Covid-19: The impact
The COVID-19 pandemic is having an unprecedented effect on societies, communities and economies worldwide, and is recognised as both a health and an economic crisis.
Given the scale of damage caused by pandemic outbreaks, it is frightening how few governments maintain their own teams of interdisciplinary experts. The community of academics who make up these advisory groups are small, and governments risk becoming over-reliant on a small number of advisors, whose assumptions and approach at a time of crisis significantly shape national policy. The experience of Covid-19 demonstrates that governments everywhere need access to interdisciplinary expertise.
Learn more about the Institute for Global Pandemic Planning by watching our Webinar series, chaired by Professor Christine Ennew.
Why the Institute is needed
By establishing an Institute for Global Pandemic Planning, the University of Warwick will combine world-class expertise to develop comprehensive solutions for global leaders struggling to respond to the health, social, economic and psychological impacts of pandemics.
Through the Institute, Warwick will rapidly mobilise an interdisciplinary response group of experts to advise governments. We will also create a robust pipeline of doctoral students to expand worldwide scientific leadership on managing pandemics.
There is an urgent need for epidemiological modellers, public health academics, and thinkers in behavioural science to plan for future pandemics. Warwick is unique in that our researchers are already collaborating across different disciplines on pandemic planning and response. The new Institute will allow us to develop global partnerships and expand the reach of this crucial research.
Warwick’s expertise in statistical analysis and mathematical modelling has been crucial to scientific groups advising the UK government. Learn more on the Zeeman Institute website.
Public health research aims to enhance epidemiological modelling through the inclusion of important aspects of real world outcomes. Learn more on Warwick Medical School’s Health Sciences website.
Warwick has the largest concentration of behavioural science expertise in Europe and our academics have been visibly and actively involved in public debate concerning policy responses to Covid-19. Learn more on Warwick Business School’s Behavioural Science Group website.
Dr Oyinlola Oyebode
Public Health Department, Warwick Medical School
Dr Oyinlola Oyebode did Natural Sciences as a first degree and completed a Neuroscience PhD before her move into Public Health. At Warwick Medical School she does epidemiological and public health research, focused on chronic disease risk-factors (nutrition, physical activity, tobacco and alcohol), and investigates the use of research evidence in public health policy and practice.
Professor Mike Tildesley
Systems Biology & Infectious Disease Epidemiology Research Unit, The Zeeman Institute
Professor Mike Tildesley completed his undergraduate and PhD in Astrophysics at the University of Cambridge in 2003, before embarking upon a research career in infectious disease modelling. He joined Warwick’s Zeeman Institute for Systems Biology & Infectious Disease Epidemiology Research (SBIDER), which specialises in bringing sophisticated mathematics to challenges in biological sciences, in 2016. Mike has been extensively cited across national media platforms, including the BBC, throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and is a member of the SPI-M group, the epidemiological modelling arm of the government’s influential SAGE committee. Mike is currently involved in modelling various exit strategies to inform government thinking, including the workplace model, along with the regular review of the R-rate and providing evidence for the impact of local lockdowns.
How philanthropy can help
Philanthropic funding for the Institute for Global Pandemic Planning will create up to five new research-only positions. The posts would dramatically increase Warwick’s capacity to advise governments on their responses to global pandemics and emerging outbreaks. Hosted within Warwick Medical School, these academics would further strengthen Warwick’s expertise in key areas and help us to recruit a new network of international PhD students, to act as ambassadors for our scientific approach and feed key learnings back into their respective countries.