Welcome to the March 2025 newsletter!
Please contact info@ammnet.org if you would like to contribute any items to next month’s newsletter.
Register for the AMMnet Career Development Committee Webinar!
Literature Review in Proposal Writing
March 26th, 15hr UTC
Speaker: Prof. Serge SOMDA
The AMMnet Career Development Committee invites you to an exciting and insightful webinar on Literature Review in Proposal Writing, presented by the Prof. Serge SOMDA.
In this webinar, Prof. Serge SOMDA will guide you through the essentials of conducting and structuring an effective literature review. Whether you are a student preparing your first research proposal or an experienced researcher looking to refine your skills, this session will provide practical tips and expert insights to help you build a strong foundation for your research proposals.
- Learn how to conduct a comprehensive literature review.
- Discover common challenges in proposal writing and how to overcome them.
- Gain valuable skills to enhance your research proposal writing process.
Don't miss this opportunity to enhance your research skills and take your proposals to the next level!
Spread the word and invite colleagues, friends, or anyone interested in improving their proposal writing.
Serge M.A. SOMDA is a methodologist and biostatistician with a PhD in Applied Mathematics/Biostatistics from the University of Toulouse. He has extensive experience in statistical modeling, data analysis, research methodology, and decision-making support, particularly in health and public policy.
PSA: Real-time interpretation from French to English and Portuguese will be available.
Register for the AMMnet Monthly Seminar
April 1, 2025, 15 hr UTC
Malaria Entomology Modelling
Presenter: Nakul Chitnis
The seminar will start with the history of malaria modelling and its strong link with malaria vector control, starting with the work of Ronald Ross and larviciding in the early 20th Century, followed by George Macdonald and indoor residual spraying in the second half of the 20th Century. We will then survey active areas of research in malaria vector control, including the types of models used and the kind of data needed.
Bio: Nakul Chitnis is the head of the Disease Modelling Unit at the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute. He has a background in mathematics, and his research goals focus on improving understanding of disease transmission dynamics and generating evidence, using mathematical and computational models, to help global and national policy makers to better deploy current interventions and support the development of novel interventions to reduce the burden of malaria and neglected tropical diseases. The core methodologies include the development of new mathematical models, calibration of models to field and experimental data, and model simulation and analysis. He works in collaboration with academic and governmental partners across the world with a strong focus on Africa and Southeast Asia.
PSA: Real-time interpretation to French and Portuguese will be available.
Register Here for the Seminar Series
AMMnet Hackathon: Mapping in R
Find the recording at the link below!
Thank you to those who attended and participated in the hackathon session -- Introduction to Mapping in R hackathon, led by Punam Amratia and our hackathon task force!
The recording and instruction materials from the hackathon are available on our AMMnet Hackathon blog at the link here. Here, you'll find:
- the recording of the live session
- the R script and data in a Github subfolder
- a copy of Punam Amratia's slides used in the introduction
If you attended the Mapping in R hackathon, please complete the survey at the link here and share your input. We will use your input to help us improve future sessions.
You may also find recordings and materials from all previously held hackathons on our blog.
- Data Visualization in R
- Data Wrangling in R
Currently, the Hackathon Series 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.
Find the AMMnet Hackathon blog here
AMMnet Leadership Opportunity
There are two open Board seats for the term of May 2025-May 2027.
Join the Board and contribute to the direction and sustainability of AMMnet.
Would you like to hold a leadership role and work with members of the AMMnet Board to set the long-term strategy, oversee the committees and ensure the future and sustainability of the organization?
If you have been actively involved in one or more of AMMnet’s committees, or co-leading a task force, subgroup, regional group, or local chapter, then you are eligible to run for a Board member position!
Interested members should read and be familiar with the Terms of Reference and Governance of AMMnet at the link here. The Terms of Reference outlines expectations and requirements for Board membership.
You may apply to be considered for a seat on the AMMnet Board by selecting the link below and completing the application form by March 31, 2025, 11:59 am GMT.
Selection Process: Once all applications are collected, the AMMnet Governance Committee will review each to ensure criteria is met and choose the top applicants. From this pool of applications, AMMnet members will have an opportunity to vote for their top applicant for the Board role. The applicant with the highest number of AMMnet member votes will take the two open Board seats.
Complete the application form here by March 31
AMMnet Annual Meeting in Senegal Save the Date | Week of June 23, 2025
From Data to Decisions for Policy and Practice
It is our pleasure to announce the upcoming AMMnet Annual Meeting, which will take place in Senegal during the week of June 23, 2025 (exact dates to be confirmed).
