Adam Kucharski | Infectious Disease Epidemiologist
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine

I'm Adam Kucharski. I am a Professor of Infectious Disease Epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, where I focus on making better use of data and analytics for epidemic preparedness and response. This includes large-scale studies of social behaviour and immunity, as well as development of open source software tools. I also write about science, and my articles have appeared in places like Wired, Financial Times, New Scientist, Scientific American, The Times and The Observer. My last book The Rules of Contagion, named as a Times, Guardian and FT Science Book of the Year. My new book Proof: The Uncertain Science of Certainty is out in spring 2025 and available to order now.

Appearances:

Day 2 - Wednesday 15th October @ 10:00

Rethinking Global Health Threats and Responses: H5N1, Mpox, Measles, Marburg, Climate, Zoonoses, and Emerging Risks

Pandemic vs. endemic priorities: What’s missing from the global agenda? – Are we too fixated on future pandemics while ignoring the growing threats of endemic infectious diseases (e.g., TB, dengue, H5N1)?
Climate-driven disease risks: Are we accurately predicting which pathogens will surge due to climate change? (e.g., vector-borne diseases like malaria vs. less-discussed threats). How can we better anticipate less obvious threats?
How should we be investing in surveillance and R&D? – What innovations (AI, genomics, forecasting) actually have the potential to get ahead of the next crisis?
How do we ensure that disease prioritisation is driven by science, not politics? – What structural and policy shifts are needed to avoid repeating past mistakes?
Are we adequately investing in diagnostic capabilities for future threats, or are we overly focused on vaccines and treatments? How can improved diagnostic strategies enhance our ability to detect and respond to emerging threats quickly?
How can we improve international collaboration in disease surveillance, research, and response while addressing geopolitical challenges and ensuring equitable access to resources?

Wolfgang Philipp, Principal Adviser, Chief Science Officer, European Commission Health Emergency Preparedness & Response (HERA)

Maria Elena Bottazzi, Co-Director of Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Baylor College of Medicine