Carlos Castillo-Chavez
ASU Regents' Professor and Joaquin Bustoz Jr. Professor of Mathematical Biology
Executive Director, Mathematical and Theoretical Biology Institute
Ph.D., Mathematics, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science
SHESC Themes: Societies and their Natural Environments, Urban Societies
Field Specializations: Mathematical and theoretical biology, disease evolution, epidemiology
Regional Focus: International
Contact: Carlos Castillo-Chavez, PS A524
Research:
Castillo-Chavez's research program lives at the interface of the natural and social sciences. The research program puts emphasis on the role of dynamic social landscapes on disease evolution. In this context, in collaboration with various researchers (graduate students, postdocs and senior faculty elsewhere), joint work is conducted on the role of cross-immunity on the evolution and dynamics of influenza; the impact of behavioral changes, long periods of infectiousness, variable infectivity, co-infections, prostitution, social networks and vaccine efficacy on HIV dynamics; the role of exogenous re-infection, variable progression rates, vaccination, public transportation, close and casual contacts (generalized households) on tuberculosis dynamics and control; the impact of life-history vector dynamics on dengue epidemics; and on the identification of time response scales for epidemics like foot and mouth disease (Uruguay). More recently, Castillo-Chavez and collaborators have worked on the role of dispersal and disease as enhancing mechanisms of ecological diversity. Most recently, research efforts focus on problems at the interface of homeland security and disease invasions (natural or deliberate) and on models for the spread of social "diseases" like alcoholism and ecstasy. Work on models for the spread of extreme ideologies and their impact on cultural norms is also under way. The work on homeland security is briefly described in his February column of Beyond numbers and proofs.
In addition, Castillo-Chavez is the executive director of the Mathematical and Theoretical Biology Institute (MTBI), which focuses on providing research opportunities at the interface of the biological, computational and mathematical sciences from the undergraduate to the graduate and postdoctoral levels, and Strengthening the Understanding of Mathematics and Science (SUMS), which is designed to provide a successful university experience for students from underrepresented groups and to enhance their prospects for future academic success.
Research Projects:
Teaching:
The content of the courses that Castillo-Chavez has taught or developed focus on three aspects associated with biological and social processes: modeling, mathematical methods and simulations. The material taught is motivated via applications to immunology, epidemiology, ecology and evolutionary biology, demography and social dynamics.
Select Publications:
Castillo-Chavez, C. & Castillo-Garsow, C. W. (In press). Increasing minority representation in the mathematical sciences: Good models but no will to scale up their impact. In R.G. Ehrenberg (Ed.), Doctoral education and the faculty of the future. Ithaca: Cornell University Press.
Shim, E., Feng, Z., Martcheva, M. & Castillo-Chavez, C. (in press). An age-structured epidemic model of rotavirus with vaccination. Journal of Mathematical Biology.
Nuno, M., Castillo-Chavez, C., Zhilan, F. & Martcheva, M. (2007). Mathematical model of influenza: The role of cross-immunity, quarantine and age-structure. In F. Brauer, J. Watmough, et al. (Eds.), Proceedings, MITACS/PIMS special program on infectious diseases, Banff International Research Station, Banff, Alberta, June 19 - July 2, 2004. Springer-Verlag.
Sanchez, F., Wang, X., Castillo-Chavez, C., Gruenewald, P. & Gorman, D. (2007). Drinking as an epidemic: A simple mathematical model with recovery and relapse. In K. Witkiewitz & G. A. Marlatt (Eds.), Therapist's guide to evidence-based relapse prevention. Burlington: Academic Press.
Feng, Z. & Castillo-Chavez, C. (2006). The influence of diseases on population genetics. Journal of Mathematical Biosciences and Engineering, 3(3), 467-483.