Professor James McCaw is the new head of the Modelling and Simulation Unit

“As incoming Unit Head, I look forward to continuing to lead a wonderful team making major contributions in both theoretical and applied aspects of infectious diseases epidemiology. I thank my long-time colleague Professor Jodie McVernon for her exemplary leadership of the unit since its establishment almost a decade ago.”

“Over the past few years, staff in the unit have played a major role in the COVID-19 response. We have led a major project - with collaborators from Curtin University, University of Adelaide, Monash University and the Defence Science Technology Group - delivering weekly COVID-19 situational assessment reports to the Commonwealth and all states and territories. Our work has shaped Australian National Surveillance Plan for COVID-19 and supported key decisions made by both the Commonwealth and state and territory governments over the past two years. Looking ahead, the unit will continue to pursue a broad research agenda in infectious diseases epidemiology with a particular focus on pandemic planning and response, seasonal influenza forecasting and methodological advancements in mathematical epidemiology. This work will be pursued in partnership with our collaborators at the Doherty Institute and in Computing and Information Systems (Faculty of Engineering and IT) and the School of Mathematics and Statistics (Faculty of Science).”