Vision
As part of the FBK mission, which aims to achieve results of scientific excellence and to produce an impact on society, the Health Emergency Center aims to develop basic epidemiological research to increase knowledge on the main factors that regulate the transmission of infectious diseases, developing methods – mainly based on mathematical and computational modeling – to provide information to decision makers in order to improve preparedness, prevention and response to health emergencies caused by communicable diseases.
Mission
In 2021, the Center will focus its research and scientific publications on the SARS-CoV-2 virus and will further as well studies on vector-borne diseases. Among the main collaborations, the one with the Istituto Superiore di Sanità, the Italian National Institute of Health, and the FBK-FEM EPILAB Joint Research Unit, which combines skills in quantitative epidemiology (FBK) and laboratory and field research (FEM).
Research
By combining knowledge of the epidemiology of infectious diseases and mathematical and computational modeling, the Health Emergencies Center develops quantitative epidemiology methods to strengthen epidemiological surveillance in the following 2 areas:
Sorveglianza delle malattie infettive
- Analisi: stima dei parametri che regolano la storia naturale dei patogeni (tempo di generazione, trasmissibilità, pattern di
suscettibilità, decorso clinico dell’infezione). - Risposta: valutazione del possibile andamento dell’epidemia e valutazione dell’efficacia di potenziali strategie di intervento (farmacologiche e non-farmacologiche)
Emergenze legate all’inquinamento
- Valutazione del possibile impatto sulla salute di emergenze legate a
diverse forme di inquinamento (atmosferico, delle falde) e allergeni - Valutazione dell’impatto economico e valutazione della costo-efficacia di potenziali strategie di intervento
