The mod4PH Research Highlights podcast showcases new and relevant mathematical modelling concepts and research for public health.
This mod4PH podcast mini-series highlights groundbreaking work from the Artificial Intelligence and Mathematical Modelling Lab (AIMMLab), directed by Dr. Jude Kong. The AIMMLab is focused on developing and deploying innovative AI, data science, and mathematical methodologies and technologies to resolve complex issues for real-world application in epidemiology, ecology, and data processing. During these five episodes, we will discuss with AIMMLab members the ways in which they are leveraging novel AI tools for mathematical modelling and for Canadian public health.
Episode 1: Introduction to the AIMMLab
Wednesday, October 22, 2025
This episode is an introduction to the AIMMLab, the program’s framework and foundational pillars of research with Dr. Jude Kong.
Episode 2: Community health and an explainable AI tool for epidemic modelling
Coming soon!
Wednesday, October 29, 2025
This episode is about AI and math modelling tools to advocate for community health, and the development of an explainable AI tool for epidemic modelling, with Sherif Shuaib and Dr. Yang Xu.
Episode 3: Human behaviour and novel applications of AI in modelling
Wednesday, November 5, 2025
This episode is about incorporating human behaviour in models of disease transmission, novel applications of AI in math modelling, and addressing AI-related data privacy concerns, with Dr. Qing Han and Dr. Abbas Yazdinejad.
Episode 4: AI for unconventional data sources and community-based digital health tools
Wednesday, November 12, 2025
This episode is about the use of AI and unconventional data sources for early warning modelling systems, and the co-development of community-based digital health tools, with Dr. Zahra Movahedi Nia and Dr. Gelan Zewdie.
Episode 5: Conclusion and future plans of the AIMMLab
Wednesday, November 19, 2025
This final episode will reflect on AIMMLab projects from the previous episodes, discuss international collaboration to strengthen Canadian healthcare systems, and provide an overview of the AIMMLab vision for the next five years.
Speaker Bios
In order of episodes.
Dr Jude Kong is a Canada Research Chair in Community-Oriented AI & Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Diseases and a professor at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto. He is cross-appointed to the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy, the Department of Math, and the Institute of Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation. He leads both the Africa-Canada AI & Data Innovation Consortium and the AI for Pandemic and Epidemic Preparedness and Response Network.
Sherif Shuaib, MSc is currently a PhD candidate in Applied Mathematics at York University and also serves as the Coordinator of the AIMMLab. His role is central to the lab’s interdisciplinary mission, which bridges mathematics, AI, and real-world application in epidemiology, ecology, and data processing.
Dr Yang Xu is currently a postdoctoral fellow at the AIMMLab and holds a Ph.D. in Mining Engineering from the University of British Columbia, complemented by a cross-disciplinary background in Machine Learning, Minerals Processing, and Mechanical Engineering.
Dr Qing Han received her PhD in Applied Mathematics from Purdue University and was an International Development Research Centre (IDRC)-sponsored postdoctoral fellow working on modelling the transmission of a wide range of infectious diseases at the AIMMLab.
Dr Abbas Yazdinejad is a postdoctoral scholar whose research is focused on AI, machine learning, healthcare security and privacy-preserving technologies.
Dr Zahra Movahedi Nia is a postdoctoral fellow at the AIMMLab. Her research is centered around the integration of AI to enhance decision-making processes in public health.
Dr Gelan Zewdie is a postdoctoral fellow at the AIMMLab whose research is focused on harnessing AI for disease surveillance, diagnosis and equitable healthcare delivery, particularly in digital health solutions designed for community use.
Thank you to everyone at the AIMMLab for being a part of this mod4PH podcast mini-series. Learn more about the AIMMLab here.
Production of this podcast has been made possible through a financial contribution from the Public Health Agency of Canada, but the views expressed here do not necessarily represent those of the Agency.