Category: School of Public Health

How We Track an Epidemic in Real Time

When a dangerous disease starts spreading, public health teams need fast, reliable answers. How quickly is the outbreak growing? How many hospital beds will be needed next week? Is the outbreak slowing down or speeding up in different geographic areas of the north-eastern DRC? This page explains the analysis workflow that is being developed by the Jameel Institute & the Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis at Imperial, together with its partners from the DRC and elsewhere. It helps inform the response for the 2026 Bundibugyo Virus Disease (BVD) outbreak – from raw patient records to a finished report.

What is Bundibugyo Virus Disease?

Bundibugyo Virus Disease is a rare and severe haemorrhagic fever caused by the Bundibugyo ebolavirus, first identified in Uganda in 2007. Like other members of the Ebola family, it spreads through direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person, causes a high case fatality rate, and requires specialist treatment in isolation facilities. 

The 2026 outbreak is centred in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Cases are being reported across multiple health zones, including northeastern provinces of Ituri and Nord-Kivu, with smaller numbers also reported in Sud-Kivu and neighbouring Uganda. The Ministry of Health, Hygiene and Social Welfare of the DRC, and other outbreak response partners, collect surveillance data to track the outbreak. 

Why is tracking an outbreak so difficult? 

The data we see today is always a blurry picture of the past, not the present. For example, when a person falls ill in a rural area where access to care is limited, days can pass before their case is logged in the surveillance system.  By the time a case first appears in the data, the person may have already recovered, died, or passed the disease on to others, and laboratory confirmation of the case often follows later still. Beyond this, some persons may never be tested, which also makes it difficult to get an accurate picture of the state of the outbreaks.   (more…)

Sequencing arbovirus outbreaks, building connections: Lessons from Brazil

Tabassum Iqbal from the School of Public Health reflects on the Genomic Epidemiology of Arboviruses Workshop held in Campinas, Brazil. Bringing together researchers from across the globe, the programme combined hands-on training with expert insight – building skills, fostering collaboration and supporting those working on the front line of emerging infectious diseases.

Expecting the unexpected

“Throughout my career working in the epidemiology of arboviruses, I’ve learned that the only thing you can truly predict is the unpredictable.”

These were the words Professor Nuno Faria used to open the first talk of the Genomic Epidemiology of Arboviruses Workshop, organised by Dr Darlan da Silva Candido from the School of Public Health and Jose Modena at the Universidade Estadual de Campinas.

Five days, 50 in-person participants from 13 countries, and 35 speakers and course convenors – it was ambitious, to say the least, and a huge undertaking for the organising committee and support team.

Why arboviruses and why now?

Arboviruses are viruses transmitted by insects such as mosquitoes and ticks, and include diseases like dengue, Zika and chikungunya. They represent a major and growing public health challenge, particularly in Latin America, where millions of cases are reported each year.

(more…)

Torchlight: Shining a light for young people left waiting in the dark

Torchlight is a co-produced digital mental health app designed to support young people facing long waits for care. In this blog, Olly Taylor, Mental Health Trainee from the Institute of Global Health Innovation and Dr Lindsay Dewa, Advanced Research Fellow from the School of Public Health, share insights from a recent public engagement event, highlighting how Torchlight is being shaped by lived experience, co-production, and a shared mission to ensure no young person feels alone while waiting for mental health treatment.

In March, our research team shared the latest developments of Torchlight – a digital mental health app designed to provide social and professional support for young people waiting for treatment – at the Invention Rooms in White City. The public engagement event was hosted by researchers Dr Lindsay Dewa, Ellie Mullins, and young co-researcher Nathan Jackson. As the newest member of the team and a Julia Anderson Mental Health Trainee, I reflected on how Torchlight continues to break ground in co-production strategies within digital mental health.

(more…)

Forming the LGBTQ+ International Support Group

Map of the world made of circles of different sizes in colors of LGBT rainbow pride flag isolated on white

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex or asexual (LGBTQ+) travellers can face unique challenges when travelling abroad. That’s why, Rosie Maddren, Lucy Okell, Beth Cracknell-Daniels, Joseph Hicks and Christina Aitchison from the School of Public Health set up the LGBTQ+ International Support Group at Imperial to help improve the overall experience of going abroad for LGBTQ+ staff and student travellers.

This post was originally published in June 2023 and was updated in February 2026

“So are you married?”

