Welcome to the October 2024 newsletter!
Please contact info@ammnet.org if you would like to contribute any items to next month’s newsletter.
Register for the AMMnet Monthly Seminar | November 5, 15 hr UTC
Maps & Malaria Elimination: To Model or Not? Lessons from Malaria Elimination Countries
Guest Speaker: Frank M. Kagoro, M.D., PgDip, MSc, Ph.D (He/Him)
Dr. Kagoro is a spatial epidemiologist and public health expert from Tanzania. He is a Research Fellow at the Collaborating Centre for Optimising Antimalarial Therapy (CCOAT), University of Cape Town, South Africa and the Mahidol-Oxford Research Unit (MORU) Epidemiology, Bangkok, Thailand. His expertise encompasses spatial epidemiology and data science, with experience in clinical trials, surveillance, public health research and knowledge management, working with various esteemed institutions such as The Global Health Network, WWARN and MORU for the Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health of the University of Oxford, UK and Ifakara Health Institute, Tanzania.
Dr.Kagoro’s passion is on analytics for decision-making in lower and middle-income countries and capacity development in Africa. He also works as part of an International Research Associate for Research Consulting, UK and Technical Director for the Afya Research Data Consultancy (AFREDAC) in Tanzania, which he founded early in 2024, supporting capacity building in Africa.
Real-time interpretation to French and Portuguese will be available.
USA-based members: Please note that despite daylight change, the seminar will continue to take place at 15:00 UTC. Please take into account the one-hour time difference.
Register for November 5 seminar here
Register for the Discovery MMV tools webinar | November 27, 16 hr UTC
Join us for a special 1.5-hour session with Medicines for Malaria Venture.
MMVSola - Stephen Brand (MMV), Introducing MMVSola – A discovery pharmacometrics tool for prediction of human PK and antimalarial dose.
MMVDesign - Benoît Lalau and Jérémy Besnard (MMV), Development of an Open Access Drug Design tool.
Model building ad African training - Gemma Turon (Ersilia), The Ersilia Model Hub: Open source AI/ML models for malaria research in the Global South.
Real-time interpretation to French and Portuguese will be available.
Register for this special session here
AMMnet Large Events Award Applications Due November 15
To be considered for this funding cycle, submit your application to info@ammnet.org by November 15, 2024, 23:59 GMT.
Items to include in the proposal application are listed below. For more information, please visit the website here.
- Cover letter
- Biosketch (CV or resume) for key personnel
- One paragraph for each of the key personnel to describe the key personnel’s previous involvement with AMMnet (committees, task forces, previous AMMnet event grant or travel award, speaker at virtual or in-person AMMnet event, etc)
- 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.
- Proposal
- Budget and justification
Congratulations to our latest Large Event Awardees!
Mutono Nyamai, PhD
Post-doctoral scientist
Center for Epidemiological Modelling and Analysis, University of Nairobi, Kenya and
Cameline Orlendo, PhD
Postdoctoral Scientific Collaborator
Swiss TPH, Basel, Switzerland
For their event entitled, Pan-African Training School on Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Diseases (Malaria).
More information and guidance here
AMMnet Small Events Award Applications Due December 1
To be considered for this funding cycle, submit your application to info@ammnet.org by December 1, 2024, 23:59 GMT.
UPDATE NOTE: We have replaced the proposal with the small grant award template here. This document will act as your proposal.
For more information, please visit the website here. Items to include in your application are listed below.
- Small Grant Award Template
- 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.
More information and guidance here
Your feedback requested: Help shape an AMMnet Mentorship Program
The AMMnet Career Development Committee invites you provide your feedback to help them gauge interest, assess AMMnet member needs, and understand expectations for an AMMnet Mentorship Program. Your input will help the committee tailor the program to best support your personal and professional development goals.
Please select the link below and take a few moments to provide your insights, as these will be invaluable as the committee designs this initiative. (The survey is available in English, French and Portuguese.)
Complete the survey by November 12, 2024.
AMMnet Board Election Results & New Board Chair Named
The AMMnet Board welcomes Nadège Chiana Sonhafouo to the Board.
Congratulations Nadege on your election to the AMMnet Board! The Board would like to thank all the other candidates and encourages everyone to run again in the future.
Thank you to outgoing Board member Manuela Runge.
