MASHA Hosts PhD Research Visitor Upendo Mseka for Scientific Exchange on Measles and Rubella Modelling

The Modelling and Simulation Hub, Africa, is pleased to highlight the research visit of Upendo Mseka, a PhD candidate from the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and affiliated with the Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Research Programme, to MASHA.

Upendo joined the MASHA team for a scientific exchange. During these days, she presented her doctoral research focused on utilising serological data for mathematical modelling to anticipate measles and rubella outbreak risks and uncover population immunity gaps in Malawi. Her work brings together serological, epidemiological, and vaccination data to better understand transmission dynamics of vaccine-preventable diseases and to inform more effective public health decision-making.
 

Having recently completed the serological analysis component of her PhD, she is currently advancing toward model calibration, validation, and the exploration of vaccination scenario analyses.

In her presentation, she shared key insights from both her modelling approach and the available data used in her PhD work, with particular focus on the structure of the model and how it integrates disease dynamics, alongside the recently completed serological analysis.

The engagement provided an excellent opportunity for rich scientific discussion within the MASHA group, particularly around the use of serological data in dynamic infectious disease modelling. The team engaged with Upendo’s approach and discussed broader implications for immunisation strategies and data-driven decision-making for measles and rubella control. 

We are delighted to host her and believe that these scientific exchanges play an important role in strengthening collaboration, fostering knowledge sharing, and advancing innovative approaches in infectious disease modelling across Africa. By welcoming students and early-career researchers from diverse institutions and disciplines, MASHA continues to create an enriching environment that supports learning, mentorship, and the development of impactful research for public health decision-making.