I freeze. How do I respond? It seems like a simple enough question, but I’m gay (and so is my spouse). The question is being asked by a taxi driver in a country where not only is same-sex marriage illegal, but so is homosexuality in general. And it’s not just something imposed by the government. A recent poll suggested that 90% of this country’s citizens have a negative view of LGBTQ+ people. So how do I respond? How would you?

Travelling abroad for work is a rewarding opportunity that can come with challenges for any student or staff member. For those identifying as part of the LGBTQ+ community, such travel can be associated with further complications. Legal restrictions and societal norms of some countries may make LGBTQ+ staff and students feel anxious, unwelcome or unsafe. Unfortunately, in certain environments being your true self can directly impact your safety. On the other hand, presenting a censored version of yourself may negatively impact your mental health and wellbeing. There is no single correct way to navigate such situations, and there is limited guidance on this topic provided not only by Imperial, but wider networks across the globe. in 2022, a group of us started working together to help build support for LGBTQ+ staff and student travellers at Imperial.

(more…)

Eliminating hepatitis B: Bridging research, policy, and practice

Clinical Associate Professor, Shevanthi Nayagam

On World Hepatitis Day, Clinical Associate Professor, Dr Shevanthi Nayagam, working across the School of Public Health and Department of Metabolism, Digestion, and Reproduction, shares how her research is helping shape global and national strategies to eliminate hepatitis B (HBV). From modelling vaccine impact to supporting birth dose policies in Africa, she highlights the power of evidence, collaboration, and local action in tackling this silent epidemic. 

Hepatitis B is a virus that attacks the liver and, over time, can cause serious complications such as cirrhosis and liver cancer. What makes it particularly dangerous is that many people don’t realise that they are infected – it can silently damage the liver for years without causing symptoms.  

One of the things that motivated me to start research in hepatitis B over a decade ago, was just how little attention this virus received, despite affecting 254 million people. In 2022 it was estimated to have caused 1.1 million deaths. I’ve seen how hepatitis B continues to affect the lives of those living with the infection and their families – particularly in low- and middle-income countries where prevention, diagnosis and treatment are often out of reach.  

My translational research sits at the intersection of clinical epidemiology, modelling, and health economics – all aimed at an overarching goal: supporting countries to eliminate viral hepatitis through evidence-based decision making. 

A big part of my work involves connecting the global with the local. This dual approach helps ensure that international recommendations are grounded in real-world data . Of course, this kind of work isn’t done in isolation. Everything we do depends on strong collaboration with a wide range of partners – including clinicians, scientists, ministries of health, policy makers and funding agencies. 

(more…)

Revolutionising research with innovative clinical trials

Prof Otavio Berwanger

On Clinical Trials Day, Prof Otavio Berwanger, Executive Director of The George Institute for Global Health and Chair in Clinical Trials at Imperial College London, shares how rethinking the design and delivery of clinical trials can benefit all involved in medical research.

Large-scale and high-quality randomised controlled trials (RCTs) are considered the gold standard in clinical research. Study participants are randomly allocated to intervention or control groups and their outcomes are compared, minimising bias and providing reliable evidence about the efficacy and safety of treatments. Clinical trials have been vital to some of the biggest advances in modern medicine, but they are not without their drawbacks.

Conducting RCTs is an expensive, time-consuming, and complex process. They take several years to complete and cost millions of pounds;. Participants are also required to travel to central trial sites for assessments, making patient recruitment and participation difficult.

In response to these challenges, we have formed the Innovative Clinical Trials Hub. The hub aims to support projects across The George Institute, Imperial and those led by external organisations, to design, deliver and analyse innovative, efficient, and impactful, large-scale, patient-centric trials. In this sense, we are very proud of our excellent partnership with the Imperial Clinical Trials Unit (ICTU) and we will definitely work together in delivering high-quality, innovative trials. Similarly, we see great opportunities for developing efficient trial models in other regions, including Australia (where we have a strong partnership with the University of New South Wales -UNSW) and India.  I am also very excited to collaborate with the UKCRC Clinical Trial Units network in my capacity as the new Chair of the International Registration Review Committee.

