AUTUMN 20152016

In this issue: Ending TB Tackling Zika New free online courses On the move: the race to keep forced migrants healthy Contents

2 Message from the Director 4 Countdown to Zero: Defeating Disease 6 Former rugby players to help major study into effects of the game on brain health 6 Obituary: Dr Jeroen Ensink 7 In focus: the School’s work on Zika 8 Images of the School’s alumni community around the world 10 Ending TB: the race to control a disease in hiding 11 Meera Senthilingam 12 On the move: the race to keep forced migrants healthy 14 Project to develop new poultry vaccines awarded £5.7 million 15 Professor Sir Brian Greenwood awarded the 2015 MRC Millennium Medal

17 A Pair of Sparkling Eyes – An appreciation of Lady 16 Shauna Alumni GoslingProfile: Dr Liz Wala 18 Introducing the new Chairman of Council 19 Dr Patricia Mechael wins British Council Social Impact Award 20 Low-paid workers ‘less depressed’ after introduction of the national minimum wage WELCOME 21 New Executive Global Health Leadership programme 22 Thank You Message from the 24 Alumni Events Director 25 Alumni Chapters 26 Free Online Courses

27 New Distance Learning MSc in Demography & Health LastWelcome year, to all the eyes 2016 were edition on the of struggle Alumni toNews contain the

2928 Message Mwanza Interventionfrom the Student Trials Representative Unit: Council Showcasing Successful Collaboration In Tanzania fewEbola months epidemic of 2016 in West have Africa, been dominatedand to learn by the Zika lessons 29 Obituary: Professor Harrison Spencer virus,for global and health the epidemic governance of microcephaly and response. and The other first 30 Band Aid Nurse Dame Claire Bertschinger neurological disorders. I am immensely proud of the returns to response of our staff, alumni and students to these 31 New Health in Humanitarian Crises Centre and drawing on their knowledge and experience to 31 Stacey L. Knobler: President of the American global threats, directly and selflessly assisting patients Friends of the School develop research programmes, and advise governments and international agencies. 32 Gay sex survey: why preventing HIV means

34 Could dog detectives sniff out malaria? calling an end to finger pointing mission and is critical to our success. Along with ourWorking growing in partnership research portfolio is central and to its our associated School’s collaborations, we have strengthened links with the Edited & compiled by Alice Perry. Cover Image Credit: Mark Fullerton, courtesy of School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Wellcome Trust Africa Centre for Health & Population WELCOME Studies, a joint initiative with including Ebola in Context, Global previous records by raising more Blindness and Improving the Health than £150,000 towards our ‘Bricks and Mortarboards’. The student wellUniversity as the CollegeCentre forLondon the Control and the and this year we are running courses volunteer callers were inspired by ofUniversity Chronic Conditionsof KwaZulu with Natal, the as All onof Women, Zika and Children Humanitarian and Adolescents, Crises, speaking with alumni and we all India Institute of Medical Sciences, with others in the pipeline. greatly appreciate your support. the Public Health Foundation of India In November, we welcomed Dame As alumni of the London School strengthened our partnerships with Marjorie Scardino as our new of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, keyand institutionsEmory University. including We Sichuanhave also Chairman of Council, taking the you are part of a growing global place of Sir Tim Lankester, who led community in around 180 countries, the School during a period of growth all united by our shared mission of University in China, Nagasaki and success. Dame Marjorie brings improving health worldwide. You University in Japan, and the National a huge wealth of experience as a have a tremendous part to play in University of Singapore. global business leader, and together our collective future, ensuring our and innovating our educational with her understanding of health School continues to make important programmes,We are making by progress placing morein improving and humanitarian work. Her arrival contributions to public and global emphasis on the student experience, has already opened many new doors, health, and we look forward to ideas and involvement. There are for example our recent collaboration keeping in touch. also opportunities for students to with the Carter Center. engage with alumni, for example through careers talks. Over the past Finally, I would like to thank year, more than 30,000 participants, everyone who gave so generously to including many alumni, have our Alumni fundraising campaign studied MOOCs (free online courses) this year – again we have broken Professor Peter Piot

Alumni News 5

Countdown to Zero: Defeating Disease

CarterFormer met US PresidentSchool staff Jimmy and launchedCarter, who a Carter is an Honorary Center Exhibition,Fellow of the Countdown School, visited to Zero: the DefeatingUK in February. Disease, President with a special lecture and reception.

successful strategies can bring about enormous social and economic The challenges of eradicating devastating diseases are significant, but

wherebenefits. it wasFollowing hosted an by opening the School. at the Countdown American toMuseum Zero: Defeating of Natural Disease History, exploresa second theversion factors of thethat exhibition determine was if a created disease and is eradicable, premiered as in well the UK,as

the scientific and social innovations that are ridding the world of ancient afflictions.The exhibition used stunning photography to highlight several global efforts