The AMMnet Board would like to thank outgoing Board member Manuela Runge (MMGH Consulting and Northwestern University, Switzerland) for her service on the Board. A founding member of AMMnet, Manuela led the development of AMMnet’s guidance document for engaging with partners and has been a critical component of designing and maintaining our social media presence. Manuela is stepping down from the Board to make room for fresh voices, but will continue to co-chair AMMnet’s Best Practices Committee. We look forward to continuing to work with you, Manuela!
The Board has named the next Board Chair for the term May 2025-2027 -- Hannah Slater!
Hannah will use the next year to transition into the Board Chair role as Co-Chair with Jaline Gerardin, who is currently the AMMnet Board Chair and Executive Director. Hannah will assume her new role in May 2025.
AMMnet’s Board Chair facilitates the Board’s leadership of AMMnet, setting guiding principles, policies, strategy, and mission, and the Board’s oversight of AMMnet. With the Executive Director, the Board Chair establishes guidelines for communication and manages relationships between the Board, Committees, and Secretariat so that everyone knows how to communicate. The Secretariat is efficient, and a collaborative and respectful atmosphere is maintained.
The roles of Board Chair and Executive Director have now been divided and implemented according the structure that is now updated and outlined in the AMMnet Terms of Reference, found on the AMMnet website.
Terms of Reference and more info on AMMnet governance
Call for AMMnet Seminar Speakers and Meet-the-Modelers
Are you interested in speaking at the monthly seminar series? Seminar speakers have the following options:
- 30-minute presentation about your work as a guest speaker
- 10- minute talk during a shared session with other AMMnet members
- 2-minute lightning introduction at a start of a seminar as a Meet-the Modeler
Send us an email at info@ammnet.org and let us know which type of presentation you would like to do along with your topic and AMMnet secretariat and the Connecting Committee will work with you to identify a seminar date that works best for you.
Social Media Posting Request Form
Share your AMMnet event or other malaria modeling topics on AMMnet's social media channels
Complete the form here to submit your request and we'll post on our social media channels (Facebook, X, Linkedin).
Pour utiliser le formulaire de médias sociaux en français, veuillez cliquer ici.
Para utilizar o formulário português para as redes sociais, clique aqui.
Submit your Social Media Request Here
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.
Jobs and Grant Opportunities
Implementing Partners for the Global South Leaders in Epidemic Analytics and Response Network (GS LEARN) Call for Proposals
CEPI and the Gates Foundation are launching a new network of partners that could provide rapid epidemic modelling to inform the response to future infectious disease threats. The group will be known as the Global South Leaders in Epidemic Analytics and Response Network or GS LEARN.
Establishing a collaborative network of Global South leaders in infectious disease modelling will facilitate knowledge sharing and skills development for more effective and equitable disease modelling that ensures that public health decisions are informed by robust, context-specific, and timely modelling evidence. To build the network, CEPI and Gates are first on the search for experts to offer training and mentorship activities to researchers and professionals in Global South institutions on epidemic and pandemic data analytics and infectious disease modelling. These experts, known as implementing partners, will equip researchers with the required skills to address national, regional and global health challenges, by collaborating on modelling projects, providing work-based learning opportunities and continued mentorship. Regional facilitator organisations across Global South regions (Africa CDC, PAHO, ICMR and HITAP Thailand) will work closely with implementing partners and support the network. Multidisciplinary teams of experts with proficiency in infectious disease modelling, public health and related or relevant disciplines and track records in modelling outbreak-prone diseases to inform or contribute to policy decisions are encouraged to apply. Applicants must also demonstrate that they have previously conducted successful training programmes to develop expertise in the different aspects of infectious disease modelling and have experience working with Global South institutions. Projects will be funded for up to three years and will start from Q2/Q3 2025.
This Call is open until 23:59 GMT on 15th January 2025, and a proposal may be submitted at any time until this date. Submitted proposals will be reviewed in January and February 2025.
Projects will be funded for a period of three years. CEPI has a budget of $11m and plans to fund up to 6 applicants.
More info on the GS LEARN Call for Proposals Here
Senior Scientific Assistant
The Biostatistics Unit at Swiss TPH is looking for a Senior Scientific Assistant
The position includes contributing to different projects that involve modelling of spatio-temporal, health and environmental data.
Find More Information and How to Apply Here
Prevention Effectiveness Fellowship
The PE Fellowship is recruiting approximately 10 modeling fellows in 2025.
CDC's Steven M. Teutsch Prevention Effectiveness (PE) Fellowship is a two-year post-doctoral research fellowship focusing on the application of mathematical modeling, forecasting, advanced analytics in public health, health economics, decision science, and disease modeling.
