title: Eight challenges for network epidemic models.
abstract: Networks offer a fertile framework for studying the spread of infection in human and animal populations. However, owing to the inherent high-dimensionality of networks themselves, modelling transmission through networks is mathematically and computationally challenging. Even the simplest network epidemic models present unanswered questions. Attempts to improve the practical usefulness of network models by including realistic features of contact networks and of host-pathogen biology (e.g. waning immunity) have made some progress, but robust analytical results remain scarce. A more general theory is needed to understand the impact of network structure on the dynamics and control of infection. Here we identify a set of challenges that provide scope for active research in the field of network epidemic models.
authors.affiliation: Warwick Infectious Disease Epidemiology Research Centre (WIDER) and Warwick Mathematics Institute, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK. Electronic address: l.pellis@warwick.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pellis
authors.affiliation: School of Mathematical Sciences, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK.
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ball
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057, USA; Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Shweta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bansal
authors.affiliation: Centre for Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK.
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Eames
authors.affiliation: Warwick Infectious Disease Epidemiology Research Centre (WIDER) and Warwick Mathematics Institute, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: House
authors.affiliation: Department of Statistical Science, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK.
authors.forename: Valerie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Isham
authors.affiliation: Department of Mathematics, Stockholm University, Stockholm 106 91, Sweden.
authors.forename: Pieter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Trapman
mesh_terms: D003140:Communicable Disease Control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission; D058872:Epidemics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D006801:Humans; D015233:Models, Statistical
keywords: Contact networks; Control measures; Dynamic networks; Infectious disease models; Random graphs; Transmission dynamics