français | english		EPFL > people@EPFL > Lorenzo Righetto login

Doctoral Assistant Laboratory of Ecohydrology

Lorenzo Righetto office(s): GRC1522 phone(s): [+41 21 69] 36348 MISSION A non-negligible cause of mortality and morbidity nowadays, especially in underdeveloped countries, cholera still represents a challenge, when it comes to the prediction and control of epidemics. Particular climatological conditions of endemic regions and uncertainties regarding the ecology of Vibrio cholerae all call for a better understanding of the phenomena involved in the spreading of the disease. In this research, supported by funds provided by the ERC Advanced Grant RINEC-227612, the development of spatially referred models, aimed at the description of the mechanics of cholera propagation, is a key objective. Being it a waterborne disease, the study of ecohydrological systems well fits the analysis of cholera spatial and temporal evolution. A progressively detailed framework, involving human movement and mechanistically described hydrological processes, is established, in order to provide a tool for the prediction and control of sudden epidemics. It is often the case, in fact, that cholera emerges in non-endemic areas, with unexpected outbursts. BIOGRAPHY Master-level Degree in Environmental Engineering (Planning and Managing of Environmental Resources), at the Politecnico di Milano. My thesis work consisted in the development of a metapopulation model, based upon a previous study conducted by Professors Casagrandi and Gatto (Department of Electronics and Information). I achieved my degree on the 17th December 2008, with a score of 110/110 summa cum laude. Bachelor-level Degree in Environmental Engineering (Planning and Managing of Environmental Resources), at the Politecnico di Milano. I achieved my degree in September 2006, with a score of 104/110. My first thesis work was titled “Impacts of global climate change on the ecology of the black grouse in the area of Veglia-Devero National park”. MAIN PUBLICATIONS L. Mari, E. Bertuzzo, L. Righetto, R. Casagrandi, M. Gatto, I. Rodriguez-Iturbe, and A. Rinaldo. Modelling cholera epidemics: the role of waterways, human mobility and sanitation. Journal Of The Royal Society Interface, 9:376-388, 2012. [ DOI | Details ] E. Bertuzzo, L. Mari, L. Righetto, M. Gatto, R. Casagrandi, M. Blokesch, I. Rodriguez-Iturbe, and A. Rinaldo. Prediction of the spatial evolution and effects of control measures for the unfolding Haiti cholera outbreak. Geophysical Research Letters, 38:L06403, 2011. [ DOI | Details ] A. Rinaldo, M. Blokesch, E. Bertuzzo, L. Mari, L. Righetto, M. Murray, M. Gatto, R. Casagrandi, and I. Rodriguez-Iturbe. A transmission model of the 2010 cholera epidemic in haiti. Annals of internal medicine, 155(6):403-4, 2011. [ DOI | Details ] L. Righetto, E. Bertuzzo, R. Casagrandi, M. Gatto, I. Rodriguez-Iturbe, and A. Rinaldo. Modelling human movement in cholera spreading along fluvial systems. Ecohydrology, 4:49-55, 2011. [ DOI | Details | Full Text ] L. Mari, E. Bertuzzo, L. Righetto, R. Casagrandi, M. Gatto, I. Rodriguez-Iturbe, and A. Rinaldo. Modeling cholera epidemics: the role of human mobility and sanitation conditions. Journal of the Royal Society Interface. [ DOI | Details ]