Ross A. Hammond (Brookings Institution)
Abstract. Complex social dynamics drive many important public health outcomes, and understanding these dynamics can be critical for designing effective public policies. Advanced computational modeling such as agent-based modeling (ABM) is increasingly used to understand multi-level determinants of complex public health challenges and to design and test effective responses. Early application in infectious disease has been followed by very recent work in obesity, tobacco control, and health disparities. This presentation will include an overview of several recent NIH-funded research studies, including work from three national research networks--National Collaborative on Childhood Obesity Research (NCCOR), Models of Infectious Disease Agent Study (MIDAS), and Network on Inequality, Complexity, and Health (NICH)—in which the presenter participates.