Applicants must hold a doctoral degree in a mathematical or analytical field such as mathematical modeling, operations research, ecology, quantitative epidemiology, or other applied science field.
Fellows are matched with CDC programs and focus on work related to disease transmission, individual, compartmental, and agent-based, spatial, network, simulation, system dynamics, or econometric models. Training will be provided in decision analysis, disease transmission modeling, advanced econometrics, machine learning and big data analysis, data visualization, and key software applications such as R, Julia, Python, etc.
All doctoral degree requirements must be completed by 7/18/2025. The starting annual salary is approximately $98,000 plus Federal benefits. The fellowship begins on 8/11/2025 with an intensive orientation and training program.
The application period is open September 3, 2024 through January 3, 2025.
More Information and How to Apply Here
Workshops and Conferences
Women in Malaria 2nd Annual Conference | 19-20 March, 2025 | Innovate to End Malaria
The Women in Malaria Conference is a virtual conference that highlights the outstanding contributions of women and non-binary scientists in the field of malaria. The conference aims to showcase the most exciting work from researchers at all stages of their scientific careers and from all geographic regions. In addition to the diverse program of speakers, the conference will also include a mentorship workshop and WiM general assembly.
Conference registration will open soon and will be announced by email, Slack, Twitter/X, Instagram and LinkedIn.
We invite abstract submissions from women and non-binary researchers for both talks and posters on any topic of malaria research.
The deadline for submission is October 31st @23:59 CET.
The 2nd WiM Conference also invites the submission of symposia proposals. These symposia aim to create a platform for in-depth discussions on new and emerging topics or innovative applications of established methods. Alternatively, a symposium centred on a topic relevant to the careers of women in malaria research may be proposed. Each symposium will last 1.5 hours and should feature either talks, a panel discussion, or a mixture of the two by women and non-binary researchers from diverse career stages and geographical backgrounds.
Subgroups, Working Groups, and Regional Activities
Join the AMMnet Local Chapter Discussion Group
Next meeting October 15, 2024, 12:30 GMT
The Best Practices for Starting a Local Chapter Task Force has launched 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.
Local Chapter Information & Guidance
Monthly Webinar Series on Explainable AI for Malaria Modeling
Seminar Recap and Recordings
AMMnet Hackathon Series: Introduction to Data Wrangling in R
Materials and recording are available.
If you were unable to attend, attended a portion of the event, or would like a refresher, not to worry, the materials and the recording are available to view at your leisure.
- AMMnet Hackathon Blog where all materials from the session are shared. Note: a link to the instructor's code is toward the top of the blog. You'll also find additional materials and information here.
- Github subfolder that has the R script and data for this session
- Google Document where the instructor has included notes from the session.
- Recording of the session on the AMMnet YouTube (a link will also be included on the AMMnet Hackathon Blog)
- Note: You may also access the previous Hackathon on data visualization from the AMMnet Hackathon Blog.
AMMnet Seminar Series:
2024 October 8 | Mathematical modelling in drug development
Speakers: Sam Jones
Dr. Sam Jones, PhD, presented a detailed overview of drug development modeling from the perspective of Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV), an organization focused on reducing the burden of malaria by discovering, developing, and delivering affordable antimalarial drugs. MMV is a global product development partnership that collaborates in over 72 countries worldwide. The presentation emphasized the importance of pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) in drug optimization. PK models analyze how the body absorbs, distributes, and clears a drug, while PD models describe the drug’s impact on parasites. Together, these models enable predictions on drug efficacy, dose optimization, and potential outcomes. During the talk, Dr. Jones took us through how MMV uses data from in silico, preclinical, to patient confirmatory studies to refine these models, guiding decisions on clinical trials and drug combinations. This modeling approach allows MMV to assess drug and product efficacy early in development and simulate real-world scenarios, providing valuable insights into improving malaria treatment.
You may find a recording of the seminar on our website or YouTube along with recordings from other past special events and seminars.
Recordings in French, English and Portuguese are available.
