The Ateneo School of Medicine & Public Health and Public Health England invite you to an online workshop entitled “Using mathematical modelling to aid governance in Universal Health Care in the Philippines.” 

The Universal Healthcare (UHC) Act became a law in the Philippines last February 2019. A substantial amount of evidence is needed to inform its implementation. Amongst the evidence needed are models to estimate the burden of infectious diseases (HIV, TB, neglected tropical diseases), chronic diseases, and assess the effectiveness of preventive and curative interventions against them. The value of modelling has become even more apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic where it has been used to monitor the extent of disease transmission and the operational needs of the health system.

Applications to participate in this workshop are now open until May 1, 2021. Early-career researchers and professionals are eligible to apply.

Aside from getting an overview of UHC in the Philippines and learning the basic concepts and skills of mathematical modelling of infectious diseases, the workshop will provide a unique opportunity for sharing research expertise and networking. During the workshops early career researchers will have the opportunity to present their research in the form of a poster presentation and discuss this with established researchers from the UK and partner countries. There will be a focus on building up links for future collaborations and participants selected based on their research potential and ability to build longer term links. 

APPLICATION GUIDELINES & FAQS

What is the workshop about?
The workshop will cover the following main topics:

• An overview of the Philippine health system and Universal Health Care in the country
• Introduction to Infectious Disease Modelling and its applications (through a short course by Public Health England and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine)
• Applications of mathematical modelling for Universal Health Care in the Philippines
• Translating mathematical models to policy in the Philippines

Aside from lectures on these main topics, several networking and small group sessions will be organized for the participants. 

Will it be held online?
The workshop will be held completely online from June 11 – June 29, 2021. While some workshop activities can be done on your own time, some sessions (the mathematical modelling short course) will be conducted during UK working hours.
 

Am I eligible to join?
We welcome early-career researchers and professionals from any related field.  

The specific eligibility criteria is as follows:
1. Participants must be early career researchers (ECR) with a MD, master’s degree, or doctoral degree in any field obtained not greater than 10 years at the time of application. ECRs must be interested in expanding their knowledge of the techniques available for analysing and interpreting epidemiological data on infectious diseases and for predicting the impact of control programmes, including medical and health professionals, policy makers, veterinary scientists, medical statisticians and infectious disease researchers. Specialist mathematical training is not a prerequisite. However, individuals with degrees in mathematical disciplines working on some aspect of infectious disease dynamics and/ or control (including engineering, mathematics, physics, and computer science), who wish to learn about the potential of infectious disease modelling will also benefit. Some familiarity with spreadsheet packages (ideally Excel) is desirable. 

2. The early career researcher must hold Philippine citizenship, and must have a minimum of two years’ experience in academe, research, or consultancy in statistics, mathematics, and health in the Philippines or in the UK. Research experience on infectious disease epidemiology is an advantage. 

3. Participants should attend all sessions of the workshop. As this is a full-time course, to get the most out of it and to keep up with the material reviewed each day, most participants should expect to spend approximately 8 hours a day on the course material during both weeks. The lectures of the London short course running from June 14-25 will be held every 10 PM PH Standard Time onwards, so this should also be considered when applying. 

How do I apply?
To apply, please send your accomplished application form (download here), together with a resume (academic career, publications, markers of esteem, and any other relevant information, no more than 1/2 page of A4) before 1 May 2021 8 AM PH Standard Time through the submission portal.
 

Will I be assured a slot if I apply?
Unfortunately, there are limited slots for this workshop. All applications will screened through an eligibility check and a quality assessment. 

Quality assessment means the evaluation of:

1. Experience and relevance of the applicant's research area to the workshop
2. Applicant’s motivation and contribution to the aims of the workshop
3. Description of the applicant’s intended and foreseen long-term impact through the participation in the workshop
4. Applicant’s ability to disseminate workshop outcomes. 

Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application within a month of the deadline.

Do I have to pay to join?
There are no fees to apply and to participate in this workshop. 

What will I get by joining this workshop?
Apart from applied mathematical modelling skills, you will become a part of a network of researchers and professionals all over the country. You will receive a workshop certificate and a separate certificate upon the completion of the PHE-LSHTM short course. CPD units may be available (we will keep you posted regarding this).

For more information on the LSHTM short-course, you can refer to the course website: https://www.lshtm.ac.uk/study/courses/short-courses/infectious-disease-modelling
For the workshop schedule: tentative workshop schedule
For the LSHTM short-course timetable in UK time : https://www.lshtm.ac.uk/media/45056

I have been selected to participate in the workshop. What do I do now?
First of all, congratulations! You should receive a confirmation email detailing the next steps (i.e. officially registering for the LSHTM short-course and for the workshop). Please make sure that emails coming from our email address (research.asmph@ateneo.edu) will not be filtered as spam so you do not miss any information.

See you at the workshop!