- This event has passed.
BioForum – The Optimise Study: The Role Science Plays in Optimising Isolation, Quarantine and Distancing for COVID-19
September 17, 2020 @ 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm AEST
Event Navigation
Without an effective vaccine or preventative drug treatment for COVID-19, isolation, quarantine and physical distancing are the crucial tools we can use to reduce the impact of the virus. These interventions rely on the support and engagement of communities to ensure this response strategy is successful.
The highly innovative Australian-led Optimise Study will provide real-time epidemiological information and modelled predictions on the impact of isolation, quarantine and physical distancing measures. This information will help inform national policy and response strategies, in alignment with community needs, to restore economic activity whilst keeping new infections of COVID-19 at a low level.
The Study is working with people from a wide range of cultural and socio-economic backgrounds (healthcare and aged care workers, regional, metro, CALD community). It will engage with government, community organisations, advocates, and leaders to ensure strategies and interventions are informed by the diverse needs of our society.
Burnet Institute Deputy Director, Professor Margaret Hellard AM and the presenters will discuss how the multidisciplinary Optimise team will engage with government, community organisations, advocates, and leaders to ensure strategies and interventions are informed by the diverse needs of our society.
Our speakers have extensive expertise in public health and mathematical modelling, working across some of the most significant infectious diseases threats before the COVID-19 pandemic shifted their focus.
The presentations will be followed by an opportunity for audience Q&A to the panel.
Event details
Date: Thursday 17th September 2020
Time: 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm AEST
Format: This event will be delivered on a virtual platform – you will receive a link to join via confirmation email prior to the event.
Registration: BioMelbourne Network Members: $35; Non-members: $45
Unsure if your organisation is a member? Check our member directory.
Registered? Submit a question for our speakers ahead of time.
We appreciate your ongoing support for the delivery of BioMelbourne Network events.
Speakers
Professor Margaret Hellard AM, Deputy Director, Burnet Institute
Dr Nick Scott, Econometrician, Burnet Institute
Dr Rachel Sacks-Davis, Research Officer, Modelling and Biostatistics Group, Burnet Institute
Dr Alisa Pedrana, Senior Research Fellow, Disease Elimination Program, Burnet Institute
Read more about our speakers below.
Cancellation Policy:
Full refund given up to 3 days prior to the event.
No refunds within 3 days of the event.
Professor Margaret Hellard AM, Deputy Director, Burnet Institute
For almost two decades Professor Hellard’s work has centred around infectious diseases, preventing their transmission and identifying the impact of these infections in vulnerable populations.
A researcher and clinician, her principal research interests are in the epidemiology of blood-borne viruses (BBVs) HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C, sexually transmitted infections, and improving the management of individuals who already have the infection.
A researcher and clinician, her principal research interests are in the epidemiology of blood-borne viruses (BBVs) HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C, sexually transmitted infections, and improving the management of individuals who already have the infection.
Dr Nick Scott, Econometrician, Burnet Institute
Since completing his mathematics PhD in 2012, Dr Scott has built and used numerous mathematical, economic and statistical models to inform government policies, including cost-effectiveness models of hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment, Markov models of the behavioural responses of people who inject drugs to changes in drug market economics, and econometric and regression models of the heroin and methamphetamine markets in Melbourne.
Now his focus has shifted to modelling on COVID-19 interventions and their impacts on infection rates.
Now his focus has shifted to modelling on COVID-19 interventions and their impacts on infection rates.
Dr Rachel Sacks-Davis, Research Officer, Modelling and Biostatistics Group, Burnet Institute
Dr Rachel Sacks-Davis is an Early Career Research Fellow at the Burnet Institute in the Disease Elimination Program. Recently she has been working on a COVID-19 epidemic model, looking at diagnostics and screening.
Rachel’s PhD combined epidemiology, phylogenetics, social network analysis and mathematical modelling to study hepatitis C transmission and natural history amongst people who inject drugs.
Rachel’s PhD combined epidemiology, phylogenetics, social network analysis and mathematical modelling to study hepatitis C transmission and natural history amongst people who inject drugs.
Dr Alisa Pedrana, Senior Research Fellow, Disease Elimination Program, Burnet Institute
Dr Pedrana is a senior research fellow, public health practitioner and implementation scientist at Burnet Institute.
For the past 15 years, her research career has focussed on blood-borne virus and sexually transmitted infection epidemiology and surveillance, to reduce transmission and the burden of infectious diseases among key risk populations. Dr Pedrana will bring this experience to the Optimise Study, examining the impact of local government and its engagement with vulnerable and marginalised populations.
For the past 15 years, her research career has focussed on blood-borne virus and sexually transmitted infection epidemiology and surveillance, to reduce transmission and the burden of infectious diseases among key risk populations. Dr Pedrana will bring this experience to the Optimise Study, examining the impact of local government and its engagement with vulnerable and marginalised populations.
Related Events