30 years that may soon eradicate Guinea worm disease, positioning it to becometo fight infections. only the second Chief amonghuman these disease is aever campaign eradicated, running after for smallpox. more than The exhibition also highlights ongoing programmes to eradicate polio; eliminate

diseases that cannot be eradicated, including Ebola. river blindness, lymphatic filariasis, and malaria; and the challenge of “The number of cases of Guinea worm disease continued to decrease in

President Carter, whose Carter Center leads the international campaign to 2015, bringing Guinea worm eradication closer to the finish line,” said disease is very possible in the next few years, but success will require the strongeradicate commitment this water-borne and focus disease. of the “We four believe remaining eradication endemic of countries Guinea worm and

the many international partners in this public health initiative.”

Water filtration pipe to help prevent School staff meeting with President Jimmy Carter Guinea Worm on his trip to the UK in February. 6 Alumni News

Former England rugby players to help major study into effects of the game on brain health

Former England international rugby players are set to be recruited for the next phase of a major study examining the possible long-term effects of the game on brain health.

London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine is

workingLondon, Thewith Institute the Rugby of FootballOccupational Union, Medicine, together with researchers from Queen Mary University of to study the possible link between a history of concussionUniversity College and neurodegenerative London and Oxford disease University, in former rugby players.

The project aims to provide a greater amount of information on the potential medium and long- term neurocognitive risks of playing rugby than is RFU Collection/Getty Images currently available from other studies

Obituary: Dr Jeroen Ensink

It is with great sadness we share the news of the tragic death of Dr Jeroen Ensink, countries. His own research was Senior Lecturer in Public Health Engineering at the School. At the request of Dr rigorous but always practical. He Ensink’s family and colleagues, we have established the Jeroen Ensink Memorial Fund to support MSc Scholarships for students from sub-Saharan Africa and South and, at the time of his death, was Asia to become future leaders in public health. publishedleading a large over study50 scientific in the Democratic papers Republic of Congo to understand how Dr Ensink was an internationally improvements in water supply and renowned water engineer and other measures could control and dedicated humanitarian. He was prevent cholera outbreaks. committed to a simple cause: improving access to water and The School’s Director Professor Peter sanitation in countries where children Piot paid a tribute saying: continue to die needlessly due to the “This is a terrible tragedy, and our lack of these basic services. deepest condolences go to his family and friends. Jeroen was a highly valued As a researcher and educator, member of the School community and Dr Ensink’s career crossed many all of us who knew him will remember continents. He lived and worked in him as a warm and committed friend countries including Pakistan, India, and colleague. He will be hugely missed by all the staff and students and collaborated with numerous who had the opportunity to know and Vietnam, Tanzania and Malawi, universities and international agencies. work with him, and it is now up to all He devoted particular effort to building of us to ensure that the legacy of his Credit: Nadja Ensink-Teich local research capacity in developing

work will continue.” IN FOCUS: Aedes Aegypti mosquito. Our School’s work on Zika

The School is actively Professor Rosanna Peeling is part of coordinating the School’s response involved in responding andProfessor staff are Jimmy involved Whitworth in studies is to the current Zika virus on Zika and associated conditions, consultationthe Pan American on the Health development Organization and outbreak in the Americas, research collaborations with a assessmentand World Health of Zika Organization diagnostic tests. which is thought to be Mathematical modellers at the School linked to an increase in and advising governments and internationalnumber of universities agencies. in Brazil, are analysing previous Zika outbreaks cases of the birth defect in order to better understand the microcephaly, as well Professor Laura Rodrigues is transmission dynamics of the virus. working with the Microcephaly as other neurological Researchers in vector biology disorders such as a collaboration between the School and mosquito-borne diseases are Guillain-Barré syndrome. andEpidemic key academic Research institutions Group in Brazil, providing guidance on mosquito in Pernambuco. Funded by the control strategies and how people can protect themselves from bites, as well as mapping areas of risk. government of Brazil and The case control study of newborn babies Further information about the Wellcome Trust, she is conducting a to characterise the link between Zika School’s Zika research is available at infection and microcephaly. She is also http://www.lshtm.ac.uk/newsevents/ preparing cohort studies of pregnant women who develop Zika, to establish the risk of microcephaly associated news/2016/zika_outbreak.html. with infection at different stages, and of babies born with microcephaly, to track their development. 8 Alumni News

Photography by: Mark Foulerton

Photography by: Rebecca Williams

Images of the School’s alumni community around the world

Thank you to everyone who entered the 2016 Alumni Photography competition. The quality of entries was extremely high andMSc theTropical fantastic Medicine images and reflect International the diversity Health of our alumnus alumni Dr community Mark Foulerton around was the this world. year’s winner with his stunning photo “Casting the Net” (above). following up long term disability in children who had previously had cerebral malaria. It was a beautiful location and we Mark says; “The photo was taken on Kilifi Creek – about an hour north of Mombasa. I was doing my MSc research project, used to swim across the creek each morning. We were fortunate to borrow some kayaks from a colleague and saw this local fisherman casting his net as we passed.”

