Date: August 6, 2024
Speaker: Sonza Singh, Ph.D. Student, Graduate Research Assistant
Affiliation: Disease Modeling Lab, Industrial Engineering & Operations Research, University of Massachusetts Amherst
Title: Progression and Transmission of HIV (PATH 4.0) – A new Agent-based Evolving Network Simulation for Modeling HIV Transmission Clusters
Abstract: The Progression and Transmission of HIV (PATH 4.0), a simulation tool for analyses of cluster detection and intervention strategies. Molecular clusters are groups of HIV infections that are genetically similar, indicating rapid HIV transmission where HIV prevention resources are needed to improve health outcomes and prevent new infections. PATH 4.0 was constructed using a newly developed agent-based evolving network modeling (ABENM) technique and evolving contact network algorithm (ECNA) that simulates only infected persons & immediate contacts at the individual-level. As persons become newly infected, the simulation model identifies immediate contacts based on their degree, risk group, and age, such that the resulting network and epidemic features match that of the epidemic in the US. The model was developed to facilitate simulation of transmission networks for low-prevalence diseases, such as HIV, which creates computational challenges for current network simulation techniques. Simulating transmission networks is essential for studying network dynamics, including clusters. Cluster detection and response is a component of the U.S. Ending the HIV Epidemic strategy. We believe PATH 4.0 is the first modeling tool available to assess cluster detection and response at the national-level and could help inform the national strategic plan.