Group of Niel Hens

Niel Hens is full Professor at Hasselt University and at the University of Antwerp where he holds the chair in evidence-based vaccinology. He is a biostatistician and mathematical epidemiologist with 15 years experience in human mathematical epidemiology. He is the Director of the UHasselt Data Science Institute and leads several national and international projects such as the The Belgian Pandemic Intelligence Network  (B-PIN)

Astrid Sierens' research focuses on understanding superspreading events by examining the heterogeneity in various factors that influence transmission. Superspreading events are rare occurrences where a small number of individuals cause a disproportionately high number of secondary infections. These events are shaped by several factors, including infectiousness, individual behaviour, environmental conditions, and more. A key aspect of the study is the extension of Stride, an Individual-Based Model (IBM) initially developed to describe direct contact transmission, taking into account the infectiousness of the infected individual, the susceptibility of the recipient, and the occurrence of contact. This model has been expanded to incorporate airborne transmission and additional factors into direct contact transmission. The goal of this research is to provide a more complete understanding of the factors contributing to superspreading and the role of heterogeneity in transmission dynamics. The model will hereafter be used for learning policies and the collection of data.