Photography by: Srinivas Marmamula Photography by: Bade Hanci

Photography by: Jillian Kowalchuk

Photography by : Carol Susan Devamani Photography by: Nick Walters Alumni News 9

Photography by: Kourosh Holakouie Naieni

Photography by: Stephanie Simmonds

Photography by: Xavier Vallès

Photography by: Dr. Srinivas Marmamula

Photography by: Jillian Kowalchuk

Photography by: Srinivas Bandi

Photography by: Dr Kofoworola Itanola Rotimi Ending TB: the race to control a disease in hiding by Meera Senthilingam

“The whole thing about TB is you just don’t know how you and the Russian Federation, which are are higher than those of China, Brazil recent survivor of tuberculosis. Scully developed symptoms of among the 22 highest burden countries in the world for TB. tuberculosisgot it,” says 54 (TB) year in old 2014 Amina when Scully, she returned a London to resident London andafter a decade living on the sunny shores of Spain. Despite years of London is a hotspot for TB, showcased fresh food and air for both she and her children, she developed the disease. whole are just 3%. More than 80% ofby cases the fact in Londonthat rates occur in the in UK people as a Now, almost one year after completing of people across the globe. In 2014, 9.6 who were born abroad and are her treatment, one question remains million people were estimated to have likely carrying latent infections yet unanswered in her mind – how did she fallen ill with TB worldwide, and the to manifest. “Somebody can remain get it? Scully has no idea how, or where, disease killed 1.4 million, according to latently infected for 10-20 years before she picked up the bacterium behind they develop the disease, it’s not it, Mycobacterium tuberculosis. This As Scully can testify, it doesn’t just strike something you can quickly pick up, treat inability to place that crucial moment inthe developing World Health countries. Organization (WHO). is the same for millions with TB explains Dr Helen Fletcher, Director of worldwide. A report by the London Assembly in theand TB prevent Centre ongoing at the London transmission,” School of 2015 revealed that certain boroughs Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. This is Despite what many believe, TB in London had rates of TB as high as one of the key challenges of controlling continues to affect – and kill – millions 113 per 100,000 people. These levels the epidemic. Alumni News 11

3D computer-generated image of a cluster of rod-shaped drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria. Credit CDC/James Archer

Meera Senthilingam

Meera Senthilingam is a global health journalist and communications specialist with a decade of experience in science journalism. She holds an MSc in Science Communication from Imperial College London and an MSc in Control of Infectious Diseases from the School.

Meera is passionate about global health issues and often ventures

“TB is now the biggest single found there: sub-Saharan Africa, ground about issues affecting infectious disease killer in the fuelled by HIV lurking in the communitiesinto the field toaround report the on world. the background. She specialises in reporting for in fatality status, along with the international news organisations culminationworld,” says Drof theFletcher. millennium This rise and is currently a digital number of new infections was producer within the health team development goals, led to major Whilst the MDG to reverse the achieved, this was not enough. “The at CNN and CNN International, through the announcement of targets are very ambitious, but with and launched our multimedia anchanges ambitious in the plan field to of tackle TB control the no ambition, there would be no feature series. millennia-old disease once and for Meera has produced and written all – the End TB strategy. Director of the Global Tuberculosis progress,” says Dr Mario Raviglione, a series of interactive features strategy to end TB takes things for the School’s series. world have slowly eliminated the muchProgramme further at with the WHO.the plan The to new wipe disease,Whilst certain the burden regions in othersof the has out the epidemic once and for all grown. Absolute numbers of people by 2035. infected remain high in India and Read the full feature at the highest in the world. Another features.lshtm.ac.uk regionChina, wherehas become population an epicentre sizes are based on actual rates of infection On the move: the race to keep forced migrants healthy by Meera Senthilingam

The forced migration of people made to leave their homes has increased steadily and is at its highest yet. The majority of refugees are healthy. “You have to be quite healthy simply to make

Migrants must be strong to face the horrors encountered when crossing mountains and seas, with the ever-presentjourney to a country,” risk of death says from Martin drowning, McKee, Professor exposure, of or European even attacks. Public They Health need at their the School.health to embark on the journey.

