Blog posts

Cybersecurity Bootcamp for digital leaders

In a rapidly evolving landscape, digital leaders in the NHS need the knowledge and practical skills to respond to new threats and opportunities for the healthcare sector, supporting them to lead their organisations with the latest developments in generative AI, Cybersecurity and other pressing issues.   

The Education team at IGHI has developed a new series of highly interactive, seminar-style residential bootcamps to support digital leaders, offering a carefully curated programme of expert panels, Imperial academic keynotes, real-life simulations and practical workshops to enable immediate implementation of their learning into their organisations.   

On 3 and 4 April, we hosted our first Cybersecurity Bootcamp in partnership with IBM.

Severe Malaria Africa: A consortium for Research and Trials

This blog post was written by Professor Kathryn Maitland, Professor of Paediatric Tropical Infectious Diseases at the Faculty of Medicine and Director of the Centre of African Research and Engagement at the Institute of Global Health Innovation, Imperial College London. She leads the SMAART Consortium (Severe Malaria Africa: A consortium for Research and Trials).

In much of sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), malaria remains a key cause of paediatric hospital admission, and makes a substantial contribution to under 5-year mortality, estimated at 600,000 annually.

Despite implementing currently effective, fast-acting artemisinin-based combination therapies, the multisite SMAART observational study has shown that inpatient mortality for paediatric severe malaria (excluding hyperparasitaemia with no additional severity features) remains unacceptably high at ~8%.

Planning for Tomorrow: Psychological Impacts of Climate Change on US Youth

This blog post was written by Alexander Jake McDonald, and a version first appeared in a newsletter by CIRCLE (Community-minded Interventions for Resilience, Climate Leadership and Emotional wellbeing, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences of Stanford Medicine)

In a groundbreaking US survey, researchers explored the complex ways climate change psychologically affects youth, examining the links between a broad spectrum of emotional and mental responses, mental health and well-being, and life plans. Dr Britt Wray, Dr Ans Vercammen and Dr Emma Lawrance (Imperial College London) led this study alongside Dr Gary Belkin and Dr Yoshika Crider, delving into how young Americans aged 16-24 are psychologically impacted by climate-related concerns, and how self-reported experiences of climate change-related hazards and extreme events influence these responses.

Exchanging knowledge with Ghanian health policy makers    

This blog post is written by Ishan Kaur Khalsa, Policy Fellow in Healthcare Data, Chris Agape Ajah, Policy Fellow in Digital Health, and Peter Howitt, Managing Director of the Centre for Health Policy.

On 1 April the Centre for Health Policy at the Institute of Global Health Innovation (IGHI) hosted a delegation from Ghana’s National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). The dozen-strong delegation worked across partnerships, research, policy, monitoring and evaluation, health purchasing, ICT, financing, and health services in Ghana. 

The visit to the Institute by the delegation was part of a fact-finding mission to the UK organised by the NHS Consortium for Global Health with the goal of understanding the UK health financing and payment systems.

Health Policy MSc Q&A with Adriana Lopez

The Health Policy MSc at Imperial College London is led by the Institute of Global Health Innovation. Adriana Lopez is a Health Policy Master’s student and part of the Imperial College London Sports Scholarship Programme. She shares her experience of the programme, which she manages alongside high-level sport and a full-time job.

What’s your background? What did you study for your undergraduate degree?

Adriana Lopez (AL): I studied for a BSc in Biomedical Sciences with a Placement Year at the University of Warwick. As part of my degree, I was a Medical Operations Industrial Placement student at ViiV Healthcare within GlaxoSmithKline.

Celebrating Women at IGHI: Driving Meaningful Change in Global Health

On International Women’s Day, we shine a spotlight on the incredible women at the Institute of Global Health Innovation (IGHI) who are shaping the future of healthcare worldwide. From pioneering research to innovative policy work, these leaders are tackling some of the most pressing global health challenges —making a real difference in in the UK and beyond.

In this blog, we celebrate their achievements and highlight how their expertise and dedication continue to inspire change. Read on to learn about some of these fantastic women at the IGHI and discover key examples of their work.

Professor Bryony Dean Franklin – Visiting Professor at IGHI

Professor Bryony Dean Franklin is visiting Professor in the Department of Surgery and Cancer at the Centre for Prevention and Management at Imperial College.

Harm Reduction in Nightlife

A recent study, published in the Harm Reduction Journal, explores the role of nightclubs and sex-on-premises venues in harm reduction for gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) who use drugs.

These venues act as intermediaries between national drug policy and individual behaviour, bridging the gap between broad regulations and on-the-ground realities. Our findings suggest that night-time venues remain an under-utilised resource in harm reduction efforts, with the potential to play a greater role in promoting safer drug use practices.

The research, by Health Policy MSc student Stephen Naulls with MSc Dissertations lead Kenny Oniti and colleagues,  used a mixed-methods approach.

Wellbeing Walk for IGHI Postgraduate Students

On Saturday the 19 October IGHI Health Policy and Digital Health Leadership students and staff enjoyed a day out in Hyde Park and South Kensington, for the IGHI Education Wellbeing Walk.

A group of 18 staff, students, families and partners were treated to a fantastic walk and historical narrative by Teaching Fellow and SWIPE co-founder Joe Kerr. Joe was a fantastic narrator, engaging the group on the history of Imperial and other great institutions dedicated to art and science, that together established Abertopolis over 170 years ago. It was a fascinating, light-hearted time, including a 90 min talk in the park, and concluding with lunch at the nearby Queen’s Arms pub.

Health Policy MSc: Insights from a Second-Year Student

The Health Policy MSc at Imperial College London is led by the Institute of Global Health Innovation.  

Jazz Walker, a Year 2 Health Policy Master’s student and Biological Capabilities Policy Advisor at the UK Health Security Agency,  attended our recent in-person student workshop and shares her experience of the MSc programme. 

Why did you apply for the Health Policy MSc programme?  

Jazz: I applied for the programme mostly for career progression reasons. I’d gone through education—originally, I did an English degree—and then I got into health policy.  

One aspect that drew me to it is that, particularly in the policy world, you don’t often gain experience outside of your job’s specific focus.

Supporting the safe and meaningful involvement of women experiencing homelessness in research

IGHI recently received funding from the National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR) for an 18-month project in partnership with the Marylebone Project and Central London Healthcare which focuses on supporting the safe and meaningful involvement of women experiencing homelessness in research.

People experiencing homelessness have shorter life expectancies, poorer physical and mental health, and less access to healthcare than the general population. For women experiencing homelessness, the average age of death is 43 – two years younger than men and nearly half the life expectancy of women in the general population. Many homeless women are survivors of abuse, and more research is needed to provide specialised, female-led support for this group in safe, trauma-informed spaces.