York University Distinguished Research Professor Jianhong Wu is spearheading a national initiative to ensure Canada remains a world leader in using artificial intelligence (AI) and mathematical modelling to advance health equity nationally and globally, and protect vulnerable communities.
Supported by a recent $1.65 million NSERC CREATE grant and bolstered by about $3.65 million in partner contributions, the Mathematical Innovations for Precision Public Health (CREATE-MIPPH) program will train 91 undergraduates, master's and doctoral trainees over six years to transform massive volumes of complex data into actionable, life-saving public health strategies.
The program responds to a growing challenge in public health: a critical shortage of professionals trained to integrate an increasingly huge amount of health, behavioural, environmental and pathogen data into actionable strategies for disease prevention, health-care planning and emergency preparedness.
"Canada has extraordinary data resources and strong public health institutions, but data alone do not improve outcomes," says Wu. "We need highly trained experts who can integrate AI, mathematical modelling and established decision-making systems to help governments, healthcare systems and industry respond more effectively to emerging health challenges."
Supported by a network of researchers from six Canadian universities and partnerships with government agencies, hospitals, health technology companies and pharmaceutical organizations, trainees will gain hands-on experience through research placements, interdisciplinary collaborations and real-world projects. The program will equip trainees with expertise in data science, mathematical modelling, AI-driven data analytics and health economics. Professional and leadership development will focus on science communication, policy engagement and knowledge mobilization.
Grounded in team-based science and equity-focused practice, research will focus on quantifying emerging diseases, the influence of behavioural responses and socioeconomic factors on outbreaks and optimizing clinical trials. Going beyond technical modelling, trainees will examine how environmental factors, systemic barriers, individual and collective behaviours and public health interventions shape health outcomes.
"This program is about building a new generation of highly skilled scientists and professionals who can bridge advanced analytics with public health needs. Our trainees will not only develop technical expertise, but also learn how to work across disciplines and sectors to translate complex data into evidence-based decisions that improve health outcomes and strengthen preparedness," says Seyed Moghadas, a co-applicant and professor of computational epidemiology and vaccine science at York University.
CREATE-MIPPH will strengthen Canada's emergency preparedness capacity by combining behavioural science, modelling and simulation-based training. The program will equip graduates with the crisis communication skills required to lead multi-agency coordination and advise decision-makers during an outbreak, while fostering inclusive, equitable environments. As the trainees enter the workforce, they will serve as a valuable national resource linking academic innovation directly to the front lines of public health.
Other co-applicants from York University include Ali Asgary, professor of disaster and emergency management, director of CIFAL York and executive director of the Victor Phillip Dahdaleh Advanced Disaster, Emergency and Rapid Response Simulation (ADERSIM); Shayna Rosenbaum, distinguished research professor, psychology and principal investigator of the Rosenbaum Memory Lab; and Woldegebriel Assefa Woldegerima, assistant professor of mathematical biology. Co-applicant institutions include University of Guelph, University of Toronto, Western University, University of Saskatchewan and University of Regina.
About Jianhong Wu
A York Research Chair in industrial and applied mathematics, Jianhong Wu is recognized for his fundamental and applied research in disease modelling, with leading roles in high-impact interdisciplinary projects, including the National COVID-19 Modelling Rapid Response Task Force, the NSERC-EIDM network of MfPH and the ADERSIM facility. He is an elected fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and a fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences. His efforts in building collaborative capacity across industry, government and academia have been recognized by the CAIMS-Fields Industrial Mathematics Prize (2019) and the NSERC Synergy Award (2024).
