The General Concepts of Burden of Disease Summer School will take place from 12–14 August 2026 in Ghent, Belgium. The course is designed to provide participants with a comprehensive introduction to burden of disease (BoD) methodology and the calculation and interpretation of Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs). Through a combination of lectures, practical exercises, and interactive discussions, participants will gain insight into the concepts, applications, and policy relevance of burden of disease assessments.

Participants will have the opportunity to explore topics such as:

• Introduction to burden of disease methodology and population health metrics;
• Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs): concepts, calculation, and interpretation;
• Years of Life Lost (YLL) and Years Lived with Disability (YLD);
• Data requirements and methodological considerations in burden of disease studies;
• Quantifying and comparing the impact of diseases and health conditions;
• Translating burden of disease evidence into public health policy and decision-making;
• Practical exercises applying burden of disease methods to real-world scenarios

Target audience
This summer school is particularly relevant for public health professionals, epidemiologists, researchers, risk assessors, health data scientists, policy professionals, and postgraduate students interested in population health measurement and evidence-informed public health decision-making. A basic understanding of epidemiology is recommended. Teaching will be conducted in English and participants should be comfortable working with MS Excel.