Today, one in four refugees begin the School. According to Roberts, their journey in Syria, the main the mass movement of migrants Dr Roberts. The close proximity and refugees in Europe in 2015 is vaccinations,” says both migrants and refugees are now emblematic of the situation globally, migration and mass movement traversingsource of refugees neighbouring globally. continents Waves of and a feature of globalisation. putspeople them find at themselves constant risk during of new in search of a better future and are infections. People coming from unable to stop until they reach their emergency response kicks in and destination. For many, the destination When people are displaced an themselves surrounded by hundreds is unknown. “It’s a phenomenon the challenge begins to keep them orspacious, thousands rural of villages people canin a nowform find of that has been increasing in recent alive and well. Typically, the response begins with crisis intervention. “You every location they encounter. founding member of the Health start with life-saving services, such as “moving town” and facing new risks in anddecades,” Humanitarian says Dr Bayard Crisis CentreRoberts, at preventing disease outbreaks through Alumni News 13

Dr Roberts believes provisions today “Clearly conflict is identify the burden of mental health should expand beyond communicable disorders and current levels of access disease and include more chronic, going to exacerbate to services for those affected. non-communicable disorders. “People poor mental health,” living with heart disease or diabetes This follows on from recent work in Georgia where people were found to need to maintain treatment before says Dr Roberts, who investigates the have elevated levels of depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, Failing to help them could prove fatal. their own country, known as internal and anxiety, triggered not only by complications set in,” says Dr Roberts. displacement.effect on people forced to flee within experiencing trauma, but also the middle-income settings, such as There is growing recognition that daily stresses of being forced to leave Syria,The occurrence involves treating of conflict a new in more group the psychological stress of exposure your home. High levels of alcohol of conditions found among more abuse were also seen among men. your home or country, and lose all “Harmful use of alcohol is totally of the Syrian population was diabetic, socialto violence, networks, being has forced strong to fleehealth accordingaffluent populations. to the International In 2014, 7.4% consequences, such as depression. says Dr Roberts. Diabetes Federation, and in their The suffering extends to the loved neglected in the humanitarian field,” prior life, treatment would have been ones of the person experiencing readily available, and accessible. a mental disorder, and can result The problem, however, is the in loss of social functioning and additional complexity that comes productivity. “It has a long-lasting, with this change, such as treating the later stages of diabetes, cancer or cardiovascular disease. “This is a huge pervasive influence on individuals and new challenge to the humanitarian communities,”His team plans saysto begin Dr Roberts. a study in sector and it’s generally much more health of people currently displaced withinUkraine the investigating country. The the objective mental is to expensive,” says Dr Roberts.

Read the full features and more at

features.lshtm.ac.uk Planning for a family – in a camp

“People go to places they know are safe and camps form medical anthropologist at the School. Dr Palmer has been affectingaccording 1 to in the 26 women.World Health Organization (WHO) whose researchingaround them,” family says planningDr Jennifer services Palmer, in Research settings of Fellow crisis and figures also reveal a continued high risk of maternal death, and displacement, including camps in Juba, South . As the needs and circumstances of people change, so do the Here, despite largely experiencing better access to health health and research priorities associated with them. One care, women also face unexpected social circumstances thing remains the same: the need to stay healthy physically that come with living in such a managed setting. and mentally. Health continues as a key possession for people to take with them, and maintain, on the road, “There is always a need to integrate family planning regardless of where they came from.

However, when culturally- and politically-controversial reproductiveinto emergency health response services programmes,” such as family says planning Dr Palmer. are new to a population, there is inevitably a period where new social norms need to be negotiated.

says“Women Dr Palmer. move to South Juba Sudanfor a more has the liberal highest life andfertility now rate find inthemselves the world, in with camps more where than they 5 children can’t use born contraception,” per woman, 14 Alumni News

Project to develop new poultry vaccines awarded £5.7 million

Poultry is the world’s most popular animal- based food and its global production has tripled in the past 20 years. The world’s chicken flock is now estimated to be around 21 billion, producing 1.1 trillion eggs and 90 million tons of meat every year. A healthily maintained livestock is essential, both for a country’s economic prosperity and for public health.

