Modelling and Biostatistics Group

Head: Professor David Wilson

Overview

Our dynamic, interdisciplinary team works at the forefront of optimising maternal and child health, nutrition and infectious disease programs.

We use our models to generate scientific evidence to guide policy decisions across a range of public health issues, including:

  • infectious disease control and elimination
  • program implementation
  • strategic planning
  • resource optimisation.

In close partnership with the World Bank we have developed a collection of ‘Optima’ models to link interventions and their costs with their impact, perform scenario analyses, predict epidemiological trends and optimise spending.

Optima tools have already been used by over 40 countries across Eastern Europe, Asia, South America, and Africa to guide resource allocation towards the most cost-effective mix of programs, and to assist with national strategic and operational planning.

Staff Members

Programs

Contact Details

Professor David Wilson

Head of Infectious Disease Modelling

Email

[email protected]

Projects

  • COVASIM: Modelling COVID-19

  • Decision science using Optima

  • HCV Elimination Modelling

  • Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies

  • HMHB - Health Services for Postnatal and Infancy Care

  • SimDrink: Using simulation modelling to perform alcohol policy experiments

  • The Optimise Study: Optimising Isolation, Quarantine and Distancing for COVID-19

Staff Members

  • Anna Roberts

    Anna Roberts
    Executive Business & Programs Manager, Optima Consortium for Decision Science

  • Anna Palmer

    Anna Palmer
    Research Assistant

  • Chris Seaman

    Chris Seaman
    PhD Student

  • Professor David Wilson

    Professor David Wilson
    Head of Infectious Disease Modelling

  • Doctor Debra ten Brink

    Doctor Debra ten Brink
    Research Assistant

  • Dominic Delport

    Dominic Delport
    Research Assistant

  • Doctor Katherine Heath

    Doctor Katherine Heath
    Research Officer

  • Doctor Nick Scott

    Doctor Nick Scott
    Econometrician

  • Doctor Rachel Sacks-Davis

    Doctor Rachel Sacks-Davis
    Research Officer

  • Doctor Sherrie Kelly

    Doctor Sherrie Kelly
    Applications Team Lead

  • Doctor Tharindu Wickramaarachchi

    Doctor Tharindu Wickramaarachchi
    Mathematical Modeller

  • Tom Tidhar

    Tom Tidhar
    Research Assistant

  • Tom Walsh

    Tom Walsh
    Health Modeller

  • Surveillance and Evaluation

    This group manages HIV, Viral Hepatitis and STIs surveillance systems and conducts evaluations of projects and programs.

  • Young People's Health

    Examines the epidemiology and consequences of risk behaviours among young people.

  • Global Adolescent Health Group

    Adolescence as a key developmental stage within the life-course, where investments bring a triple dividend of benefits – now, into future adult life, and for the next generation of children.

  • Alcohol and Other Drugs Group

    Alcohol and other drugs are a major issue in Australia and Burnet has an established reputation in working to alleviate harms associated with their use.