(more…)

Healthy beginnings, hopeful futures: How neonatal research is shaping lifelong health

Dr Cheryl Battersby

Dr Cheryl Battersby, Clinical Senior Lecturer in the School of Public Health and theme lead for Neonatal Medicine at Imperial’s Centre for Paediatrics and Child Health (PaeCH), shares how neonatal research is helping to shape lifelong health outcomes for the most vulnerable babies. From harnessing the power of national data to leading pioneering research programmes, Cheryl and her colleagues are working to ensure that every baby – no matter how early or unwell they are born – has the best possible start in life.

We believe that every child deserves the best start in life, and we know from decades of research and clinical care that the health of a baby in the first days and weeks after birth can shape their entire future.

In the UK alone, around 90,000 babies each year are admitted to neonatal units. Some are born too soon. Others arrive on time but need urgent medical care. These fragile early moments matter. They are the beginning of a lifelong journey.

At Imperial College London, our Neonatal Medicine Research Group is one of the largest academic neonatal centres in the UK. We’re a dynamic team of neonatologists (doctors who specialise in the care of newborn infants), neonatal nurses, statisticians, data scientists, and public involvement experts – working together to transform care for the smallest, sickest newborns.

(more…)

Queer in the field: The unique challenges of LGBTQIA+ scientists conducting international research

LGBTQIA+ scientists can face nuanced challenges when travelling abroad to conduct research. Bethan Cracknell Daniels, Research Postgraduate in the School of Public Health, reflects on her time in Ghana supporting infectious disease control, and how the  LGBTQIA+  International Support Group are advocating for a more inclusive global scientific community.

While applying for my PhD in Infectious Disease Modelling at Imperial in 2019, I wanted to gain hands-on experience in infectious disease control. At the time, I was an undergraduate student studying Immunology at the University of Manchester. I applied for an internship with a laboratory on the edge of Accra, Ghana, providing infectious disease diagnosis to a local hospital. I was excited to be accepted and immediately went about booking flights and organising my visa.

It was only a week before my flight that I learned Ghana criminalises homosexuality, with physical homophobic attacks against LGBTQIA+ individuals being common. As a queer woman with a same-sex partner, I was nervous. Living in Manchester, with its famous gay village, I was very open about my sexuality and thought nothing of walking down the street holding hands with my girlfriend. Unsure of how to navigate being gay in Ghana, I eventually decided to tell people I didn’t have a partner, effectively returning myself to the closet.

(more…)

Embracing Ubuntu in Higher Education: The Power of Togetherness

Artwork by Mengmeng Tu, MSc Science Communication student

This festive period, Three Wise Women from the Faculty of Medicine will be giving us the gift of wisdom.

Ubuntu (ooh-bun-too) is a concept, a philosophy, a way of living in Africa. It highlights the interconnectedness of all individuals and encourages people to recognise their shared humanity. Here, Dr Sungano Chigogora, Senior Teaching Fellow in Epidemiology in the School of Public Health, explores the spirit of Ubuntu and why it should be at the heart of teaching and learning.

In Central and Southern Africa, Bantu means ‘people’ or ‘humanity’ to hundreds of millions of individuals whose languages have common ethnolinguistic roots. To them, Ubuntu is a core characteristic of humanity that extends beyond the individual, and recognises not only their humanity, but how they belong to a deep community in which they can participate, share, and grow. As observed by the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu, “Ubuntu is very difficult to render into a Western language. It speaks to the very essence of being human. … to give high praise to someone we say … ‘he or she has Ubuntu’. This means that they are generous, hospitable, friendly, caring, and compassionate” (Tutu, 1999).

(more…)

Closing the Gender Health Gap: A Call for Sex and Gender Equity in Biomedical Research Policies

When it comes to healthcare, there are clear and stark inequalities between women and men. Marina Politis, Alice Witt, and Kate Womersley explain how, at its root, this gender health gap derives from a research and data gap, and how the MESSAGE project is working to improve accounting of sex and gender dimensions in medical research.

Everyone aspires to receive gold standard treatment when seeking medical care. What if, however, this standard, was only ever set out to be gold for one group of people? Much of our medical evidence base has been based on a male norm, with women underrepresented at all stages of the research pipeline. Subsequently, when a woman suffers an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, she is less likely to receive bystander CPR than a man. Once in the hospital, she continues to be less likely to receive optimal care than her male counterpart.

The gender health gap in cardiovascular disease – poorer outcomes women experience due to the “male default” in health research and healthcare – is just one of many conditions for which there are disparities between women and men. From dementia to diabetes, and osteoporosis to obesity, sex and gender differences and similarities remain neglected in UK and international research.

(more…)