Introduction to infectious disease modeling

Slides: https://www.andreashandel.com/presentations/

Andreas Handel

2023-10-24

How do we do science?

Dilbert

How do we get data?

https://phdcomics.com/

Experimental studies

  • The approach used in almost all bench/lab sciences.
  • Clinical trials in Public Health and Medicine.
  • Potentially most powerful because we have most control.
  • Not always possible.

Observational studies

  • Widely used in Public Health and other areas (e.g., Sociology, Economics, Geology).
  • Not as powerful as experimental studies.
  • Often the only option.

Jim Borgman

Simulation/modeling studies

  • Computer models can represent a real system.
  • Simulated data is not as good as real data.
  • Often the only option.

https://xkcd.com/

Modeling definition

  • The term modeling usually means (in science) the description and analysis of a system using mathematical or computational models.
  • Many different types of modeling approaches exist. Simulation models are one type (with many subtypes).