THE INSTITUTE FOR HEALTH MODELING AND CLIMATE SOLUTIONS
Transforming global health response to climate change with predictive technologies and climate-informed precision programming to enhance health system resilience.
CLIMATE CHANGE HAS REDEFINED PUBLIC HEALTH PARADIGMS, DEMANDING PRECISE, PROACTIVE, AND IMMEDIATE RESPONSES TO PREEMPT AND MITIGATE EMERGING THREATS.
Climate change is fundamentally transforming the landscape of public health, rendering traditional strategies inadequate. We need precise, proactive, and immediate interventions to address increasingly complex challenges. To respond to the unique needs of affected communities, we can leverage advanced predictive technologies, sophisticated data solutions, and interdisciplinary collaboration to integrate environmental, technological, and health expertise.
A GLOBAL CENTER OF EXCELLENCE AT THE NEXUS OF HEALTH, CLIMATE RESILIENCE, AND ADVANCED DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES
The Institute for Health Modeling and Climate Solutions is a virtual center of excellence driving the future of climate-informed disease prediction. We aim to support public health planning through multi-disease early warning systems and precision programming tools; convening an interdisciplinary global network of researchers, scientists, and practitioners; and capacity strengthening of stakeholders in the most affected countries.
Three Pillars of Action
Innovation & Original Research
Our Intelligent System for Disease Prediction and Planning combines multiple advanced data sources and uses artificial intelligence to create increasingly accurate predictions of when and where a disease outbreak could occur, and prescribe practical actions to stop them before they do.
NETWORK & KNOWLEDGE DISSEMINATION
We are creating multilogues to promote shared learning, knowledge dissemination, standard methodologies, and cutting-edge data and modeling solutions to collectively advance the discipline of climate-informed prediction and planning.
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE & CAPACITY STRENGTHENING
Helping ministries of health access and use improved meteorological and earth observation data sources, unlock the predictive capabilities of advanced digital technologies, formulate data-driven strategies for public health and disease elimination programs, and establish local platforms and coordination mechanisms fostering multisectoral action.
CLIMATE INFORMATION SYSTEMS FOR HEALTH
IMACS’ first innovation, the Malaria Prediction and Planning Toolkit, achieved over 93% accuracy in malaria prediction in India and demonstrated the potential of reducing malaria transmission through precision programming. This digital system combines multiple sources of complex and hyperlocal real-world data, applies a dynamic modeling technique, and produces easy-to-use visual interpretations and data storytelling for public health officials. Currently, the system is being adapted in Indonesia for multiple climate-sensitive infectious diseases in collaboration with the Indonesia government, KORIKA, and MBZUAI.
A GLOBAL EXPERT NETWORK AND
SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY BOARD
A Scientific Advisory Board oversees the curation of the latest research and drives the global research agenda. IMACS convenes a community of practice of 48 select experts from 25+ countries around 13 disciplines. The network of leading researchers and practitioners meet virtually to share knowledge, new innovations, and partnership opportunities, including conference workshops and symposia. In 2023, with support from the select members of the network, IMACS conducted a survey and an extensive cataloging of global digital tools, available here.
FEATURED MEMBERS
Ekuwa Adade,
Brunel University
Hilary Bambrick,
Queensland University of Technology
James Colborn,
Clinton Health Access Initiative
Hosni Ghedira,
Mohamed Bin Zayed University
Tatiana Loboda,
University of Maryland
William Pan,
Duke University
Sadie Ryan,
University of Florida
Sheetal Silal,
University of Cape Town
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
IMACS offers strategic advisory support to health ministries and in-country partners. We advise the development of multi-sectoral platforms, precision programming, and data-sharing strategies that integrate health, meteorology, environment, and other departments. Through trainings, we promote the effective use of demographic, socio-economic, health, and climate data to prioritize disease risks. Our country-specific support focuses on identifying, designing, and deploying the most practical digital solutions, informed by the unique needs, circumstances, and pre-existing health information systems in the country.
