world's poorest billion. It is imperative that limited resources are used as effectively as possible to reduce morbidity and mortality and leading to elimination.
Vaccination
Vaccination is a standard tool in the control of many infectious diseases, and much of our research focuses on the benefits of vaccination and how it should be most effectively deployed in both the UK and worldwide.
Zoonoses & Animal Diseases
Many of the most devastating human diseases are spread by animals (rabies, plague, malaria), while others such as foot-and-mouth although confined to livestock have huge economic impacts.
Avian Influenza
Prediction and control of Avian Influenza in S.E.Asia.
Bovine-TB
Predicting the spread and control of bTB in UK.
Cancer
Patient-level predictions from new technologies.
COVID19
Modelling and Analysing the COVID-19 pandemic.
FEED project
Research on incorporting farmer behaviour into epidemiological models.
Foot-and-Mouth Disease
Research on ways to control this devastating livestock infection in UK & worldwide.
Footrot
Statistical analysis and field-work to control this debilitating disease of sheep.
HAT (sleeping sickness)
Models to inform the control & elimination of sleeping sickness.
Honey-Bees
Models & analysis of bee diseases and Asian hornets.
Human Papillomavirus
Vaccination to combat the virus leading to cerival cancer.
Leishmania
Lab, field and modelling work to reduce incidence.
Leprosy
Predicting the interventions needed to control leprosy.
Influenza
Analysis and modelling of pandemic and seasonal flu.
Measles
Understanding the re-emergence of this childhood infection.
Pertussis
Vaccinating families to control whooping-cough.
Plague
Predicting this historical infection in the modern world.
Pneumococcal Disease
Understanding the complex immunity of pneuococcal infection.
Rabies
Integrated Bite Management in S.E.Asia.
Respiratory Syncytial Virus
Genomics & modelling to target this childhood infection.
Schistosomiasis
Cost-effectiveness of vaccines for control.
Seasonal Influenza
Vaccination to control the annual 'flu outbreak.
Yaws
Estimation of undetected cases and methods for eradication.