New national initiative to instruct and mentor 91 highly qualified trainees in equitable, data-driven, public health decision-making

91亚色 Distinguished Research Professor is spearheading a national initiative to ensure Canada remains a world leader in using artificial intelligence (AI) and mathematical modelling to advance health equity nationally and globally, and protect vulnerable communities.

Supported by a recent $1.65 million grant聽and bolstered by about $3.65 million in partner contributions,聽the Mathematical Innovations for Precision Public Health (CREATE-MIPPH) program will train 91 undergraduates, master鈥檚 and doctoral trainees over six years to transform massive volumes of complex data into actionable, life-saving public health strategies.

The program responds to a growing challenge in public health: a critical shortage of professionals trained to integrate an increasingly huge amount of health, behavioural, environmental and pathogen data into actionable strategies for disease prevention, health-care planning and emergency preparedness.

鈥淐anada has extraordinary data resources and strong public health institutions, but data alone do not improve outcomes,鈥� says Wu. 鈥淲e need highly trained experts who can integrate AI, mathematical modelling and established decision-making systems to help governments, healthcare systems and industry respond more effectively to emerging health challenges.鈥�

Supported by a network of researchers from six Canadian universities and partnerships with government agencies, hospitals, health technology companies and pharmaceutical organizations, trainees will gain hands-on experience through research placements, interdisciplinary collaborations and real-world projects. The program will equip trainees with expertise in data science, mathematical modelling, AI-driven data analytics and health economics. Professional and leadership development will focus on science communication, policy engagement and knowledge mobilization.

Grounded in team-based science and equity-focused practice, research will focus on quantifying emerging diseases, the influence of behavioural responses and socioeconomic factors on outbreaks and optimizing clinical trials. Going beyond technical modelling, trainees will examine how environmental factors, systemic barriers, individual and collective behaviours and public health interventions shape health outcomes. 

鈥淭his program is about building a new generation of highly skilled scientists and professionals who can bridge advanced analytics with public health needs. Our trainees will not only develop technical expertise, but also learn how to work across disciplines and sectors to translate complex data into evidence-based decisions that improve health outcomes and strengthen preparedness,鈥� says , a co-applicant and professor of computational epidemiology and vaccine science at 91亚色.

CREATE-MIPPH will strengthen Canada鈥檚 emergency preparedness capacity by combining behavioural science, modelling and simulation-based training. The program will equip graduates with the crisis communication skills required to lead multi-agency coordination and advise decision-makers during an outbreak, while fostering inclusive, equitable environments. As the trainees enter the workforce, they will serve as a valuable national resource linking academic innovation directly to the front lines of public health.

Other co-applicants from 91亚色 include , professor of disaster and emergency management, director of CIFAL 91亚色 and executive director of the Victor Phillip Dahdaleh Advanced Disaster, Emergency and Rapid Response Simulation (ADERSIM); Shayna Rosenbaum, distinguished research professor, psychology and principal investigator of the Rosenbaum Memory Lab; and Woldegebriel Assefa Woldegerima, assistant professor of mathematical biology. Co-applicant institutions include University of Guelph, University of Toronto, Western University, University of Saskatchewan and University of Regina.

About Jianhong Wu

A 91亚色 Research Chair in industrial and applied mathematics, Jianhong Wu is recognized for his fundamental and applied research in disease modelling, with leading roles in high-impact interdisciplinary projects, including the National COVID-19 Modelling Rapid Response Task Force, the NSERC-EIDM network of MfPH and the ADERSIM facility. He is an elected fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and a fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences. His efforts in building collaborative capacity across industry, government and academia have been recognized by the CAIMS-Fields Industrial Mathematics Prize (2019) and the NSERC Synergy Award (2024).

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TORONTO, May 16, 2024 鈥� Canada is particularly susceptible to disruptions caused by extreme space weather and geomagnetic storms to some of its key, heavily relied on technology, such as power systems, GPS, satellites and cell phone service, but a $1.65 million grant will help train the next generation to devise solutions.

Through the () program, 91亚色 Associate Professor will lead the Geomagnetic Disturbance in Modern Societies and Technological Infrastructures (GMD-MSTI) program.

These geomagnetic storms are the same disturbances that produce the colourful aurora borealis phenomenon or northern lights, but they also have a destructive capacity on navigation systems, radio signal and satellites, and can cause catastrophic failures and even complete blackouts in power grids.

鈥淪ince its founding, 91亚色 has been a leader in global, interdisciplinary research that transcends sectors and borders,鈥� said Rhonda Lenton, president and vice-chancellor of 91亚色. 鈥淲e are immensely grateful to NSERCE-CREATE for this generous grant which will help our researchers advance our understanding of these disturbances and mitigate issues for the benefit of local and global communities.鈥�

Designed to develop innovative, interdisciplinary training, the program focus will be on advanced modelling and analysis techniques to assess the impact of geomagnetic disturbances, such as solar storms brought on by changes in the solar winds, on critical technological infrastructure. It will also develop ways to effectively mitigate issues through strong intra-institutional and industrial collaboration.

Canada isn鈥檛 alone in this issue, but because of its geographical positioning in the high latitude region, it is one of the countries with the highest risk of disruption through extreme space weather or GMDs, potentially affecting people鈥檚 daily lives and having economic repercussions or health impacts.

鈥淚n contemporary societies, there's an intricate reliance on technologies that are vulnerable to extreme space weather and geomagnetic disturbances,鈥� says Rezaei-Zare, Lassonde School of Engineering. 鈥淕iven the interconnected nature of these technological systems, a singular malfunction can have a domino effect compromising the functionality of other vital infrastructures.鈥�

Canada has incorporated GMD into its national risk profile, however, there is still a noticeable gap in specialized training programs to address a lack of skilled workers in these pertinent industrial sectors largely due to the interdisciplinary complexities of the phenomenon.

The ultimate objective of the GMD-MSTI program is to graduate highly qualified personnel with top-tier industrial and applied-academic research expertise to meet national and international demand for professionals in the fields of power systems, wireless communication, space missions and satellites, biomedical engineering and science, and policy.

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91亚色鈥痠s a modern, multi-campus, urban university located in Toronto, Ontario. Backed by a diverse group of students, faculty, staff, alumni and partners, we bring a uniquely global perspective to help solve societal challenges, drive positive change and prepare our students for success. 91亚色's fully bilingual Glendon Campus is home to Southern Ontario's Centre of Excellence for French Language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education. 91亚色鈥檚 campuses in Costa Rica and India offer students exceptional transnational learning opportunities and innovative programs. Together, we can make things right for our communities, our planet, and our future. 

Media Contact: 

Sandra McLean, 91亚色 Media Relations, 416-272-6317,鈥�sandramc@yorku.ca 

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