This workshop will bring together applied mathematicians with researchers working in various biological and medical fields in order to exchange ideas and advance the knowledge of research by initiating and promoting collaborations motivated by challenging problems. These include the spread of infectious diseases (epidemiology) or the growing need for robust and reliable models in ecology, both of special importance in the host country of South Africa where research naturally has focused on fighting disease and epidemics.In the US, on the other hand, a strong emphasis exists on Systems Biology and especially on its aspects related to cancer. Therefore a second focus area of the workshop will be about improved and more realistic models for the dynamic progression and treatment for various types of cancer, a truly global challenging problem. There exist various mathematical methods and techniques (e.g., dynamical systems, optimal control) that apply to both major areas, while often only one or the other is being used by researchers in a specific field. In this workshop we shall bring these groups together to initiate new and nurture existing collaborations while at the same time bringing new mathematicians and scientists into this exciting interdisciplinary field. Scientists from other countries are cordially invited to join this scientific event.