RESEARCH PROFILE

At present I am developing a modeling approach to investigate the role of complex human movement patterns in the spread of human diseases. The models will interpret a large data set describing movement patterns of UK citizens that represents a wide range of movement behaviours in addition to commuting journeys. The influence of movement behaviour on the epidemiology of non-transmissible infections in humans (such as Legionella) will be explored, and further analyses will concentrate on transmissible infections. I am also researching the epidemiology of endosymbiont infections in insect populations, specifically investigating the dynamics of Wolbachia in mosquitoes. I am using an age-structured metapopulation model to investigate the how Wolbachia dynamics interact with the spatial structure and demography of the host insect population. A focal question is how density-dependent regulation in the host population affects Wolbachia spread. The models can be applied to analyse strategies for the deliberate release of Wolbachia to help control mosquito-borne diseases.

BACKGROUND

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

• Hancock, P.A., Sinkins, S.P. and Godfray, H.C.J.(2011) 'Strategies for introducing Wolbachia to reduce transmission of mosquito-borne diseases' PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases (Online open access) 5(4) (1935-2735) [article]
• Hancock, P.A., Sinkins, S.P. and Godfray, H.C.J.(2011) 'Population dynamic models of the spread of Wolbachia' American Naturalist 77(3) 323 - 333 (0003-0147)
• Hancock, P.A., Brackley, R. and Palmer, S.C.F.(2011) 'Modelling the effect of temperature variation on the seasonal dynamics of Ixodes ricinus tick populations' International Journal For Parasitology 41(5) 513 - 522 (0020-7519)
• Hancock, P.A.(2009) 'Combining fungal biopesticides and insecticide-treated bednets to enhance malaria control' PLoS Computational Biology e1000525 (1553-734X) [article]
• Hancock P.A., Thomas, M.B.T and Godfray, H.C.J(2009) 'An age-structured model to evaluate the potential of novel malaria control interventions: a case study of fungal biopesticide sprays' Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 276 71 - 80 (0962-8452)

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