Interactive sessions at World Congress of Epidemiology 2024

by | Jan 16, 2024 | Uncategorized | 0 comments

Dear Colleagues,

We hope this message finds you well. As we gear up for the WCE2024, we are thrilled to share a first look into some of the exciting interactive sessions that will be an integral part of the conference programme.

These interactive sessions will foster engaging discussions, spark fresh ideas, and help build long-lasting connections. Each session, lasting approximately 90-minutes, will feature extensive audience participation and promises to be dynamic.

Debate: Is it risky for epidemiologists to be advocates?
Professors Kalpana Balakrishnan (Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research) and Neal Pearce (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine) will engage in a debate with audience voting, examining the delicate balance between scientific objectivity and the potential impact of advocacy in the field of epidemiology.

Panel discussion: Are traditional cohorts outdated?
Our speakers with diverse perspectives from the Global North and South will examine evolving concepts in how large-scale cohort studies are designed and conducted. From integration of routine electronic health and social data, to innovative platforms for self-reporting and tracking individuals within populations, this session will present state-of-the-art thinking in cohort methodologies.

Multi-speaker symposium: Racial and ethnic classifications in epidemiology: global perspectives.
Speakers from around the world, including Brazil, France, and South Africa will critically reflect on how racial and ethnic classifications are used in epidemiologic research in their contexts. the moderated discussion will seek to compare and contrast how epidemiologists around the world understand the nuanced intersections between health disparities and demographic diversity.

These are only three of more than 15 planned interactive sessions to be held at WCE2024. We will announce future sessions in the coming weeks, and you can always view the programme at the conference website.

We look forward to welcoming you to a conference of innovation, collaboration, and discovery. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to be part of World Congress of Epidemiology 2024. Submit your abstracts and register now!

We look forward to welcoming you to our conference.

Preventing, predicting, preparing for, and responding to epidemics and pandemics

Session type: Multi-speaker symposium
Session will be a reflection of the roles and responsibilities of epidemiologists during the course of the pandemic, as well as lessons learnt will be important for management of future pandemics.

Meet the editors

Session type: Panel discussion
Session will involve engagement of Editors of epidemiology journals on how they promote inclusive publishing on their platforms and how far have they gone to include the rest of the world in their publications.

Old risk factors in the new era: tobacco, alcohol and physical activity

Session type: Multi-speaker symposium
Session will delve into the evolving landscape of traditional risk factors amid contemporary health challenges. The aim is to explore how the dynamics of tobacco use, alcohol consumption, and physical activity have transformed in the modern era, considering technological, societal, and cultural shifts.

Shafalika Goenka
(Public Health Foundation of India, India)

Katherine Keyes
(Columbia University, USA)

Lekan Ayo Yusuf
(University of Pretoria, SA)

Is it risky for epidemiologists to be advocates?

Session type: Debate
In the current climate, epidemiologists risk becoming non-neutral actors hampering their ability to do science as well as making them considered to be less reliable to the public.

Kalpana Balakrishnan
(Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, India)

Neal Pearce
(London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK)

The role of epidemiology in building responses to violence

Session type: Multi-speaker symposium
Violence has been given insufficient attention and priority in the arena of public health policy, partnerships and interventions. Session will explore what role can and will epidemiology play in improving responses to violence?

Zinzi Bailey
(University of Minnesota, USA)

Rodrigo Guerrero-Velasco
(Violence Research Center of Universidad del Valle, Columbia)

Rachel Jewkes
(South African Medical Research Council, SA)

Ethics and epidemiology: conflicts of interest in research and service

Session type: Panel discussion
This session aims to dissect the complexities surrounding conflicts of interest in both research and public health practice, emphasising the critical need for transparency, integrity, and ethical decision-making.

Racial and ethnic classifications in epidemiology: global perspectives

Session type: Multi-speaker symposium
Session will explore the continued predominance of certain types of studies which influence global practice despite the lack of racial, ethnic and geographic diversity is a major weakness in epidemiology.

Critical reflections on epidemiology and its future

Session type: Panel discussion
Session will explore where is epidemiology headed, particularly given what field has been through in recent times? Is the field still fit for purpose? With all the new emerging threats, important to establish whether field is ready.

Teaching epidemiology: global perspectives

Session type: Panel discussion
Understanding how epidemiology is taught in different parts of the world is essential. Session will unpack why is epidemiology taught differently? Is it historical? Implications of these differences?

Na He
(Fudan University, China)

Katherine Keyes
(Columbia University, USA)

Noah Kiwanuka
(Makerere University, Uganda)

Miquel Porta
(Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute, Spain)

Pharmacoepidemiology: new insights and continuing challenges

Session type: Multi-speaker symposium
This session aims to explore recent advancements in studying the utilization and effects of medications on populations, addressing methodological innovations, and novel data sources.

Are traditional cohorts outdated?

Session type: Panel discussion
Session will explore the landscape of traditional cohort studies, touching on their continued relevance in the contemporary research landscape. What are the limitations of traditional cohorts, challenges in data collection, evolving research questions, and potential advancements in study designs.

Karen Canfell
(The Daffodil Centre, Cancer Council NSW/University of Sydney, Australia)

Mauricio Lima Barreto
(Center of Data and Knowledge Integration for Health, Brazil)

Naja Hulvej Rod
(University of Copenhagen, Denmark)

Yuan Lin
(Nanjing Medical University, China)

Have DAGs fulfilled their promise?

Session type: Debate
Critical reflection on why despite their importance in the Methods community, DAGs are not widely included in publications. Session will provide perspective on their utility in future research

Peter Tennant
(University of Leeds, UK)

Margarita Moreno-Betancur
(University of Melbourne, Australia)

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