From 17–20 November 2025, OUCRU welcomed 28 participants from 7 countries in Southeast Asia for a 4-day course “Modelling and Analysis of Serological Data: An Introductory Short Course.” The course aims to build capacity in infectious disease modelling with a particular focus on the analysis of serological data.
The course was delivered by world-leading experts from Imperial College London (Prof. Azra Ghani, Dr Clare McCormack and Dr Ruth McCabe), National University of Singapore (A/Prof. Hannah Clapham and Dr Bimandra Djaafara), and OUCRU’s Mathematical Modelling group (Dr Marc Choisy and Dr Thinh Ong). Across four days, participants were introduced to foundational modelling concepts, catalytic models, and practical applications using real or example serological datasets.
Over the four-day schedule, participants engaged in lectures, paper-based exercises, hands-on computational sessions using WODIN, and an extended group project analysing serological datasets. The course concluded with group presentations and a certificate ceremony.
The training brought together 16 international and 12 local participants, fostering collaboration across countries and disciplines. Feedback from attendees was overwhelmingly positive, highlighting the value of expert-led teaching, practical exercises, and the opportunity to engage with peers working on infectious disease challenges.
This short course represents an important commitment of OUCRU and its partners to advancing modelling capacity in the region, and improving our understanding about emerging viral threats.