Infected poultry can pass on diseases to humans, particularly through foodborne infections such as salmonella and campylobacter. Project principal

Pathogenesis at the School, said: “Developing effective, investigatorinexpensive vaccinesBrendan forWren, livestock Professor has multipleof Microbial advantages, not just in protecting animals from disease, but also in reducing infections in humans and antibiotics in the foodCheap chain and thateffective are often vaccines used for in rearingpoultry livestock.” that will reduce infections in humans and minimise antibiotics in the food chain are being developed by the School as part of a £5.7 million grant from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council. Alumni News 15

Credit: MRC

Professor Sir Brian Greenwood awarded the 2015 MRC Millennium Medal

Professor Sir Brian Greenwood, Manson Professor for clinical studies and trials of drugs and vaccines have of Clinical Tropical Medicine, has been awarded the prestigious MRC Millennium Medal Award by the Medical Research Council. The Millennium Medal, which was reinventedIn recent years, field Professorresearch inSir tropical Brian has medicine. contributed to inaugurated in 2000, recognises Medical Research several landmark studies including the trials of the RTS,S Council-funded scientists for outstanding research. malaria vaccine, pneumococcal vaccines in The Gambia, the evaluation of a new meningococcal vaccine in seven Professor Sir Brian has spent 50 years carrying out countries in sub-Saharan Africa and the development of research in Africa, with a focus on some of the major seasonal malaria chemoprevention to prevent malaria. infectious diseases killing children – malaria, meningitis Among his other projects, he is currently involved in Ebola vaccine trials in . and international public health policies, and his methods and pneumonia. His research has influenced national Professor Sir Brian said: “I am very grateful to the MRC for awarding me the Millennium Medal which is, of course, recognition not only of my own research but also that of the many scientists with whom I have had the privilege of working during the past 50 years. There have been many changes in the way that research has been conducted in Africa during this period, the most important of which has been the increasing prominence of African scientists, and I am delighted that I have had the opportunity to contribute to this important change.” 16 Alumni News

worksDr Elizabeth as the (Liz)CEO ofWala, the Kenyagraduated Medical from Association. the School in 2011 with an MSc in Infectious Diseases by Distance Learning. Liz now Dr“My MSc hasLiz really helped Wala me with My proudest achievement career wise my career. The insights in public so far has been using my technical health, the analytical thinking and knowledge to apply it during my the international exposure have had work. I was instrumental in the an impact directly on my career. The introduction of new vaccine antigens (pneumonia and rotavirus) for my programme helped me balance my country’s Expanded Programme careerflexibility and of my the family. distance learning of Immunisation. These catapulted the country to being amongst the I had a very supportive supervisor who worked with me especially saving vaccines for the children of during the project work. Coming first in the region to introduce life- from a where launch of the pneumonia vaccination timelines are not kept as required, I programmeKenya. I still whichremember the then the officialPresident almost got time barred due to delays outside my control but she was reduction of mortality and morbidity of pneumoniaKenya officiated. and diarrhoea The data onin during her holiday period to guide patient enough to sacrifice her time children, makes it worth every single me. I also studied with a fellow doctor, moment spent in gearing up for the introduction of the vaccines. link up for study sessions and share experiencesDr Margaret inWambui, juggling and motherhood, we would I want to keep on making a difference in the health care sector of my country very good friends since. The and the region. I want to use my Alumnicareer, and Chapter studies. has We’ve also linked remained me up international training to come up with with quite a number of useful social local solutions for the issues plaguing contacts. our health care sector. My ambition

The discipline to study alone without someone overseeing is challenging. is to be a trail-blazer by proving that I developed a routine of studying Africans can change their destiny.” in the early hours of the morning. I had to manage taking care of four kids, amongst them triplets, a demanding career, and studies! But the experience was worth every single coin and drop of sweat. ALUMNI PROFILE Alumni News 17

A Pair of Sparkling Eyes – An appreciation of Lady Shauna Gosling

the old song. Of all the things it those gaps. “Takewould a be pair good of sparklingto remember eyes,” about says be most effective in helping to fill Shauna, Lady Gosling, those eyes said it all: full of kindness, ready for She was almost first in the field in mischief and fun, as well as seriously that Dual Diagnosis needed to be persuading the UK Government perceptive. These are things that incorporated into mental health made her a wonderful and generous care. Her determination uncovered many needs and she went on to fund she encountered injustice or found a number of research programs into friendgaps in but society’s a doughty fabric fighter of care. when She treatment of addictive behaviour. had a gift for listening and for quiet Shauna met Professor Peter Piot observation which, when she decided and they recognised in each other to take action, made what she did all the passion to help others and the the more effective. importance of evidenced based Shauna Elisabeth Gosling (nee research. A few months later, Ingrams) was born into a family with encouraged by what she learned from a strong professional leaning and experts at the School, Shauna founded a tradition of service – her father, a a new scholarship fund for Global surgeon, served in the trenches in Mental Health. Every Christmas she would write vocation and grew up determined to a poem for her friends and family. WW2. She had a natural sense of qualify as a nurse, which she did in In one, talking about examples of 1954 at Hospital.

