ZonMw, the Dutch financing organisation for innovation and research in health care, granted the chair group Quantitative Veterinary Epidemiology (QVE) of Wageningen University & Research a subsidy of 245.000 euro for follow-up research on the spread of COVID19 in indoor spaces. According to the assessment committee this research contributes to the extension of knowledge about COVID19 and adds to gaining more insights in the transmission of other respiratory diseases.
"We are very pleased with this subsidy granted by ZonMw. This is a recognition of the importance of the work we do on respiratory diseases", states assistant professor Quirine ten Bosch of the chair group QVE. She is going to be responsible for the execution of the project entitled 'Contributions of Indoor Social Spaces to Overall SARS-CoV-2 Transmission - Intersecting Models with Behavioural and Epidemiological Data for Informed Decision Making'.
Model
Main focus of the project is to design a new model framework that investigates how changes in the way people spend their time can curb epidemics. In order to create the model the research team will combine behavioural and epidemiological data. "In the COVID19 pandemic we've seen that the measures taken, such as lockdowns, curfews, teleworking and closures of public sectors, have a substantial economic and societal impact. Understanding of the potential impact of the combination of such measures, could help decision making. Our model aims to investigate and quantify the impact of intervention measures", explains Ten Bosch.
Partners
The project in which Nivel, GGD Amsterdam, University of Amsterdam and Technical University Delft participate, kicked off in July 2023. "The results of this research are expected at the end of 2024 or start of 2025."
