Lead Supervisor: Dirk Pfeiffer (RVC)
Co-Supervisor: Richard White (LSHTM)
Rift Valley Fever (RVF), mosquito-borne zoootic virus associated with severe disease in humans and important economic consequences to the livestock sector, is broadening its geographic range, rapidly becoming a disease of global importance. There are a number of accounts investigating different aspects of RVF transmission - entomological, climate and farming factors. However, no previous study has taken an overall view of all these factors to understand disease spread. As an emerging zoonoses, understanding the dynamics of transmission of RVF is of key importance for the prevention of future spread of this disease. This project will use available data on Rift Valley Fever collected in the Ferlo region of Senegal as part of previous studies. This information will be complemented with the results of a participatory field study, to be conducted as part of this project, aimed to gather data on livestock movements in Senegal. This data will be used to validate an existing spatial risk assessment model and to develop a mathematical model to predict the future spread of RVF and areas at risk of future outbreaks. Finally, a review of current surveillance strategies in Senegal and surrounding countries will be carried out to determine how future outbreaks can be prevented and controlled.
We are seeking an enthusiastic student with interest in the epidemiology of zoonoses in developing countries. The successful applicant requires good aptitude for methodological research and specially for mathematical and spatial modelling. Some experience with particapatory methods will be an advantage. The PhD student will be based at Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Campus, Hertfordshire.
The VEPH division at the RVC is recognised world wide for its expertise in spatial analysis methods for studying the spread of infectious diseases. The LSHTM is internationally established as a leading organization in tropical medicine research, and specifically the Centre for Mathematical modelling of Infectious Diseases (CMMID) is recognized as a leading research group in the discipline of mathematical modelling. The successful applicant will benefit from the supervision and academic environments of two internationally recognised institutions for animal and human health.
Key References
1. Chevalier,V., Mondet, B., Diate, A., Lancelot, R., Fall, A.G., Ponçon, N. (2004). Exposure of sheep to mosquito bites: possible consequences for the transmission risk of Rift Valley Fever in Senegal. Medical and Veterinary Entomology 18: 247-255.
2. Jost, C.C., Mariner, J.C., Roeder, P.L., Sawitri, E. & Macgregor-Skinner, G.J (2007). Participatory epidemiology in disease surveillance and research. Rev. sci. tech. Off. Int. Epiz 26: 537-547.
3. Clements, A.C.A., Pfeiffer, D.U., Martin, V., Pittliglio, C., Best, N. &Thiongane, Y. (2007) Spatial Risk Assessment of Rift Valley Fever in Senegal. Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases 7: 203-216.
4. Best, N., Richardson, S., Thomson, A. (2005). A comparison of Bayesian spatial models for disease mapping. Stat. Methods Med. Res. 14: 35-59.
Further details about the project may be obtained from:
Supervisor: Professor Dirk Pfeiffer; pfeiffer@rvc.ac.uk
http://www.rvc.ac.uk/AboutUs/Staff/pfeiffer/index.cfm
Co-Supervisor: Dr Richard White; richard.white@lshtm.ac.uk
http://www.lshtm.ac.uk/people/white.richard
Further information about PhDs at Royal Veterinary College is available from:
http://www.rvc.ac.uk/Education/Postgraduate/Index.cfm
Application forms and details about how to apply are available from:
http://www.rvc.ac.uk/Education/Postgraduate/Index.cfm
The Graduate School
The Royal Veterinary College
Royal College Street
London
NW1 0TU
United Kingdom
email: graduateschool@rvc.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7468 5134
Fax: +44 (0) 20 7468 5060
Additional Application Requirements
The standard application from should be complemented by a letter of intention and a CV.
Closing date for applications is 25 February 2009