Research Centre PandemiX Center

Using contemporary health registries and historical data sources, The PandemiX Center combines data analysis and interdisciplinary expertise to gain new understanding of pandemics. Our ambition is to prepare the world for the next pandemic through interdisciplinary work within the fields of medical history, epidemiology, demography, geography, mathematical modelling, bioinformatics, and other. As a bonus, the historical health data we identify are digitized and made available for other researchers and for advanced students interested in doing pandemic research projects.

The PandemiX Center sets out to explore the dynamics and impact of emerging infectious diseases, with an eye towards pandemic preparedness and policy implications. Our research span multiple scientific disciplines at the Department of Science and Environment. Our methods include mathematical modelling, epidemiological analyses, bioinformatics, as well as investigations into of the historical, societal, and environmental context. We wish to understand past pandemics, and how they were affected by societal institutions, lifestyle, urban/rural geography, economy, and migration. Also, we study how, in turn, pandemics and epidemic diseases helped shape modern society. Finally, we focus on the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic which is an unique opportunity to observe a pandemic in real time with an amazing amount of data. This work includes theoretical modelling work, as well as analysis of observational data to quantify the effect of mitigation strategies, such as the COVID-19 vaccine and other biomedical interventions and the global patterns of impact and trajectory.

The purpose of PandemiX Center is to:

Conduct interdisciplinary research in infectious disease epidemiology, using current and historic data to gain novel insights about past, present and future pandemics
Use mathematical and statistical models to investigate patterns and impact of human pandemics and the effect of mitigation strategies
Create a mathematical epidemiology research environment to support Danish health authorities in the context of COVID-19 and future pandemics
Secure robust insights about context, through interdisciplinary collaborations within center members, and external collaborations with social science and the humanities colleagues
Mentor the next generation of students in quantitative science in infectious disease modelling (mathematical modelling and digital humanities)

Portrætter af medlemmer af Pandemix Center

Meet the researchers

Director

Lone Simonsen, professor, pandemic researcher

Researchers

Roskilde University

Lone Simonsen, professor, pandemic researcher // Karen Angeliki Krogfelt, professor (mso) // Viggo Andreasen, associate professor // Robert J. Taylor, adjunct associate professor // Maarten van Wijhe, assistant professor // Rasmus Kristoffer Pedersen, postdoc // Bjarke Frost Nielsen, Postdoc // Mathias Mølbak Ingholt, Postdoc // Andreas Eilersen, postdoc // Christian Berrig, PhD student // Søren Kølholt Poder, PhD student // Alex Vincent Thorn, visiting scholar// Amanda Gammelby Qvesel, visiting scholar // Søren Ørskov, visiting scholar // Christian Mannov Christiansen, student assistant

University of Copenhagen, Niels Bohr Institute

Kim Sneppen, professor

DTU Health Tech, Department of Health Technology

Anders Gorm Pedersen, professor

Capital Region of Denmark, North Zealand Hospital

Thea Kølsen Fischer, Director of Clinical Research, Professor, University of Copenhagen

Research areas

Mathematical Epidemiology

Viggo Andreasen, associate professor // Kim Sneppen, professor // Bjarke Frost Nielsen, Postdoc // Andreas Eilersen, postdoc // Christian Berrig, PhD student // Rasmus Kristoffer Pedersen, postdoc

Epidemiology and Global Health

Lone Simonsen, professor, pandemic researcher // Robert J. Taylor, adjunct associate professor // Maarten van Wijhe, assistant professor // Søren Ørskov, visiting scholar

Clinical Virology

Thea Kølsen Fischer, Director of Clinical Research, Professor, University of Copenhagen

News

Photo: Stock photo of stock failure. Colourbox.

The last hunger years? The 1826–1832 mortality crisis in Denmark

14 March 2023 |

A newly published study examines the demographic and clinical features of 1826–1832 mortality crisis in Denmark.

Large Danish study: One in four had long-term symptoms after COVID-19

10 March 2023 | News

In the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, about 25 percent of Danes who tested positive but were not hospitalised, had at least one symptom due to COVID-19 more than 12 weeks after their positive test, a Danish study shows.

Photo: Stock photo of cemetery. Colourbox.

Study: Direct and indirect mortality impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, March 1, 2020 to January 1, 2022

01 March 2023 |

In a new study, researchers examine the direct and indirect mortality impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States during the period of March 1st 2020 to January 1st 2022.

Events

Thursday

May

Roundtable Discussion: "The Infodemic" @ MatchPoints Conference: Global Health Challenges and Solutions, 11–13 May 2023

16:30 - 17:30 / Per Kirkeby Auditorium, Aarhus University, Nordre Ringgade 1, 8000 Aarhus.

How should misleading information be handled – or censured? What can be done to curb mistrust in the health authorities? How was the COVID-19 pandemic affected by infodemics? And how can we avoid the negative effect of infodemics during future pandemics? These questions and much more will be discussed during the "The Infodemic"-roundtable discussion at MatchPoints Conference: Global Health Challenges and Solutions, 11–13 May 2023.

Friday

May

"Future Pandemic Threats" @ MatchPoints Conference: Global Health Challenges and Solutions, 11–13 May 2023

10:30 - 12:15 / Aarhus University, Nordre Ringgade 1, 8000 Aarhus.

What will the next pandemic or epidemic be and how are we able to prepare for it? What role does mistrust in the health authorities play in the spread of infectious disease? These questions and much more will be discussed during the "Future Pandemic Threats"-session at MatchPoints Conference: Global Health Challenges and Solutions, 11–13 May 2023.

