• Controlling infectious diseases
• Triggers of adverse health events
• Analysis of foodborne disease data

Niels Becker is Professor of Biostatistics and Director of the National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, following previous appointments at University of Melbourne, Sheffield University, Cornell University and La Trobe University.

He has enjoyed a long-term addiction to using statistical analyses to understand transmission of infection and its control. He is author of the book ‘Analysis of Infectious Disease Data’ and has more than 100 peer-reviewed publications in this area. He has tried to infect others with his enthusiasm for quantitative infectious disease epidemiology, nationally and internationally, through his book, research, supervision of more than 30 higher degree candidates and by organising workshops for leading researchers and newcomers to the area. Niels has been a member of national influenza and pandemic influenza committees in Australia over the last five years and has served on an Expert Committee of WHO.

Niels has also published recently on analyses of foodborne disease incidence and the association between long-haul flights and DVT.

• Data needs at the start of an outbreak of a newly emerged infectious disease
• A new form of model for the transmission of an infectious disease, based on boosting and waning immunity
• Assessment of the effectiveness of different social distancing interventions for containment of an emerged infectious disease
• Optimal use of a stockpile of antiviral drugs for mitigating the impact of pandemic influenza

Gastroenteritis and Foodborne Disease in the Elderly (Martyn Kirk)

“Where’s your country? Who’re your people?”
Asking the right questions when treating risky alcohol use amongst Indigenous Australians (Ray Lovett)