SSCIMA: Improving local disease models by combining where people live and how they move
Official title: SSCIMA: Integrating Analysis of Socio-economic Sub-population Dynamics to Improve Spatial Models of Infectious Disease
Funded at Northern Arizona University · NIH-11368491 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A national research grant is funding new methods to model infectious disease spread at the level of neighborhoods by using local demographics and movement patterns.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northern Arizona University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Flagstaff, United States) |
| Project start | September 20, 2017 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $321,165 |
| NIH project number | 5U54MD012388-10 |
| Project ID | NIH-11368491 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable to patient participants; focused on methodological development using simulated data to improve local disease modeling.
✕Less likely to help
Direct patient benefits are not the focus of this grant.
What this research studies
This project aims to create a fine-grained modeling approach that links local mobility, neighborhood sociodemographic factors, and disease data to better forecast outbreaks. Researchers will develop and test statistical methods and software using simulated data, focusing on census-block level analyses to capture variations across communities. The work is designed to inform public health planning in local areas by providing more precise forecasts than traditional coarse-scale models.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, it could lead to more targeted and timely public health interventions at the neighborhood level.
How similar studies have gone: Similar fine-grained spatial modeling work has shown promise in improving outbreak forecasts, though methods at census-block scales are still being refined.
Where this research is happening
-
Northern Arizona University
Flagstaff, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mihaljevic, Joseph — Northern Arizona University
- Study coordinator: Mihaljevic, Joseph
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.