The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine is a world-leading centre for research and postgraduate education in public and global health.

Our mission is to improve health and health equity in the UK and worldwide; working in partnership to achieve excellence in public and global health research, education and translation of knowledge into policy and practice.

Founded in 1899 by Sir Patrick Manson, the School is now part of the University of London and has expanded in recent years at its two main sites on Keppel Street and Tavistock Place. We work with partners worldwide to support the development of teaching and research capacity.

The School’s multidisciplinary expertise includes clinicians, epidemiologists, statisticians, social scientists, molecular biologists and immunologists. Research income has grown to more than £85 million per year from national and international funding sources including the UK government, the European Commission, the Wellcome Trust and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

The School has approximately 1,000 London-based Master’s and Research students, 3,000 studying Master’s by distance learning and 1,000 on short courses and continuous professional development. Staff, students and alumni work in more than 180 countries in government, academia, international agencies and health services.

Values

The School seeks to foster and sustain a supportive working environment based upon an ethos of respect and rigorous scientific enquiry. We are committed to:

• Excellence and creativity
• Maximising synergies between research, education and knowledge translation and innovation
• Sharing expertise to strengthen capacity globally
• Partnerships based on mutual respect and openness
• Equity and diversity
• Financial and environmental sustainability

Research

LSHTM is a research-driven postgraduate institution, a self governing, independent college in the federal University of London.  It is the largest institution of its kind in Europe, bringing together a broad portfolio of disciplines focused on health, including the largest concentration in Europe of world leading research in epidemiology, public health and health services.  LSHTM works from the molecular to the population level with impact on policy and practice.  Multidisciplinary and cross-disciplinary approaches underpin much of LSHTM’s research and training, crossing the traditional boundaries between medicine, biosciences and social science.

LSHTM has about 1500 staff drawn from over 60 nationalities, who include clinicians, epidemiologists, statisticians, social scientists, economists, molecular biologists, immunologists, ophthalmologists, anthropologists, virologists, pharmacologists and nutritionists.  The LSHTM staff represent a critical mass required to make significant progress in public and global health.  There is an expectation that all staff participate in both research and education, short courses and either face-to-face or distance learning teaching and the supervision of doctoral students.  

According to the results of the UK government’s Research Excellence Framework, published in December 2014, the School was ranked second overall (after the Institute for Cancer Research) on the key measure of impact.

LSHTM has a long-standing and far-reaching network of national, European and international collaborations and partnerships, in over 100 countries around the world including sub-Saharan Africa and Asia.  We have a strong commitment to partnership with institutions in low- and middle- income countries to support the development and strengthening of teaching and research capacity.  In addition to this, and supporting this effort, around one hundred LSHTM staff work and live in low- and middle-income countries.  

LSHTM has expanded greatly in recent years. Its income from research grants and contracts now exceeds £85M per annum, much of it from highly competitive national and international sources, such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Wellcome Trust, the European Commission, the UK’s Research Councils and government departments, including the Department of Health and the Department for International Development.  

Over the next five years, LSHTM has set its research objectives:

1.  To be a world-leading centre of excellence for research into key diseases and conditions.  These are:

-   AIDS and sexually transmitted infections

-   Disabilities, injuries and violence

-   Enteric diseases

-   Maternal, reproductive and child health

-   Mental health

-   Non-communicable diseases: cardiovascular disorders, cancers and diabetes

-   Respiratory diseases including tuberculosis and influenza

-   Vector-borne diseases, especially malaria 

2.  To optimise intra- and inter-institutional working across traditional boundaries to maximise our contribution to knowledge and meet public health goals in the UK and worldwide

3.  To develop and evaluate new methodologies, tools, interventions, systems of delivery and policies in relation to these diseases and conditions in order to effectively prevent, diagnose, and treat diseases and promote health

4.  To understand, evaluate and improve the performance of health services and systems in high, middle and low-income countries

5.  To understand cross-sectoral influences on health, such as agriculture, food, trade, transport, migration, gender and social inequality, physical environment, water, sanitation and climate change, and evaluate policy options and implications

6.  To support research through investment at the School level in high quality resources and facilities, including data management and biological materials

Education 

There are almost 4000 students from 100+ countries following 22 taught masters courses delivered either in London (~650) or through distance learning (~2700), and undertaking research degree training (~400).  Over 40% of these students are from outside Europe.  

LSHTM’s education programmes aim:

1.  To provide future leaders, practitioners, educators and researchers in public and global health with relevant education and training of the highest quality, founded on the School’s research excellence 

2.  To offer flexibility in access to study opportunities, facilitated by strategic partnerships and the use of appropriate technology

Impact of Research and Education 

LSHTM is committed to ensuring its research and education programmes have global impact through knowledge translation and innovation.  It aims to i) stimulate take-up of research findings and tools, to maximize the benefit of the School’s research through actively expanding areas of application, exploiting our expertise and innovation, and setting up responsible partnerships with industry; and ii) shape the education and research context in which LSHTM operates through communicating and working with the general public, policy makers, funders, governments, practitioners and the commercial sector.  

Through these endeavours, LSHTM strives to improve health worldwide.