Mark Jit
Mark Jit
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Chair and Professor of the Department of Global and Environmental Health
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Professional overview
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Mark Jit is the inaugural chair and a professor in the Department of Global and Environmental Health. He was formerly head of the Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology & Dynamics and co-director of the Global Health Economics Centre (GHECO) at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM). He holds honorary appointments at LSHTM as well as the University of Hong Kong (HKU) and the National University of Singapore (NUS).
Dr. Jit’s research focuses on epidemiological and economic modeling of vaccines to support evidence-based public health decision making. He has published papers covering a range of vaccine-preventable or potentially vaccine-preventable diseases including COVID-19, measles, HPV, pneumococcus, rotavirus, influenza, Group B Streptococcus, dengue, EV71 and RSV as well as methodological papers advancing the ways vaccines are evaluated. This work has influenced many of the major changes to immunization policy in countries around the world. Dr. Jit has served on a number of expert advisory committees in the UK as well as for international organizations such as the World Health Organization. He also organises or contributes to academic and professional courses on vaccine modeling, economics and decision science around the world.
Dr. Jit received his BSc and PhD in Mathematics from University College London, specializing in mathematical biology, and a Master of Public Health degree from King’s College London.
Visit Dr. Jit's Google Scholar's page to learn more about his research portfolio.
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Education
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BSc, Mathematics, University College LondonPhD, Mathematics, University College LondonMPH, Public Health, King's College London
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Honors and awards
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Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher (20222023)Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences (2023)Training Fund Award, Health Protection Agency (2007)Andrew Rosen Prize, University College London (1999)Institute of Mathematics and its Applications Award (1998)Departmental Research Studentship, University College London (1998)Student Union Commendation, University College London (1997)Fillon Prize, University College London (1996)Pathfinder Award, University College London (1995)
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Publications
Publications
Social contacts and mixing patterns relevant to the spread of infectious diseases
AbstractMossong, J., Hens, N., Jit, M., Beutels, P., Auranen, K., Mikolajczyk, R., Massari, M., Salmaso, S., Tomba, G. S., Wallinga, J., Heijne, J., Sadkowska-Todys, M., Rosinska, M., & Edmunds, W. J. (n.d.).Publication year
2008Journal title
PLoS MedicineVolume
5Issue
3Page(s)
381-391AbstractBackground: Mathematical modelling of infectious diseases transmitted by the respiratory or close-contact route (e.g., pandemic influenza) is increasingly being used to determine the impact of possible interventions. Although mixing patterns are known to be crucial determinants for model outcome, researchers often rely on a priori contact assumptions with little or no empirical basis. We conducted a population-based prospective survey of mixing patterns in eight European countries using a common paper-diary methodology. Methods and Findings: 7,290 participants recorded characteristics of 97,904 contacts with different individuals during one day, including age, sex, location, duration, frequency, and occurrence of physical contact. We found that mixing patterns and contact characteristics were remarkably similar across different European countries. Contact patterns were highly assortative with age: schoolchildren and young adults in particular tended to mix with people of the same age. Contacts lasting at least one hour or occurring on a daily basis mostly involved physical contact, while short duration and infrequent contacts tended to be nonphysical. Contacts at home, school, or leisure were more likely to be physical than contacts at the workplace or while travelling. Preliminary modelling indicates that 5- to 19-year-olds are expected to suffer the highest incidence during the initial epidemic phase of an emerging infection transmitted through social contacts measured here when the population is completely susceptible. Conclusions: To our knowledge, our study provides the first large-scale quantitative approach to contact patterns relevant for infections transmitted by the respiratory or close-contact route, and the results should lead to improved parameterisation of mathematical models used to design control strategies.A computational algorithm associated with patient progress modelling
AbstractGallivan, S., Utley, M., Jit, M., & Pagel, C. (n.d.).Publication year
2007Journal title
Computational Management ScienceVolume
4Issue
3Page(s)
