Mathematical models have long been important tools for studying the spread and control of infectious diseases. In the study of vector-borne diseases, such models are necessarily more complex as considerations must be taken to describe vector population dynamics, vector-pathogen dynamics, and interactions between vectors and hosts. Furthermore, such models often include environmental, anthropogenic, and ecological influences on disease dynamics. In this talk, I will briefly discuss models developed to study emergence, spread, and control of vector-borne diseases with examples from my work with dengue virus and its transmission by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. I will discuss how my participation in the Biology of Vector-Borne Disease course over the past three years has influenced my work along with how and why the modeling component of the course has grown in this time to not only emphasize the spectrum of modeling tools available but also to provide accessible hands-on activities for course participants with a wide variety of backgrounds in computational tools. Finally, I will discuss the importance of participation of modelers in such a course for improving the utility and accessibility of mathematical models and for expanding the breadth and depth of research questions and application areas for which models are valuable.
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