This year we are partnering with the RBM Partnership to End Malaria Surveillance, Monitoring and Evaluation Working Group (RBM SME WG) and holding consecutive meetings.
We are excited to bring together professionals and experts from the malaria analytics field to share insights, exchange ideas, and foster collaboration under this year's theme -- From Data to Decisions for Policy and Practice.
To help us plan for the meeting, please let us know if you are planning or would like to attend by completing the interest form at the link below.
Please mark your calendars for this event and stay tuned for further updates and formal registration that will open soon. We look forward to your active involvement and contributions to make the 2025 AMMnet Annual Meeting a success.
Important Note: The Gates Foundation will NOT be covering participant travel and accommodation expenses.
Let us know if you plan to attend here
AMMnet Small Event Awards
23 applications were received from members in Kenya, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Cameroon, Zambia, Guinea, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Togo, Niger and Rwanda!
The review task force has begun reviewing the applications and aims to select 5 awardees for funding. Look for an announcement with details about the awardees to come in April 2025.
Submit your application before the next Small Event Award deadline -- June 1, 2025
Requirement Reminder: Applicants are required to submit the template (English, French, Portuguese) that can be found on our website by clicking the link below. If you don't submit your proposal using the required template, we will not consider your application.
Find more information about the Small Event Award here and submit your application
AMMnet Large Event Awards
Congratulations to our November 15 Cycle Awardees!
Tilak Chandra Nath, PhD
Associate Professor, Department of Parasitology Sylhet Agricultural University, Bangladesh
For their event entitled, AMMnet Insights in Bangladesh: Divisional Workshops on Malaria Modelling for Public Health Professionals in Bangladesh.
and
Ivan Misonge
PhD Candidate
Center for Research in Infectious Diseases, AMMnet Cameroon Chapter
For their event entitled, Data Science and Mathematical Modelling International Training Program– Foundational Methodology.
Updated Mandatory Requirements:
Note an important change to the submission requirements: You should complete and include the Large Event Award template form in your submission, which is found on our website. The template is available in English, French and Portuguese. This document is your official proposal document that reviewers will use to evaluate your submission. If you don't submit a template, we are unable to consider your application.
For more information, please visit the website. Items to include in your application are listed below.
- Large Grant Award Template: find the template (English, French, Portuguese) on our website.
- Biosketch (CV or resume) for key personnel
- A letter of support from the institution(s) of the main event organizer(s), signed by an institutional authority, confirming the organizer’s position in the institution and that the institution supports the application and the proposed activities.
- A letter of support from each of the named personnel confirming their participation and their role on the proposed event.
More information and guidance here
Join the AMMnet WhatsApp Group
Join the AMMnet WhatsApp Group and connect directly with members, get announcements, including job, funding, collaborative opportunities and information about upcoming events.
Join AMMnet WhatApp Group Here
Follow AMMnet on Bluesky
AMMnet is now on Bluesky! Help us build our Bluesky community and follow us.
Join the AMMnet Slack Workspace
Join the AMMnet Slack Workspace and connect directly with members, get announcements, including job, funding, collaborative opportunities and information about upcoming events.
Courses and Learning Opportunities
Introduction to Mathematical Models of the Epidemiology & Control of Infectious Diseases
An interactive short course for professionals taking place 15th - 26th September 2025. Taught by leading researchers who advise policy-makers internationally. Topics include HIV, TB, malaria, outbreak response, COVID-19, health economics, vaccination programmes, stochastic models & more. For questions, please contact infectiousdiseasemodels@imperial.ac.uk.
Workshops and Conferences
EpiMob Satellite at NetSci 2025 Conference (June 3, 2025)
The EpiMob satellite (“Epidemic Control: From Mobility Data to Public Health”) at the NetSci 2025 conference in Maastricht, Netherlands, aims to bring together researchers exploring the use of mobility and contact data to study and respond to infectious disease epidemics. More details coming soon.
NetSci 2025 will be held June 2-6, 2025, at MECC Maastricht. The EpiMob satellite will take place on Tuesday, June 3 at the NetSci conference venue.
17th Annual Summer Institute in Statistics and Modeling in Infectious Diseases (SISMID)
The Summer Institute in Statistics and Modeling in Infectious Diseases (SISMID) is designed to introduce infectious disease researchers to modern methods of statistical analysis and mathematical modeling.