283-299AbstractPatient progress modelling, which was first introduced to provide an alternative to traditional randomised control trials, has now been used in numerous contexts including evaluation of screening programmes and assessment of the public health impact of large scale developments such as waste disposal incinerators. The method uses stochastic compartmental models whose solutions may depend on solving large sets of matrix differential equations. Although specialist software packages are available for this purpose, we propose an alternative method for deriving the solution to such equations that is simple to implement.Estimating the number of deaths with rotavirus as a cause in England and Wales
AbstractJit, M., Pebody, R., Chen, M., Andrews, N., & Edmunds, W. J. (n.d.).Publication year
2007Journal title
Human VaccinesVolume
3Issue
1Page(s)
23-26AbstractThe precise number of deaths due to rotavirus infection in England and Wales is difficult to determine because mortality is usually low and reported simply as death due to gastrointestinal disease. We have used two independent methods to estimate this figure. Firstly, we obtained records from the Office for National Statistics of deaths in children with any mention of gastroenteritis. For deaths with uncertain aetiology, we estimated the proportion attributable to rotavirus using a linear model with monthly laboratory reports of gastrointestinal micro-organisms as predictors. Secondly, we calculated the case-fatality ratio of records in Hospital Episode Statistics with rotavirus indicated, and applied this ratio to an estimate of the actual number of rotavirus hospital admissions. The two methods gave estimates of 3.3 and 3.2 rotavirus deaths a year respectively.Evaluating rotavirus vaccination in England and Wales. Part I. Estimating the burden of disease
AbstractHarris, J. P., Jit, M., Cooper, D., & Edmunds, W. J. (n.d.).Publication year
2007Journal title
VaccineVolume
25Issue
20Page(s)
3962-3970AbstractRotavirus is a major cause of gastroenteritis in young children. New vaccines for rotavirus are now available and countries need to establish the health and economic burden of rotavirus disease to assess whether vaccine introduction is advisable. This study assesses the fraction of acute gastroenteritis in children under 5 years that may be attributable to rotavirus using multiple linear regression. Results suggest around 45% of hospitalisations, 25% of GP consultations, 27% of NHS Direct calls and 20% of accident and emergency (A&E) attendances for acute gastroenteritis in this age group may be attributable to rotavirus. The annual incidence is estimated to be 4.5 hospitalisations, 9.3 A&E consultations, and 28-44 GP consultations per 1000 children under five years of age. The cost to the health service is estimated to be £14.2 m per annum. Rotavirus vaccination has the potential to reduce this burden of disease. This study provides a sound basis on which to make this assessment and serves as a baseline against which any reductions that do occur if vaccination is introduced can be measured against.Evaluating rotavirus vaccination in England and Wales. Part II. The potential cost-effectiveness of vaccination
AbstractJit, M., & Edmunds, W. J. (n.d.).Publication year
2007Journal title
VaccineVolume
25Issue
20Page(s)
3971-3979AbstractAim: Rotavirus is the leading cause of acute gastroenteritis in children. Two rotavirus vaccines (RotaTeq® and Rotarix®) have recently completed clinical trials. We investigated whether routine infant immunisation with either vaccine can be cost effective. Methods: We compared costs and outcomes of vaccination using a cohort model, following children over the first 5 years of life. We estimated health provider costs, economic costs and quality adjusted life years (QALYs) lost due to rotavirus-related deaths, hospital admissions, nosocomial infections, accident and emergency attendances, general practioner consultations and calls to NHS Direct. Results: Under base case assumptions, a programme using RotaTeq® (priced at £25 a dose) would cost the health provider £79,900 per QALY gained. Using Rotarix® (priced at £35 a dose) would cost £61,000 per QALY gained. Univariate and multivariate sensitivity analysis indicate that at these prices an immunisation programme would be unlikely to be cost-effective for any realistic value of the key parameters. Conclusions: Rotavirus immunisation could reduce the substantial short-term morbidity burden due to rotavirus, but is unlikely to be deemed cost effective unless the vaccine is competitively priced.Prevalence of human papillomavirus antibodies in young female subjects in England
AbstractJit, M., Vyse, A., Borrow, R., Pebody, R., Soldan, K., & Miller, E. (n.d.).Publication year
2007Journal title
British Journal of CancerVolume
97Issue
7Page(s)
989-991AbstractSera from 1483 female subjects in England aged 10-29 years were tested. The age-standardised seroprevalence was 10.7% (95% confidence intervals 9.0-12.3) for human papillomavirus (HPV) 6, 2.7% (1.8-3.6) for HPV 11, 11.9% (10.2-13.6) for HPV 16, 4.7% (3.5-5.8) for HPV 18, and 20.7% (18.6-22.7) for any of the four types.A stochastic model to evaluate options for antenatal genetic screening
