Gabriela Gomes received an award by the European Commission to create a Marie Curie Excellence Team devoted to theoretical research on the epidemiology of infectious diseases. Currently, the team includes 6 experienced researchers, 6 early-stage researchers (MSc and PhD students) and 4 members dedicated to science communication and internet-based surveillance (Gripenet). This constituted an expantion of the Theoretical Epidemiology Group hosted by Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência (IGC) in Oeiras, Portugal. The Excellence Team is funded from 2005 to 2009 after which the work will be continued by the Theoretical Epidemiology Group.