Heterogeneity and Variability in Pathogen Dynamics and in-host Modelling (26w5534)

The Banff International Research Station will host the "Heterogeneity and Variability in Pathogen Dynamics and in-host Modelling" workshop in Banff from February 15 - 20, 2026.

In-host modelling is a burgeoning field at the intersection of biology, mathematics, and computational science, dedicated to unravelling the intricate dynamics of disease and the immune system within individual hosts. The field has evolved significantly over time, driven by the need to understand how pathogens interact with the immune system and how interventions like treatments and vaccines can alter disease or infection outcomes. More work needs to be done to understand how genetic, environmental, and physiological factors affect how individuals respond to infections, vaccines, and treatments, influenced by variations in age, comorbidities, sex, ethnicity, immune-related genes, exposure histories, and overall health. Understanding these differences is crucial for advancing personalized and group-targeted medicines or vaccines, developing new drugs and vaccines, and optimizing public health programming for all populations.

A workshop focus will be on key questions from industry and government through large and small group discussions. Industry and government reports will result. The workshop will also highlight recent research results related to the workshop goals from new and up-and-coming research labs in academia, industry, and government. The overall workshop aim is to advance and optimize in-host modelling activities in the support of individualized and group-targeted treatments, vaccines, and public health programming for heterogeneous and variable populations.

The Banff International Research Station for Mathematical Innovation and Discovery (BIRS) is a collaborative Canada-US-Mexico venture that provides an environment for creative interaction as well as the exchange of ideas, knowledge, and methods within the Mathematical Sciences, with related disciplines and with industry. The research station is located at The Banff Centre in Alberta and is supported by Canada's Natural Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) and Alberta's Technology and Innovation.