SISMID 2025 will be held online July 7–11 and in person at Emory University from July 14–July 30, 2025, in the R. Randall Rollins Building (1516 Clifton Road, NE, Atlanta, GA 30322). Online modules are also available; find more details at the link.
Malaria Risk Prediction using ML Models in R by Prof Dennis K Murithi
Recording available!
An insightful presentation by Prof. Dennis K. Murithi on Malaria Risk Prediction using Machine Learning Models in R. This talk was part of the AMMnet Machine Learning Group’s Monthly Webinar Series, where experts discuss the latest advancements in AI-driven infectious disease modeling.
This session is ideal for researchers, data scientists, and public health professionals interested in using AI for infectious disease control. Watch now by clicking the link below and enhance your knowledge on AI-driven malaria modeling! Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe for more insightful talks.
Center on Emerging Infectious Diseases Hosts March Webinar
The Center on Emerging Infectious Diseases (CEID) is hosting a webinar on why population heterogeneity matters for modelling infectious diseases.
Hear from Dr. Sara Del Valle from Los Alamos National Laboratory, about her accounting for socio-economic variations in infectious disease modelling.
Date: March 31, 2025, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Subgroups, Working Groups, and Regional Activities
Join the AMMnet Local Chapter Discussion Group
Next meeting April 15, 2025, 12:30 UTC
The Best Practices for Starting a Local Chapter Task Force will be holding a meeting on April 15. It's a discussion group for those in the process of starting a local chapter. This is a forum where local chapter leads can share experiences, knowledge and ideas.
Join the discussion by sending an email to info@ammnet.org and request an invitation. The group meets every other month.
Guidelines for Establishing an AMMnet Local Chapter
AMMnet’s Local Chapters bring together modelers, analysts, scientists, public health professionals, partner institutions and civil society, to work together locally to adopt common approaches to improve the use of modeling and analytics for controlling and eliminating malaria whilst reflecting the mission of Global AMMnet.
Establishing a local AMMnet chapter is a three-step process:
- Pre-registration with global AMMnet
- A completed Local Chapter Establishment Application Form
- AMMnet Board approval with guidance from the Local Chapter Review Task Force
If you are an AMMnet member and you are interested in establishing a local chapter, please refer the information and guidelines found at the link below.
If you have any questions, considerations or suggestions for establishing local AMMnet chapters, please send us an email at info@ammnet.org.
21 AMMnet local chapters are in the process of establishment. Refer to the list of those local chapters below and their stage of establishment.
Local Chapters with Establishment in Process
Local Chapter Application Received and Under Review
- Cameroon
Establishment in Process
- Nigeria
- Tanzania
- Burkina Faso
- Senegal
- Malawi
- Guinea
- Central African Republic
- Benin
- Djibouti
- Zimbabwe
- Kenya
- DRC
- Ghana
- Horn of Africa-Ethiopia
- Mali
- Togo
- Niger
- Guinea-Bissau
- Mozambique
- Rwanda
Send an inquiry to info@ammnet if you feel your local chapter has not been included by mistake or if you wish to be connected with a local chapter contact.
Local Chapter Information & Guidance
Seminar Recap and Recordings
AMMnet Seminar Series
2025 March 4
The Role of Therapeutic Pathways and Their Determinants in Malaria Control in Guinea
Speaker: Elhadj Marouf DIALLO
Dr Marouf Diallo's presentation focused on the role of therapeutic pathways and the factors that determine care-seeking in the fight against malaria in Guinea. His research was coordinated by Professor Alioune Camara, coordinator of the Guinea NMCP and teacher-researcher at the Gamal Abdel Nasser University in Conakry, and Professor Laurent Gerbaud. Analysis of the results of this study shows that the time spent on treatment is an important factor in the burden of malaria on children under 5. In addition to the care-seeking behaviors adopted by malaria patients, the study also looked at patients' perceptions of the cost of treatment, which appears to be an obstacle limiting access to care. In addition, issues relating to free treatment and differentiated screening have been addressed, enabling us to understand to what extent access to care can be improved with the aim of reducing prevalence by drawing on available resources. Finally, the presenter recommended using social determinants of behavior to adopt malaria control strategies in a context of limited resources. This underscores the need to identify and analyze the factors influencing the management of malaria, and to optimize resources with a view to better managing the fight against malaria in Guinea.
You may find recordings of these seminars on our website or YouTube along with recordings from other past special events and seminars.
Recordings in French, English and Portuguese are available.
