Job description
The candidate will work on a 2-year project to model the public health impact and cost-effectiveness of mass drug administration (MDA) of the new drug emodepside against soil-transmitted helminths (STH), a group of parasitic intestinal worm infections that still infect over 1 billion people in low- and middle-income countries. STH are a diverse group of parasitic worm species that are transmitted via faecal contamination of the environment. STH infections cause intestinal blood loss, iron deficiency anaemia, and protein malnutrition, especially in heavily infected individuals and high-risk populations with low iron reserves such as children and women of reproductive age. The World Health Organization has therefore targeted STH to be controlled in high-risk populations by 2030. A key component of the control strategy is regular MDA of deworming drugs to at-risk populations. An important weakness of the current STH control strategy is its reliance on only two drugs from the same drug class. Although these drugs are highly effective against several STH species, they are not effective against others. As such, there is a need for additional drug treatment options for STH.
Emodepside is a strong anthelmintic candidate repurposed from the veterinary field and is currently undergoing clinical development for onchocerciasis and STH infections. Recent phase 2a and 2b clinical trials showed that emodepside has high efficacy against all major STH species and is superior to currently used drugs. Given these promising results, a Phase 3 study will be conducted in 2025 with the aim to register the drug in 2027.
The candidate will work with the existing mathematical simulation model WORMSIM for transmission and control of worm infections in humans. They will update the model to capture the biology of STH species that were previously non-responsive to the currently used drugs. In addition, they will calibrate the model to data from Phase 2 and Phase 3 trials, conducted by the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH). The candidate will be based at the department of Public Health, Erasmus MC Rotterdam, the Netherlands. There, they will be supervised by assistant professor Luc E. Coffeng as part of the research section Infectious Disease Control. In addition, the candidate will collaborate with Prof. Jennifer Keiser at the Swiss TPH in Basel, Switzerland.
Requirements
The position is offered to MSc graduates in Epidemiology, Mathematics, Biostatistics, Health Economics, Econometrics, or a related field. Key skills that the candidate will be working with are individual-based models, statistical analysis, cost-effectiveness analysis, scientific communication (oral and written), and interacting with societal stakeholders and experts from various scientific disciplines. We offer the opportunity for candidates to deepen their affinity and acquire further experience with infectious disease modelling, uncertainty quantification and propagation, health economics, cross-disciplinary communication, and efficiently exploring and adopting new subject matter. The department further highly supports candidates who want to further develop their skills in acquisition, leadership, goal-oriented working, creativity, initiative, engagement, vision, and visibility.
The candidate should have good command of the English language, both verbally and in writing. Command of the Dutch language is not required.
Conditions of employment
- The junior researcher is required to base themselves in The Netherlands. Working from home is possible for up to 3 days per week.
- You will receive a temporary position for 2 years. The gross monthly salary amounts a maximum of € 5.504,- (scale 10), depending on your level of education and relevant experience, based on a full-time working week of 36 hours.
- Excellent fringe benefits, such as a 13th month that is already paid out in November and a individual travel expense package.
- An International Office which aids you in preparing for you arrival and stay.
- Pension insurance with ABP. We take care of approximately 2/3 of the monthly contribution.
- Special benefits, such as a incompany physiotherapist and bicycle repairer. And there is also a gym where you can work on your fitness after work.
Employer
Erasmus MC
At the department of Public Health, we are dedicated to improve population health at local, national, and international level through excellent research and education. Our research is characterised as highly multidisciplinary and is focused on the development and use of innovative methods. Collaboration with and direct impact on practice and policy are at the heart of our work. Within the department of Public Health, the research unit Infectious Disease Control is an internationally leading group in mathematical modelling of transmission and control of parasite, bacterial, and viral infections, with long-standing expertise in individual-based modelling.
Application procedure
For more information about this position, please contact dr. Luc Coffing, assistant professor, via l.coffeng@erasmusmc.nl.