The Unit has three main areas of work:

1. Estimating the current health and economic burden of diseases.
2. Evaluating the health and economic impact of interventions to control infectious diseases.
3. Using data and models to improve our basic understanding of the epidemiology of infectious diseases.

In addition, the Unit provides input into the design and analysis of epidemiological and surveillance programmes and has a remit to provide training in its core areas.

Members of the Unit use a wide range of analytical techniques:

• Transmission dynamic models, including deterministic, stochastic, individual-based and network models, and methods to determine underlying mixing patterns
• Statistical models, including back-calculation, Markov Chain Monte Carlo analysis, regression models
• Health outcomes; including methods for estimating the health related quality of life, willingness to pay for prevention programmes and demand for vaccines
• Economic analyses, including cost-effectiveness and cost-benefit analyses, decision analyses, and state-transition modelling.

In collaboration with others both within and beyond the Health Protection Agency, members of the Unit work on a wide variety of topics.