Seminar Recordings on the Website
Board Meeting Recap
The Board met October 16
Present: Emilie, Nadege, Jaline, Antonio, Justin, Luc, Hannah, Susan, Caitlin, Emmanuel, Cherlynn
Absent: Manuela (stepping down)
Secretariat present: Shannon, Ida, Sousa
UPDATES
Small Event Award
- 12 applications received before September 1 and reviewed
- Top 5 applicants TBD
Large Event Award
- 27 applications received (including francophone app, which is already approved for funding)
- Awardee: Co-applicants, Mutono Nyamai, University of Nairobi, Kenya and Cameline Orlendo, Swiss TPH
- Awaiting signed NoA, drafting subaward agreement between institutions (NU and TBD)
Hackathon Update
- Scheduled for October 21, 12:00-14:00 GMT
- Topic: Data Wrangling
- Instructor is Lazaro Mwandigha, GSK
Strategy Task Force
- Met September 19 and reviewed Working Group Theory of Change
- Next Steps:
- Oct 23 Working Groups will update the ToC
- Oct 30 Working Groups will have two most important goals, activities that lead to goals, and brainstorm guiding principles
- Chair will merge ToC using each working group deliverable
- October 30 full TF meeting
Board Elections:
- Vusi Mpendulo Magagula
- Olushina Olawale Awe
- William Wasswa
- Isaiah Agorinya
- Nadège Sonhafouo Chiana selected by membership vote
Local Chapters
- Awaiting revisions and registration from:
- Cameroon
- Liberia - just received an update, resubmitting via new form
- DRC
- Those who expressed interest prior to formal guidelines and assumed in process
- Nigeria
- Ghana
- Kenya
- Horn of Africa-Ethiopia
- Bangladesh
- Zambia
- First Step: Pre-registration in process according to refined guidelines on website
- Burkina Faso
- Guinea
- Djibouti
- Central African Republic
- Tanzania
- Senegal
- Uganda
Discussion
Welcome Nadège Sonhafouo Chiana!
- Nadège introduce herself
- Board member introductions
Thank you Manuela for your service on the Board!
2025 AMMnet Meeting
- Grand Challenges Consortia Meeting is 9-10 June, in Mozambique (likely happening)
- MaModAfrica meeting is 11-13 June
- MaMod Africa PI, Vasco Américo Sambo
- AMMnet meeting 6-7 June
- Jaline will discuss with BMGF on Oct 25
- Need to assemble a task force to begin the scientific program aspects of the meeting
- Board member(s) who will lead the task force to develop scientific program: Luc and Cherlynn
- Local representatives
- Arsenio and Sansao
- Those from Malaria Consortium
- Others?
- Preferred event planning option: BMGF to help with event planning, business as usual with some modifications (AMMnet will handle registration)
- Jaline will confirm with BMGF support with this on Oct 25
- Not many committee members applied for Board membership
- Should those who are heavily involved in AMMnet, yet are not committee members, be eligible for Board membership? Should we re-open this requirement for Board membership in the ToR? (There are some who are active in language groups, local chapters and/or task forces.)
- Considerations
- Active leadership in local chapter
- Current version appropriate since local chapter and task force participation is a step to committee membership
- If active involvement, then should be considered; also effort should be put toward getting these individuals into committees
- Task force contributions should be contributed, as some contribute significantly in this role
- Further discussion to revise this, will continue to include on agenda
- Are we doing enough to encourage leadership development? What else could we be doing?
- Considerations: Time commitment, what are incentives?, visibility in network is one incentive, lack of confidence, requiring committee involvement did attract those who are already committed, more intentional recruitment to committees
Leadership Training for Board members
- Consider exploring a training to give back to those who dedicate much time to AMMnet as board members (previously discussed at GovCom)
- Online together
- In person (at an annual meeting?)
- AMMnet could fund a local in-person leadership training resource?
- Need to consider costs
- Some people may have different leadership needs
- Board specific leadership training
- US/Europe-based? Or from a resource in Africa? Culturally sensitive and aware.
- Consideration: elevates skills to improve AMMnet leadership, promotes sustainability of AMMnet
- Any Leadership Training resources to recommend we explore? Any resources?
- Board members to research and find resources to explore
- Discuss more at next December meeting
- Shannon will send reminder 2 week prior to next meeting
Website Development
- As AMMnet has grown, the demand for a more professional and comprehensive website has too
- Consider using remaining funds in the budget for enhanced website
- Development Considerations:
- What does it mean to be a member?
- AI-based translators
- Chrome/Google translate: how effective/accurate is it?
- Maintenance contract: consider every couple years for a cleanup, but want to maintain on our own
- Open access vs membership only access (included in our quote, email directory)
- Board voted to approve
- Task Force will be formed
- Secretariat to handle day-to-day interaction with website developer
- TF will participate and provide direction for key steps such as discovery workshops, UI design feedback, etc.
