Social effects on epidemics: A temporal network approach

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 18H01655
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 25010:Social systems engineering-related
• Research Institution: Tokyo Institute of Technology
• Principal Investigator: Holme Petter 東京工業大学, 科学技術創成研究院, 特任教授 (50802352)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 村田 剛志 東京工業大学, 情報理工学院, 教授 (90242289)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: Network science / Theoretical epidemioogy / Social simulation

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This project has resulted in many advances in network-based simulation methods of epidemics. We have designed new algorithms that can handle time-resolved data efficiently. We have created models to generate surrogate networks based on empirical contact data. Furthermore, we have analyzed vaccination on networks by game theory, and made several other applied and theoretical advances.

Free Research Field

Network science

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

Many of the ideas of this project have already diffused in the academic community. For society, Covid-19 has proved the need for accurate epidemic simulations. The distance from academic results to societal benefits is very short, and possibly our output has already benefitted decision-makers.