CBSHS associate dean for health sciences joins Let’s Talk ID podcast on data analytics and forecasting in public health

Lior Rennert, associate dean for health sciences and director of the Clemson University Center for Public Health Modeling and Response (CPHMR), was a recent guest on Let’s Talk ID, a podcast from the Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA).

During the segment, Leveraging Analytics and Disease Forecasting in Public Health, Rennert joined Dylan George, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Center for Forecasting and Outbreak Analytics (CFA), and podcast host Mati Hlatshwayo Davis, MD, for an in-depth discussion of how data science, community partnerships and trust are critical to the success of outbreak forecasting and response efforts in local communities.  

Rennert shared how CPHMR and CFA are utilizing unique data analytic frameworks, emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and non-traditional data sources, including social media, to forecast outbreaks and allocate essential resources to high-risk communities.

Additionally, Rennert shared how strong partnerships between South Carolina’s health systems, academic institutions and health agencies have strengthened information exchange capabilities and collective health outcomes. Through strategic data collection and integration, innovative modeling and collaboration in software development, researchers have created a unified forecasting and emergency response framework to serve partners’ needs statewide.

Rennert said collaboration and community engagement have been integral in building mutual trust and ensuring the tools, frameworks and software meet the needs of individuals and communities statewide and beyond – improving health outcomes today and in the future.

“It was a privilege to join Drs. George and Davis on Let’s Talk ID to share more about our work to improve current and future health outcomes for South Carolina communities through data analytics and infectious disease forecasting,” said Rennert. “The podcast is an excellent forum to discuss ground-breaking research initiatives to improve outbreak response efforts and minimize economic disruption across South Carolina and the nation.”

The Center for Public Health Modeling and Response leads the Disease Modeling and Analytics to Inform Outbreak Preparedness, Response, Intervention, Mitigation and Elimination in South Carolina (DMA-PRIME) initiative, funded by a $17.5 million grant from the CDC.

DMA-PRIME’s state-of-the-art software is currently being used by mobile health clinics throughout South Carolina to deliver infectious disease screening and treatment to communities during outbreaks – improving health outcomes and overall health care costs by reducing emergency department admissions.

DMA-PRIME is one of 13 initiatives at partner institutions comprising Insight Net, a national network of centers designed to inform and improve outbreak detection and response nationwide. Insight Net aims to build capacity at the state and local levels by establishing pathways for data sharing, creating infrastructure for emergency response and identifying key focus areas for infectious disease modeling across the nation.

For the full podcast, visit: https://bit.ly/427zqtN.

The College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences (CBSHS) was established in July 2016. CBSHS is a 21st-century, land-grant college that combines work in nine disciplines – communication; nursing; parks, recreation and tourism management; political science; psychology; public health sciences; sociology, anthropology and criminal justice – to further its mission of “building people and communities” in South Carolina and beyond.