Welcome to the June 2026 newsletter!
Table of Contents:
- Upcoming Events
- Meet-the-Modelers call for volunteers
- Job Opportunities
- Training Opportunities
- Subgroups, Working Groups, and Regional Activities
- Seminar Recap and Recordings
- AMMnet Board Meeting Summary
Please contact info@ammnet.org if you would like to contribute any items to next month’s newsletter.
Register for the AMMnet Monthly Seminar | Tuesday, July 7, 15 hr UTC
Assessment of the potential impact of the RTS,S/AS01 vaccine on malaria morbidity in Benin: a mathematical modelling approach
Presenter: Dr Gouvidé Jean GBAGUIDI
Malaria remains a major public health challenge in Benin, particularly among children under five, despite government efforts and the implementation of vector control interventions. This study, based on a modelling approach, assesses the potential impact and effectiveness of introducing the RTS,S/AS01 vaccine in reducing malaria morbidity in the Couffo department.
The multi-disease epidemiological model (EMOD) was calibrated using entomological, epidemiological and climatic data collected between 2010 and 2023. The vaccine was incorporated in line with the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) strategy, enabling the monitoring of cohorts of children under five within 1,000 simulated populations.
Nine scenarios combining different levels of coverage and vaccination schedules, as well as a baseline scenario without vaccination, were analysed using various statistical analyses with the R software (version 4.5.1).
About the presenter
Gouvide Jean Gbaguidi is an interdisciplinary researcher specialising in climate change, environmental health and the epidemiology of infectious diseases, with a particular interest in malaria and climate-sensitive vector-borne diseases in West Africa. He is currently a researcher in climate change and health at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM).
His research lies at the interface of climate change, environmental exposures and population health, with expertise in mathematical modelling, geospatial analysis and decision-support tools for public health interventions. He adopts an integrated ‘One Health’ approach, aimed at strengthening resilient health systems in low- and middle-income countries.
In 2024, he took part in the Francophone Capacity-Building Programme in Malaria Modelling at Iba Der Thiam University in Thiès, before being recruited in 2025 as a lead trainer, contributing to the training of public health professionals in Francophone Africa. Gouvide Jean holds a PhD in Climate Change and Health from WASCAL, completed in collaboration with the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences. His research contributes to the advancement of global health by supporting the development of equitable and resilient policies to address climate challenges.
Note:
- Real-time interpretation into FRENCH will be available
- Both English and French speakers should select "Interpretation" feature on Zoom and the preferred language (English / French)
- Portuguese speakers should join the English platform (above instruction) and then enable the subtitles "CAPTION" function on Zoom
Register Here for the Seminar Series
Register for the AMMnet Hackathon | Thursday, July 23, 10-12 hr UTC
Building an Interactive Malaria Dashboard with R Shiny
Instructor: Christina Myalla
Ready to take your R skills further? This hands-on AMMnet Hackathon will guide you through building a fully interactive malaria dashboard using R Shiny and the modern bslib framework — from app structure and UI design to reactivity and web deployment.
Over two focused hours, you'll work through the core building blocks of Shiny development: constructing user interfaces with input controls and outputs, implementing reactive expressions so your dashboard responds dynamically to user interactions, and deploying your finished app to the web via shinyapps.io. The session draws on realistic simulated malaria data modelled on real epidemiological patterns for Burkina Faso, giving you practical experience applying these tools in a malaria context.
This session is designed for participants with advanced R experience. If you're already comfortable in R and ready to build something shareable and interactive, this is for you.
Register to join us on 23 July and leave with a working dashboard — and the skills to build the next one.
The session will be recorded and made publicly available to all AMMnet members via the AMMnet Hackathon Blog.
This Hackathon is taught in English, but we invite instructors of other languages to lead sessions. Reach out to info@ammnet.org if you are interested in leading a session in French or Portuguese.
Register Here for the July 23 HackathonFind previous hackathons on our blog here
Register for the AMMnet Asia-Pacific Seminar | Friday, August 7, 4 hr UTC
Cost-effectiveness of a package to ensure safe prescription of 7-day high-dose primaquine for the radical cure of Plasmodium vivax in Indonesia
Presenter: Dr. Patrick Abraham
Can safer radical cure also be more cost-effective? Explore how health economics is informing evidence-based malaria policy and accelerating Plasmodium vivax elimination in Indonesia.
The radical cure of Plasmodium vivax requires treatment of the dormant liver stages with either primaquine or tafenoquine but is constrained by the risk of severe hemolysis in patients with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency. A revised case-management package was designed to support safe radical cure in Indonesia, and included G6PD screening, targeting high dose primaquine and early clinical review. This presentation will explore the usefulness of health economics within malaria policymaking, while presenting results of this cost-effectiveness study in Indonesia.
About the Presenter
Dr Patrick Abraham is a Health Economist and Research Fellow at Melbourne Health Economics, within the School of Public Health. His field of research involves economic evaluations of malaria and other infectious diseases in low- and middle-income settings, as well as Australia. He specialises in cost-effectiveness analysis, productivity losses and understanding the holistic economic burden of infectious diseases on households and communities.
