Recent years have witnessed a tremendous progress in the field of modeling infectious disease, with a dramatic shift from abstract models to increasingly realistic approaches that rely on detailed data on human dynamics. These sophisticate computational approaches can be used as in silico laboratories where to simulate epidemic scenarios, predict the impact of a disease on the population, and test a variety of intervention strategies. Next to the tremendous advances in modern medicine and health sciences, computational epidemiology represents an additional weapon in our fight against infectious diseases. The talk will address the central role, advantages and limitations of epidemic large-scale computational approaches for the study of infectious diseases spread, aimed at helping and supporting the decision process at the scientific, medical, and public health level.