Generous by nature, she found all there those gifts, all possible, all unselfishness, she wrote “They are inspiration particularly in what she wonderful. They are gifts; to be able admired in the medical profession. to give is a gift. The gift of giving. “ She was passionate about things Shauna’s greatest memorial will be in in which she perceived excellence, the hearts of so many whose lives she whether in practice or in evolving transformed with help, with caring, research projects. and as she would have loved to think, Always sharp eyed, she was quick with fun! to spot gaps in care, research, education and policy making and then By Dr Maggie Burgess methodically assessed how she could ALUMNI PROFILE 18 Alumni News

Professor Peter Piot, Director of the London School of Introducing the Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, said: “We are delighted that Dame Marjorie will be our new Chairman of Council. Her wealth of experience as a global new Chairman business leader, and her understanding of health and humanitarian work will be a tremendous asset as we of Council continue to develop innovative research and education programmes and forge major new partnerships, such as the Bloomsbury Research Institute.” Dame Marjorie Scardino has taken up her post as the new Chairman of Council at the London Sir Tim Lankester, who was appointed Chairman of Council in 2006 following a very distinguished career as a civil School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. servant and university leader, said: “This is a brilliant She replaces Sir Tim Lankester, who stands down after appointment. I have no doubt that as well as ensuring nearly a decade as Chairman, during which the School has the highest standards of governance, Dame Marjorie will grown to become a world-leading centre for research and provide vision and leadership to support the future success postgraduate education in public and global health.

Commenting on her appointment, Dame Marjorie said: ofDame the School”.Marjorie Scardino, DBE, FRSA, served as Chief “It’s an honour to be associated with such a distinguished teaching and research organisation, which has outstanding 2012. She trained and practised as a lawyer, becoming Executive Officer of Pearson PLC from 1997 to December leadership and faculty, and an ambitious body of students. The School’s success in translating its work into human partner in a law firm in Savannah, Georgia, where she went Groupon to publish as President the Pulitzer of its North Prizewinning American weekly operations newspaper and benefits is a compelling story that I hope, with the very The Georgia Gazette. In 1985, she joined The Economist ableCouncil Council, is the to School’s help build governing and spread.” body and has overall responsibility for its operational and strategic servedAfter retiring as its Chief from Executive Pearson in Officer 2013 fromDame 1993 Marjorie to 1997. became Chairman of the MacArthur Foundation, is on the boards accordance with the School’s Royal Charter. of Twitter and IAG, and is a member of several charitable management. Council members fulfil their roles in and advisory boards, including The Carter Center and The

Royal College of Art. Alumni News 19

Dr Patricia Mechael wins British Council Social Impact Award Dr Patricia Mechael, who Dr Mechael’s vision of the fusion of science and modern technology to improve studied for her PhD at the health has led her into a career as a researcher, educator and policymaker – a career she attributes partly to her foundation provided by the School. School, was awarded the Social Impact Award at the Patricia said: 2016 Education UK Alumni Awards. Dr Mechael “It is a huge honour and in many ways much more a reflection on the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine than on me, as it took real foresight to has been a pioneer of provide a home and support for my research on mobile phones in health in 2000. ‘mHealth’; exploring how I especially owe a debt of gratitude to Simon Carter, Judy Green and Andy Haines, health and well-being can as well as to the inspiring cohort of doctoral students who have gone on to make be improved using mobile incredible contributions in the field of public health and to the world” phones, which was the subject for her PhD at the organisation based in which helps low and middle-income School. countriesPatricia is integratethe Principal digital and health policy solutions lead at HealthEnabled, into their health a non-profit systems. She is on faculty at Johns Hopkins, Princeton and Columbia and is also Executive Vice President at PCH Alliance.

Congratulations Patricia! Low-paid workers ‘less depressed’ after introduction of the national minimum wage in symptoms of depression for at least 22 months afterwards, according to new research published inLow-paid the journal workers Health who Economics. received the UK’s national minimum wage in April 1999 reported a decline

Through statistical modelling, the researchers found the improvement in the overall level of mental health of those receiving the national minimum wage was equivalent to the effect of taking antidepressants. The researchers conclude that wage rises for low-paid workers reduce feelings of anxiety and depression partly, at least, because they are under less financialMartin McKee, strain. Professor of European Public Health at the School, was involved in interpreting the data and its implications for policy. He said: “The publication of the study coincides with the recent introduction of the national living wage and but, as our research shows, increasing the income of the lowest paid can make an important contribution to their mental makes an important contribution to the debate on low pay in the UK. So far, it has focused on jobs and profits of employers health at a time when the NHS faces unprecedented pressure.” Alumni News 21 New Executive Global Health Leadership programme strengthen skills within the health sphere around strategic development, agenda setting, organisationalThis new flagship change course and will policy launch evaluation, in September especially 2017. in The positioning aim of the outside programme of the ishealth to sector, on both national and international stages.