Meet-the-Modelers: Call for Volunteers!
Thanks to all past presenters for sharing your backgrounds and professional experience!
Want to introduce yourself with a quick 2-minute lightning talk at an upcoming AMMnet monthly seminar?
A great opportunity to:
- Showcase your work
- Gain visibility
- Connect with peers
- Get a certificate of participation
Interested? Send your interest by email to info@ammnet.org.
Job Opportunities
Senior Research Manager, Elimination & Eradication
Gates Foundation is seeking a dedicated Senior Research Manager to support the Elimination & Eradication (E&E) malaria team. In this role, you will collaborate closely with the Deputy Director for E&E, the IDM leadership team, and other senior research managers in the E&E team, to build a forward-looking malaria modeling strategy, in close partnership with the malaria program strategy team (PST). This includes developing strategies and plans for engagement with the PST and other Foundation groups relevant to the mission of eradicating malaria, including the Regional Country Office (RCO) teams.
The central responsibility of the role will be managing the malaria modeling team, including setting strategic priorities, guiding methodological approaches – including dynamical modeling and statistical modeling – and engaging with PST partners to ensure the delivery of highly impactful and time-sensitive model results to guide key questions on investment strategy. The role will require the development and implementation of a modeling strategy that will support decisions by the PST and other Foundation stakeholders that will lead to the overarching goal of reaching zero malaria cases, with a focus on key geographies and the integration of new and prospective tools, as well as existing interventions. This position reports to the Deputy Director for Eradication and Elimination (E&E) and plays a vital role in ensuring the Foundation achieves its goal of eradicating malaria.
The role is based out of Seattle, WA and may involve international and domestic travel 20% of the time. The Foundation does not provide immigration-related sponsorship for this role.
Postdoctoral Scholar Position Available in Infectious Disease Modeling at Stanford University
The Research Group of Dr. Nathan Lo at Stanford University seeks a skilled postdoctoral scholar to join our research team. Specializing in infectious disease epidemiology and public health modeling, we study neglected tropical diseases (e.g., schistosomiasis) and vaccine-preventable infections (e.g., measles, SARS-CoV-2, etc).
Our research group is interested in the transmission of infectious diseases and the impact of surveillance and public health interventions with an overarching goal of informing public health policy. The postdoctoral scholar will have the opportunity to lead high impact research in infectious disease epidemiology and modeling of public health interventions with a focus on schistosomiasis.
The ideal candidate will have a superb quantitative background, strong coding skills (e.g., Python, R), expertise in infectious disease modeling across multiple pathogens, interest in global health and schistosomiasis, expertise with large datasets and statistical analysis, be highly motivated, and have a high level of independence with the publication record to support these characteristics. The postdoctoral scholar may work alongside students in the research group.
Application Deadline: 27 September 2026
Postdoctoral Scholar Researcher Available at Penn University
The Rasgon lab at The Pennsylvania State University is hiring MULTIPLEPostdoctoral Scholars to join our lab to work on a variety of projects related to the molecular biology of arthropods. Successful candidates will contribute to projects developing novel methods for transgenic manipulation of arthropods, developing novel gene transduction technologies for basic and applied goals, and developing model systems to study the evolutions and mechanisms of arthropod symbiosis.
Candidates must have experience in one or more of the following areas, including but not limited to cloning, construct design, CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing, PCR/qPCR, protein expression and purification using bacterial or yeast systems, protein techniques, receptor-ligand interactions, bioinformatics, virology, work with BSL2 and BSL3-level pathogens, and artificial vector infections with pathogens. Experience working with mosquitoes is preferred but not required.
Applicants are required to have a Ph.D. or equivalent doctorate in an appropriate field and be able to provide evidence that all requirements have been met for completion of the PhD prior to the effective date of hire.
Training Opportunities
Introduction to mathematical models of the epidemiology & control of infectious diseases
This interactive short PAID course for professionals is taught by leading researchers who inform policymakers internationally. The course is directed by Dr Anne Cori and topics include HIV, TB, malaria, Ebola, COVID-19, health economics, vaccination programmes, stochastic models and more.
Over the last 30 years there has been rapid progress in developing models and techniques for the analysis of epidemic data. Those techniques have been applied to a variety of pathogens such as HIV, SARS, avian influenza, pandemic influenza, Ebola and malaria. The Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College London has been the world leader in mathematical modelling of the epidemiology and control of infectious diseases of humans and animals, for many years. Our department is actively engaged in research and regularly advises public health professionals, policy-makers, governments, international organisations and pharmaceutical companies, often during real-time outbreak situations.
Application Deadline: 31 August 2026
Modern Techniques in Infectious Disease Modelling and Model Fitting and Inference for Infectious Disease Dynamics
These paid LMIC discounted short course is taught by members of the Centre for the Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Diseases, a multidisciplinary grouping of more than 150 epidemiologists, mathematicians, economists, statisticians and clinicians.
The two short courses Modern Techniques in Infectious Disease Modelling and Model Fitting and Inference for Infectious Disease Dynamics are offered back-to-back across two consecutive weeks. While either course can be taken on its own, students who take both courses will benefit from a comprehensive introduction to modern methods in infectious disease transmission modelling.
