Dr Leon Danon has been appointed as the new Director of the Jean Golding Institute. Leon is an Associate Professor in Infectious Disease Modelling and Data Analytics in the School of Engineering Mathematics and Technology. He has a PhD in Statistical Physics of Complex Networks but has been working on epidemiology of infectious diseases since 2004. His work combines mathematics, data science and AI with an understanding of behavioural and biological drivers of disease spread to solve pressing problems in public health.
He is Director of Modelling and Data at the Bristol Vaccine centre working with clinicians, immunologists, and statisticians on the epidemiology of vaccine preventable infections.
During COVID-19 he served on SPI-M-O, the modelling subgroup of SAGE, contributing to scientific advice to government on mitigation policies. He was part of the group awarded the Weldon Memorial Prize for this work, as well as the SPI-M-O Award for Modelling and Data Support (SAMDS). He has secured research funding totalling over £25M and continues to work at the science policy interface.
Leon Danon said: “I’m delighted to be joining the Jean Golding Institute as Director. Having been at Bristol since 2021, I’ve had the opportunity to contribute to the University’s vibrant research environment, particularly in infectious disease epidemiology. I’m now very excited to lead the JGI, building on its existing strengths to drive interdisciplinary data science and AI initiatives across a broad range of activity within the University. The JGI is the ideal setting for deepening existing collaborations across faculties and external partners, as well as building new ones, and I’m eager to get started.“
He continued: “I look forward to working with you all to support the continued success and growth of the Institute, and to support the University’s ambitions in high-impact research and innovation, sustainability, industry and policy partnerships, and local engagement, raising our global leadership and reputation.“
Dr Leon Danon will commence in his role of Director of the Jean Golding Institute on the 1 May 2025.