This Project Grant award from the National Science Foundation (NSF) Office of Integrative Activities under the Mathematical Biology program provides $181,425 to the University of Wyoming from September 1, 2023 to August 31, 2026.
The grant supports the development of a data-driven multiscale metapopulation mobility network model to examine the impact of containment policies on infectious disease transmission dynamics and public health disparities in rural areas. Key objectives include: 1) Constructing a metapopulation mobility network tailored to the unique population density and movement patterns of rural regions in the Mountain West, 2) Detecting and correcting biases in mobile phone data used to build the mobility network, and 3) Analyzing the impacts of mobility reduction interventions on disadvantaged racial and socioeconomic groups in these rural areas. This research aims to provide public health officials with forecasting tools and insights to develop more equitable mitigation strategies for future epidemics in rural communities.