One of its key goals will be to develop and nurture individual leadership, negotiation and diplomacy skills, as with those attending. It will have novel features such as leadershiphigh-level figures incubator as speakers, and accelerator who will programmes. engage closely wellThe courseas the capacitywill be completed to influence over and a year,empower and include others. three residential weeks - in London, Geneva and Cape Town. It is including low and middle-income countries. If you would designed around case studies and problem-based learning, likeWe areto make hoping a gift to recruit in support Fellows of future from leadersall over ofthe global world, including negotiation simulations, and will feature many health please contact [email protected]. Alison Coulter Abiola Fatimilehin A warm, heartfelt thank you to everyone Francis Cox Claire Ferraro Caroline Crehan Dwight Ferris who made gifts to the recent Alumni Thomas Crellen Alissa Ferry Iain Crossingham Paul Fine Fund campaign. This year’s appeal raised Andrew Crossman Katharine Fischer June Crown Barnaby Flower over £150,000 for scholarships to train Aubrey Cunnington Annette Floyd Christina Dahm Charlotte Flynn the health leaders of the future. These Jama Dalel Sophy Forman scholarships will change people’s lives. Alan Dangour Susan Foster Kenneth Dardick Dimitrios Fragkoudis Deya Dasgupta Zaya Fullerton Pratibha Datta Chun Fung Thank you to all alumni who recently made gifts: Patricia David Ian Furbank Alisha Davies Gareth Davies Benjamin Gale Rui Abreu Pereira Nasim Bahar Emmeline Brew-Graves Judith Davies SallyKezia Gale Gaitskell David Adams Mark Baker Olivier Briet Rebecca Davis Aminu Garba Aisha Adamu Rajarshi Banerjee Datonye Briggs Doyin Dawodu Amy Gausvik Antonia Adeniji Stewart Brock Sharon Daye John Gawoski Deborah Agbedjro Simona Barlera Judith Brown Ruwanpura De Silva Véronique Genaille Samson Agbo Azucena Bardají Birgitte Bruun Amarasekera Jaspinder Ghuman Saadia Ahmad Dritan Bejko Camilla Buchanan Judith Deacon Harm Gijsman NaomiElizabeth Bell Barrett-Connor Emmeline Buckley Dixie Dean Clare Gilbert Heather Aird Ricardo Bello Maggie Burgess Stephanie Dellicour Randeep Gill PaulMinal Akinwamide Ahson-Niaz Mark Belsey Lisa Byrne John Delury Marie Gisselsson-Solen Ebong Akpabio Reginald Benn Jacqueline Cassell Marc Derveeuw Maria Giwa Francesco Albertoni Robert Bethel Matthew Castleden Diana Divajeva Thomas Godec Anastasia Alcock Karen Bevan-Mogg Carlos Chaccour Lauren D’Mello-Guyett Erika Goldson Roberta Alessandrini Anand Bhat Katja Doerholt Almonther Alhasawi Vishal Bhavsar Jacqueline Chandler-Oatts Michael Dohn Penelope Green Mahmoud Alhassan Kamal Bhula OscarKam Wa Jaime Chan Chang Anna Doubell EdgarRikke GreenwayGonzález-Sedano Suaad Al-Jaberi Catherine Biller David Chappel Robert Douglas Celia Gregson Pauline Allen Christopher Bird Sarah Cheney Mary Greipp Stephanie Allen Mutahunga Birungi Sonia Cheng Jennifer Duffy Leon Biscornet MargaretArabella Duffield Eames Caterina Guinovart-Florensa John Anderson Ruth Blackburn Jung-Fu Chiang Derek Norman Earl KristinClare Griffiths Gustafsen ChristinaElizabeth AndraliaAlwers Chris Blacktop MartaEleonora Chmielowska Cherry-Wijnans Charlie Easmon Melissa Andrew Ariella Bock Rene Christensen Courtney Edison Dominic Gyasi Daniel Ankrah Jesse Bonwitt Shameela Chucha Matthew Edmunds RebeccaJuan Gutierrez Hall Eimhin Ansbro Christel Bosman Hannah Clare Michelle Eilers Christopher Hands Timothy Clayton Adil El-Tayar Robert Harris Peter Armitage Richard Clements Jose Eluf Neto Angela Harris JudithElizabeth Asielue Archer LeighRachel Bowman Bousfield Nicole Cohen Yaccub Enum Bassey Asuquo LouiseLiza Bowen Boyle Marilee Cole Judith Hassan Sara Atkin Alison Brammer Sandrine Estoppey MonicaRebecca Hau Elizabeth Harrison Mariangela Autelitano Anthony Brandling-Bennett Barry Cookson LarsNwoza Fadnes Eshun Jeffrey Hau Philip Ayieko Elise Braunschweig Kaufman JamesElizabeth Cooper Colquitt Olubunmi Fakunle Sven Haugtomt Fatmata Bah Joel Breman Janice Cordery Jenny Farrer Justin Healy Benno Kreuels Benno Alison Krentel Koutroumpi Stavroula-Konstantina Kosmidis Marios Sarah Kong Daniel Kohls Kloess Johannes Kirkbride James King Michael Kim Dani Kiefer Sabine Khushal Mehreen Mohammad Khan Dina Khan Kerry Sally Kaups Krista Kaplan Gweneth Kamara Ansumana Juneja Pia Julien Vernanda Jones Janet Jones Jeffrey Johnson Sonali John Thomas Jeffery Richard Isba Rachel Inskip Hazel Ibrahim Amal Huque Sumaya Huncovsky Martin Hume Jane Huijts (Henriette) Ini Douglas Huber Huang Anne Howell-Jones Rebecca Houweling Hans Horvathova Sona Hannah Holland Spaans Hoek Remy Hockham Carinna Sandy Hoar David Hill Higgs Stephen Faye Hickey Herbert Jonathan Hennessy Enid Heneghan Kathleen Hazel Heaver Emma

