Mark Jit

Chair and Professor of the Department of Global and Environmental Health

Professional overview

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.

Education

BSc, Mathematics, University College London

PhD, Mathematics, University College London

MPH, Public Health, King's College London

Honors and awards

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)

Publications

Publications

How to take variability into account when planning the capacity for a new hospital unit

Utley, M., Gallivan, S., & Jit, M. (n.d.). In Health Operations Management (1–).

Publication year

2005

Page(s)

146-161

10.4324/9780203356791

Abstract

Abstract

Providing 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

Jit, M., Henderson, B., Stevens, M., & Seymour, R. M. (n.d.).

Publication year

2005

Journal title

Rheumatology

Volume

44

Issue

3

Page(s)

323-331

10.1093/rheumatology/keh491

Abstract

Abstract

Objectives. 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.