Prof. Ellen Brooks Pollock and Prof. Katy Turner's Joint Inaugural Lecture

These lectures will take place in The Reception Room of Wills Memorial Building.

Ellen Brooks Pollock

Title: Tuberculosis, Covid, influenza and beyond: responding to epidemics with a mathematical toolbox.

Abstract: Infectious disease modelling is about creating mathematical descriptions of epidemics. In doing so, we aim to say something about the drivers of epidemics and strategies for reducing their impact on human and animal morbidity and mortality. In this talk, I will give some examples of elegant infectious disease mathematics and discuss principles for good modelling.

Bio: Ellen dropped out of a medical degree and turned to maths instead. She got a 1st in Maths at UCL, followed by a PhD on modelling bovine TB in cattle. Her interest in tuberculosis led to a postdoc at the Harvard School of Public Health working on transmission of drug-resistant TB in humans, followed by a stint running the flusurvey at LSHTM and a fellowship in Cambridge. In 2015, she moved to Bristol as part of the Health Protection Research Unit in Evaluation of Interventions. Ellen contributed to the modelling efforts during the COVID pandemic, work for which she received an OBE in 2021.

Katy Turner

Title: “Adventures in modelling and evaluation of public health interventions”

Abstract: This talk will take in the varied topics of chlamydia, gonorrhoea, primate electrocutions, dog poo and antimicrobial resistance. The common theme for this eclectic mix? I have used mathematical models and data analyses to understant the effect of different interventions on disease and health outcomes in all these biological systems.

Bio: Katy studied Zoology at Durham, including a dissertation project using computers to analyse relatedness of primate species. Imperial College for her PhD where she learnt to code and developed mathematical models of gonorrhoea and chlamydia transmission and control and set the trajectory for a career in public health and infectious disease modelling. Her PhD work led to a job at the Health Protection Agency applying chlamydia models to inform national chlamydia screening programme, and then various post docs at Imperial at Bristol working on models of infectious disease and an NIHR fellowship. Her first permanent job was at Bristol Vet School in 2013 where she expanded to work more on One health and antimicrobial resistance and was promoted to Professor in 2021. More recently Katy worked for a health Consultancy and since Sept 2023 has joined UKHSA as Principal Epidemiologist in a new team Evaluation and Epidemiological Science. Katy holds an honorary professor role with Bristol Medical School and is a member of the Health Protection Research Unit which undertakes research to support UKHSA priorities.

The lectures will start at 15:30 but attendees are invited to join us from 15:00 for tea, coffee and cake. There will be a small drinks reception afterwards from 17:30.

If you have any queries about this event or require additional support, please contact Joanna Penny at [email protected] or Clare Tremlett ([email protected]) at the earliest opportunity and we will endeavour to meet your requirements. Please also see access information about the Wills Memorial Building.

Host or Publisher Bristol Medical School