New research projects funded

My research group at the University of Oldenburg, in collaboration with a consortium of leading scientists, has secured funding for DREAM-EP (Data-informed Responsive Epidemic Analysis and Multiscale-Modelling for Epidemic Preparedness).

This initiative aims to advance top-level research in pandemic forecasting. By integrating high-resolution datasets from the COVID-19 pandemic—including human contact structures, mobility patterns, and protective behaviors—we are developing a comprehensive model ecosystem to improve the prediction of severe respiratory disease outbreaks. Our approach bridges spatial and temporal scales using advanced methodologies from network science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence.

Timeline & Our Focus

DREAM-EP is a four-year research project, with overall funding beginning in 2026. Our mathematical modeling group will officially begin our work on the project in early August 2026.

Within the larger consortium, we will be heavily involved in the following core tasks:

• Mobility Networks: A quantitative assessment of how spatial mobility networks evolve during a pandemic and their impact on disease dynamics.
• Causal Inference: A comprehensive analysis of the causal relationships between disease spread, information dissemination, behavioral responses, and intervention policies.
• Viral Dynamics: The identification of principles governing viral evolution in network-structured populations and their influence on broader epidemic dynamics.