AbstractGallivan, S., Jit, M., & Utley, M. (n.d.).Publication year
2006Journal title
Health Care Management ScienceVolume
9Issue
2Page(s)
111-124AbstractHaemoglobinopathies are a group of genetic disorders which are particularly prevalent among certain risk groups such as ethnic groups. Antenatal screening of potential haemoglobinopathy carriers allows early diagnosis for affected fetuses, leading to therapeutic intervention or termination. However, it has drawbacks such as screening costs and possible miscarriage as a result of fetal testing. This paper describes a model that allows the outcomes of a screening programme to be estimated for different risk groups. The model has been implemented as a computer package that can be used to inform decisions made by health care planners.Reduction in wound infection rates by wound surveillance with postdischarge follow-up and feedback
AbstractWilson, A. P., Hodgson, B., Liu, M., Plummer, D., Taylor, I., Roberts, J., Jit, M., & Sherlaw-Johnson, C. (n.d.).Publication year
2006Journal title
British Journal of SurgeryVolume
93Issue
5Page(s)
630-638AbstractBackground: Surgical wound surveillance with postdischarge follow-up is rarely done in the UK as it is seen as expensive. The aim of this study was to determine whether employing a dedicated team was effective and reduced costs. Methods: Infection data were collected prospectively with postdischarge follow-up at 2-3 months, and fed back to surgeons. Wound infection was defined using both ASEPSIS wound scoring and criteria of the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) definitions. Results: Over 4 years, 15 548 patient episodes were included. Postdischarge surveillance data were available for 79.9 per cent of the 15 154 records of patients who survived. There was a significant reduction in the rate of wound infection between the first and fourth years by ASEPSIS and CDC definitions: odds ratio 0.77 (95 per cent confidence interval (c.i.) 0.64 to 0.92) and 0.69 (95 per cent c.i. 0.57 to 0.83), respectively. The proportion of infections fell significantly in orthopaedic, cardiac and thoracic surgery. The annual budget for wound surveillance was £91 600. Changes in infection rates contributed £347 491 to the reduction in cost among the patients surveyed. Conclusion: Wound surveillance was associated with a reduction in rates of wound infection within 4 years. The cost reduction as a result of fewer infections exceeded the cost of surveillance after 2 years.How to take variability into account when planning the capacity for a new hospital unit
AbstractUtley, M., Gallivan, S., & Jit, M. (n.d.). In Health Operations Management (1–).Publication year
2005Page(s)
146-161AbstractProviding the appropriate level of capacity for post-operative care to cater for the activity planned in operating theatres is an important planning issue affecting staffing levels as well as the provision of physical bed capacity and ward space. Over-provision of post-operative capacity is wasteful of resources while underprovision can cause operations to be cancelled and expensive operating theatre time to be wasted.This chapter addresses the problem faced by the planner who wishes to take account of unpredictable variability in post-operative length of stay. This planning problem is discussed with specific reference to planning capacity requirements for post-operative recovery within one of the new generation of health care centres being introduced within the UK NHS.TNF-α neutralization in cytokine-driven diseases: A mathematical model to account for therapeutic success in rheumatoid arthritis but therapeutic failure in systemic inflammatory response syndrome
AbstractJit, M., Henderson, B., Stevens, M., & Seymour, R. M. (n.d.).Publication year
2005Journal title
RheumatologyVolume
44Issue
3Page(s)
323-331AbstractObjectives. Neutralization of TNF-α with either monoclonal antibodies or soluble receptors, although not curative, has significant clinical benefit in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In contrast, blockade of TNF-α has little clinical benefit in the majority of patients with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) in spite of the identification of TNF-α as a key factor in its pathology. It is not clear why there is such a significant difference in the responses to TNF-α neutralization in these two conditions. Here we use mathematical modelling to investigate this discrepancy. Methods. Using the known pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of TNF-α-blocking biological agents, we constructed a mathematical model of the biological actions of soluble (s)TNFR2, Etanercept and Infliximab. Results. Our model predicts that all three inhibitors, but especially Etanercept, are effective at controlling TNF-α levels in RA, which we propose is a condition in which TNF-α production and inhibition are in equilibrium. However, when free TNF-α drops to a low level, as can occur in SIRS, which we propose is a non-equilibrium condition, the sequestered TNF-α can act as a slow-release reservoir, thereby sabotaging its effectiveness. Conclusions. These results may explain the effectiveness of TNF-α blockade in the equilibrium condition RA and the ineffectiveness in the non-equilibrium condition SIRS.