Dr. Madeleine Thomson has been instrumental in advancing digital health technologies for climate-sensitive disease surveillance and prediction. Her work integrates cutting-edge data science approaches with traditional epidemiological methods, creating innovative tools for disease prevention and response. Through her Wellcome position, she supports 24 research teams from climate and health backgrounds across 12 countries in developing new digital tools to respond to climate-sensitive infectious diseases.
Thomson’s approach to digital health innovation emphasizes the importance of integrating climate data with health information to improve disease outbreak prediction and management. Her work supports the development of tools like E-DENGUE, which can predict dengue outbreaks up to two months in advance, providing crucial lead time for public health interventions. These digital innovations represent a new frontier in preventive medicine and public health preparedness.
Her technology development work focuses on creating tools that are not only scientifically sophisticated but also accessible and practical for use in resource-limited settings. Thomson recognizes that digital health innovations must be designed with end-users in mind, ensuring that complex climate-health data can be translated into actionable information for health practitioners and policymakers.
The digital health tools developed under Thomson’s guidance incorporate multiple data streams, including satellite imagery, meteorological data, and epidemiological surveillance information. Her research background in data methodologies provides the foundation for these innovations. Her work is regularly featured in science communication platforms, and her approach to digital health innovation is showcased on her personal website.