Carlsberg Foundation

The Lundbeck Foundation

Nordic Council of Ministers - NordForsk

Innovation Fund Denmark

The PandemiX Center participates in a number of research projects, which are both internally and externally funded, just as the center's researchers participate in projects in collaboration with other research institutions in Denmark and abroad. Among the projects are:

PandemiX: A Quantitative study of historical and contemporary pandemics
With this research project we want to construct a comprehensive theory to explain how and why emerging epidemic diseases come and go, take off or disappear, and eventually melt into the larger pool of recurrent epidemic diseases. In doing so, we aim to reveal important insights into the major diseases that shaped human society and—crucially—help to prepare for future pandemic threats: the next Disease X.

Understanding immunity against SARS-CoV-2 in the general population: a seroprevalence study
The COVID-19 pandemic approaches its second wave peak in Denmark and vaccination programmes are soon to start. This study will investigate the build-up of immunity in the population during the first wave by studying seroprevalence of COVID-19 antibodies in Danish patients. This will help us understand age-specific immunity, dark-numbers and further develop surveillance strategies. This knowledge will help future mitigation strategies and help prepare for the coming spring.

NORDEMICS: Pathogens, Pandemics and the Development of Nordic Societies
This project aimes to create a Nordic interdisciplinary consortium dedicated to understanding how factors such as urbanization, increased trade and travel, large-scale migration, vaccines and other public health interventions, climate change and ecological degradation influence the dynamics of epidemic and pandemic infections in human populations. The consortium will systematically study historical health data to understand the patterns of spread and health impact of such diseases in the Nordic countries over the last 300 years.

Learn more about research projects in PandemiX Center at the Roskilde University Research Portal

Insights

ARTICLE

New basic research centre will help us understand future pandemics

The Danish National Research Foundation is ready to invest DKK 47 million in a new basic research centre in pandemics at Roskilde University. The centre will be headed by Professor Lone Simonsen, also known as Corona-Lone.

Read more about New basic research centre will help us understand future pandemics

Superspreading - Coronaviruses' Weakness?

Researchers from the PandemiX Center and the Niels Bohr Institute investigate SARS-CoV-2 virus' marked tendency towards superspreading.

Read more about Superspreading - Coronaviruses' Weakness?

ARTICLE

New research centre will contribute to enhanced pandemic preparedness

A new research centre at Roskilde University, the PandemiX Center, will explore the dynamics and impact of pandemics.

Read more about New research centre will contribute to enhanced pandemic preparedness

ARTICLE

The Carlsberg Foundation grants DKK 10 million for research in mathematical pandemic models

Since January 2020 the ongoing Corona pandemic has thrown the world into a deep health crisis. The Carlsberg Foundation therefore grants DKK 10 million to a new Semper Ardens project for the development of mathematical models to predict the potential development of future epidemics. Professor Lone Simonsen at Roskilde University will lead this Semper Ardens project.

Read more about The Carlsberg Foundation grants DKK 10 million for research in mathematical pandemic models

ARTICLE

100 years: Knowledge of the Spanish flu enhances our preparedness for future pandemics

Unique Danish data gives Professor Lone Simonsen an insight into how the Spanish Flu occurred 100 years ago. The insight helps to provide an impression of how future pandemics may behave.

Read more about 100 years: Knowledge of the Spanish flu enhances our preparedness for future pandemics

ARTICLE

Pandemic researcher from RUC receives ministry’s communications prize

Professor Lone Simonsen has managed to explain complicated new knowledge about the Covid pandemic in a manner that is comprehensible and relevant to Danes at a critical time. For her efforts, the professor will be honoured with the Research Communication Prize 2021.

Read more about Pandemic researcher from RUC receives ministry’s communications prize

Follow PandemiX Center on Twitter

On Twitter, you can read our comments on and answers to the many questions that are about COVID-19 and the Corona pandemic. The profile is edited by the researchers at PandemiX Center.

PandemiX on Twitter

Niels Bohr Institute - Biocomplexity and Biophysics

Department of Economic History

University of Oslo: CEES

University of Turku

Department of Public Health

The Capital Region of Denmark - Nordsjællands Hospital

University of Southern Denmark - OPEN

DTU - Health Tech

Centre for Research on Pandemics & Society (PANSOC)

Publications

A Cross-Sectional Study of SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies and Risk Factors for Seropositivity in Staff in Day Care Facilities and Preschools in Denmark
Fogh, K., R. R. Eriksen, A., G. Larsen, T., B. Hasselbalch, R., Bundgaard, H., F. S. S. Scharff, B., D. Nielsen, S., S. Jørgensen, C., Erikstrup, C., Østergaard, L., Ellermann-Eriksen, S., Andersen, B., Nielsen, H., S. Johansen, I., Wiese, L., Hindhede, L., Mikkelsen, S., Sækmose, S. G., Aagaard, B., K. Holm, D., & 16 othersHarritshøj, L., Simonsen, L., K. Fischer, T., Folke, F., Lippert, F., R. Ostrowski, S., Benfield, T., Mølbak, K., Ethelberg, S., Koch, A., Vangsted, A-M., Krause, T. G., Fomsgaard, A., Ullum, H., Skov, R. & Iversen, K., 2023, In: Microbiology Spectrum. 11, 1, p. e0417422
Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
COVID-19 mortality attenuated during widespread Omicron transmission, Denmark, 2020 to 2022
Friis, N. U., Martin-Bertelsen, T., Pedersen, R. K., Nielsen, J., Krause, T. G., Andreasen, V. & Vestergaard, L. S., 19 Jan 2023, In: Eurosurveillance. 28, 3, 2200547.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
Direct and indirect mortality impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, March 1, 2020 to January 1, 2022
Lee, W. E., Woo Park, S., Weinberger, D. M., Olson, D., Simonsen, L., Grenfell, B. T. & Viboud, C., 22 Feb 2023, In: eLife. 12, e77562.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review