Application Deadline: 3 August 2026
Subgroups, Working Groups, and Regional Activities
AMMnet has 7 established local chapters.
If you would like to be connected with local chapters in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Tanzania, Liberia, Uganda, Zambia or Benin, you may send email using the respective addresses below or reach out to info@ammnet.org and the Secretariat will connect you to the chapter leadership.
- AMMnet Uganda Chapter, ammnetuganda@gmail.com
- Applied Malaria Modeling Network Zambia, ammnetzambia@gmail.com
- AMMnet Liberia Chapter, ammnet.liberia@gmail.com
- AMMnet Cameroon Chapter, ammnetcameroon@gmail.com
- AMMnet Tanzania Chapter, ammnettz@gmail.com
- AMMnet Burkina Faso Chapter, ammnetburkina@gmail.com
- AMMnet Benin, ammnetbeninchapter@gmail.com
Guide on How to Establish a National Chapter is Here
Seminar Recap and Recordings
AMMnet Monthly Seminar Series
June 2, 2026
From Data to Decisions: Ghana’s Subnational Tailoring Approach for Malaria Interventions
Presenter: Ferguson Duvor
The presentation focuses on how Ghana used data as the foundation for Subnational Tailoring (SNT) of malaria interventions during the 2025/2026 planning cycle. It demonstrates how multiple data sources—including DHIMS2 routine surveillance data, household surveys, intervention coverage reports, climate and environmental datasets, entomological evidence, and population statistics—were systematically integrated to stratify malaria risk across 261 districts and guide intervention targeting.
The presentation highlights the importance of rigorous data quality management through completeness checks, consistency validation, outlier detection, and imputation methods to ensure reliable analyses. Using adjusted malaria incidence models, geospatial prevalence mapping, seasonality analysis, and care-seeking adjustments, Ghana developed evidence-based prioritization frameworks for interventions such as ITNs, IRS, SMC, malaria vaccines, IPTSc, MDA, and PDMC. Overall, the presentation illustrates that effective SNT depends on high-quality, multi-source data systems and advanced analytical approaches that enable precise, locally tailored, and resource-efficient malaria control decision.
AMMnet Asia Pacific Series
June 19, 2026, 5 hr UTC
Perspective on AI in Healthcare
Presenter: Dr. Passakorn Wanchaijiraboon
As artificial intelligence rapidly transforms medical practice — from diagnostic imaging and genomic analysis to clinical documentation and drug prescribing — the need for clear ethical guardrails has become urgent. This presentation introduces the proposed Medical Council of Thailand announcement on AI ethics guidelines for medical practitioners, developed with reference to international frameworks from the WHO, AMA, US FDA, the EU AI Act, IMDRF, and the FUTURE-AI Consortium, as well as Thailand's NSTDA AI Ethics Principles. The guidelines are structured around seven core ethical principles: privacy, security and safety, reliability, fairness and non-discrimination, transparency and explainability, accountability, and human oversight.
A key practical component is the Medical AI Risk Assessment (MAIRA) — adapted from the UK Camden Council's AI Risk Assessment (AIRA) framework — which provides a structured, lifecycle-based checklist for healthcare organizations to evaluate AI systems before clinical deployment. Covering five stages from overall assessment, planning, training and testing, review, through to deployment and post-market monitoring, the MAIRA ensures that physicians remain the final decision-makers while leveraging AI as a tool for augmented — not autonomous — clinical intelligence. Real-world case studies illustrate the practical application of these principles in Thai healthcare settings.
Watch the Recording HereAccess the AMMnet Recordings Library
AMMnet Board Meeting Summary
June 23, 16 hr UTC
Board Members Present: Hannah, Nadege Justin, Antonio, Cherlynn, Luc, Mor and Susan
Secretariat Present: Jaline, Shannon and Selen
DISCUSSION
The below main agenda items were discussed:
Local Chapters
- Status of Annual Reports and Grant Agreements for each established chapter
AMMnet Annual Meeting Scientific Program Organizing Committee
- AMMnet Annual Meeting confirmed in Rwanda (next to MIM) April, 26-30 2026
- Committee: Hannah, Cherlyn, Victoire, Luc and Mor with Antonio and Shakira as back ups
Board Member Terms and Cycling
- Caitlin and Emilie terms are ending
- 7 of 7 voted Yea, to proceed with plan to revise terms to avoid destabilizing the Board with 50% turnover every few years
- Next steps:
- Review the plan with AMMnet members during a General Assembly and present to them for a vote
- 2 Board seats will be open; strategically collect nominations for a future full transition
Small Event Award Structure to ensure greater equity among countries
- October 2026 Raffle: Take the top applicants from previous two submissions and place in a pool, randomly draw 5 awardees
- February 2027 Underrepresented Countries: Open call to those countries in a list not awarded yet
- June 2027 NMCP Only: Open call to NMCP/PNLPs only
- October 2027 Full Call: Full open call, any member can apply, or we can decide on a narrow topic/focus later
Board Self-Evaluation
- Board members to complete evaluation as soon as possible
The next Board meeting planned on August 18, 16hr UTC
