Sharmistha Mishra

Research Synopsis

Mathematical modeling and epidemiology for HIV/STI Program Science

Our research focuses on answering questions about the biological, behavioural, and environmental (health systems and structural) mechanisms that underpin HIV and other sexually transmitted infection (STI) epidemics in different geo-social contexts. We develop and integrate mathematical models with the best available data to test hypotheses and to better inform clinical, programmatic, and policy decisions under a Program Science framework. 

Our objectives are to:

1) Appraise HIV/STI Epidemics (“know your epidemic”): to understand why HIV/STI epidemics establish and persist where and when they do, and what leads to differences in their trajectories, size, and characteristics across regions.

2) Maximize HIV/STI Program Impact (“plan the response”): to optimize the design and delivery of HIV/STI programs by health-system and epidemic context.

3) Forecast Data Priorities (“monitor and adapt the response”): to systematically assess the influence of data uncertainty on model projections in order to prioritize future data collection.

We also engage in operational, clinical, and mathematical modeling studies on Ebola transmission and health-systems effects in Sierra Leone, and more recently, on heterogeneity in SARS-CoV-2 transmission in Canada.