A new £1 million grant from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is supporting a University of Warwick study aimed at preventing the spread of infectious diseases.

Led by Professor Robin Goodwin from Warwick’s Department of Psychology, the project takes a unique interdisciplinary approach, bringing together experts in psychology, virology, history, mathematics, mapping, communications and drama to better understand potentially infectious interactions in crowded settings where humans and animals may mix.

Building on lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, the research will explore patterns of human behaviour in diverse cultural and environmental contexts, using dramatised re-enactments to analyse everyday interactions in busy marketplaces. The findings aim to inform more effective global health strategies to reduce the risk of disease transmission.

Starting in January 2025, the two-year study will focus on markets in Ghana and Thailand, bringing together 13 experts from six institutions, including The University of Warwick, University of Oxford, University of Southampton, Chulalongkorn University, University of Development Studies and University of Ghana.

Professor Goodwin, said: “I am very excited about this unique opportunity to bring together experts from such a wide range of different disciplinary approaches.”

“I feel privileged to be working with our excellent international team and very much look forward to us learning from each other to tackle this important real-world problem”.

Professor Alison Park, UKRI Cross Research Council Responsive Mode Champion and Deputy Executive Chair of the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) said, “The perspectives of different disciplines, working together in collaboration, are vital to solving some of the most pressing problems we face as a society.”

“We were all excited to see the innovative and bold approaches being adopted to tackle major issues ranging from climate change to global healthcare and look forward to following their progress.”

For further details on the initial projects funded under UKRI's new interdisciplinary scheme, please visit the UKRI website.

ENDS

For more information, please contact:

Stevie Connoll – Media and Communications Officer
stevie.connoll@warwick.ac.uk / +44 (0)7824 540791

About UK Research and Innovation

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is the largest public funder of research and innovation in the UK, investing £8 billion annually spanning all disciplines and all sectors. We are nine councils, drawing on our unique breadth and depth of expertise to work with government and other stakeholders to enrich lives, by increasing our understanding of ourselves and the world around us, supporting innovative businesses and public services, and creating high-quality jobs throughout the UK.