Laura White (SPH) Receives CDC Grant for Infectious Disease Predictive Modeling

Hariri Institute Core Faculty Laura White (SPH professor of biostatistics) with her colleague Kayoko Shioda (SPH assistant professor of global health) are part of a team of researchers working to help detect and prepare the public for future outbreaks through a new innovation center led by Northeastern University (NEU). 

The initiative, called “EPISTORM: The Center for Advanced Epidemic Analytics and Predictive Modeling Technology,” is a multi-institution collaboration funded by a $17.5 million, five-year grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Headed by Alessandro Vespignani, Sternberg Family Distinguished University Professor at NEU and director of the university’s Network Science Institute, the center will also bring together researchers from the University of California San Diego, Los Alamos National Laboratory, the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Indiana University, the University of Florida, and Ginkgo Bioworks, as well as several hospital networks.

The researchers will tackle current challenges in epidemic modeling and analytics and develop innovative, practical, and equitable solutions to inform decision-making and policy during health emergencies.

Read the full story by Lillian McKoy on the School of Public Health site.