Sheetal Silal, PhD
Malaria Elimination - How can modelling contribute?Tuesday 30 May, 19:00, AIMS Main Lecture Hall
Abstract: With many countries around the world working to achieve malaria elimination by 2030, mathematical modellers have the potential to make unique contributions to informing policy and guiding research. From strategic planning to resource allocation, drug resistance to the assessment of new tools, this talk will focus on ways that mathematical modelling can contribute to the elimination agenda with examples of current projects in Africa and the Asia-Pacific.
About: Dr Sheetal Silal is a senior lecturer and researcher in the Department of Statistical Sciences, Faculty of Science at the University of Cape Town, South Africa, where she completed both her MSc and PhD. Her primary research area is the mathematical modelling of infectious diseases with particular focus on malaria elimination efforts in South Africa, Southern Africa and the Asia Pacific region. Through the use of population and metapopulation-level differential equation models and agent-based simulation, she aims to analyse malaria transmission dynamics and project the impact of proposed policies and interventions. Apart from performing research at the University of Cape Town, Sheetal spends her time supervising MSc and PhD students and teaching Statistics, Operational Research and Mathematical Modelling across undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. She is the Head of the newly formed research group Modelling And Simulation Hub, Africa (MASHA) based at the University of Cape Town; a group aimed to connect and train African mathematical modellers working in tropical diseases.