Henderson Tom Mecrow McGuirl Kelly Emma McGuire McGovern Anthony McDowell Ronald Mccullough Gelise McCabe Frances McAlpine Gael Maxwell Janet Matheson Nicholas Mason Nicholas Mason Alison Mason Susannah Lester Mascarenhas Perez Martinez Angela Jaclyn Marrinan Markus Miles Servitje Mariscal Lorenza Mandalia Sundhiya Manirou Mahaman Haladou Madevu-Matson Caitlin Hernandez Macias Alejandro Macdonald Evelyn Mabayoje Diana Lunga Precious Lowe Derek Tejal Lovelock Lotsu Olatoye Lookhar Rahi Sheetal Longton Katie Long Katherine Long Carla Lockett Anthony Litaker John Linden Marco Lin Anny YeeWai Lim Leodolter Kurt Shirley Lennon Lee Jae Colin Leake Latif Siama Barney Larkin Toby Langdon Bogues Landman- Jacqueline Kwobah Charles Jessica Kuehne THANK Keiko Otani Keiko Oreh Adaeze Onu Nnenne Olson Maryn OliverBeth Emparan De Olivares Pablo Juan Ojo Tunde Ohmagari Norio Oguntoye Susana Karen Ofosu-Orchard Ofori Anthony Oeser Clarissa O’Donnell John Anand Odedra O’Connor Heather Ococ Martha O’Brien Mary O’Brien Ann Siv Nygaard November Lucy Sarina Norris Lisa Noonan Noah Norman Shinichi Nishiuma Nic Fhogartaigh Caoimhe Ni Fhalluin Maebh Nettleton Clive Neil Hugh Nash June Yoshimi Nakata Nacul Luis Mwesigwa Betty Muzee Fiona Munbodh Prabodh Claire Mulrenan Paul Mullane Mulema Vivienne Muhammad Rilwan Mo-Suwan Ladda Morwinsky Thomas Laura Morris Arthur Morris Kirsty Morris Miroslava Mihalkova Mertens Eva Merati Elizabeth Helen Mensah Fiona Mellor Ruth Tobias Meier YOU Julianna Smith Menno Smit Liam Smeeth Sinclair Chantil Simpson Emma Simoes Eduardo Riina Sikkut Lin-Yi Shish Shinwell Jonathan Shaw Wasan Alan Pachouri Sharma Suparna Hina Shahid Reshma Shah Severi Ettore Schreuder Petrus Schoemaker Minouk Schlotheuber Anne Sawyer Joseph Kumankuma Sarpong Agyekum Frank Sandi Sampson Jonathan Sackeyfio Valerie Rychel Valerie Ruggles Ruth Ruby Alexander Roxby Alison Carolyn Roth Roper Martha Robinson Lucy Riro Solomon Montes Riera Margarita Gwenllian Riall Renard-Schild Laurence Reinders Stefan Rees Claire Sharon Reed Kuri Rassy Dunia Ransom Elizabeth Ramyil Alice Sreeram Ramagopalan Anand Rajeswaran Yasa Rajapakse Radovich Emma Rabii Kristine Lim Peng Quek Timothy Prudden Holly Pritt Bobbi Pratt Steven Nitara Prasannan Powers Kate Popinchalk Jocelyn Polaine Laura Polachek Leanne Playfair Catherine Pinder Margaret Pilkington Fiona Megan Phillips Pett Ian Pett Simon Peters-Weist Astrid Thomas Peterman Perry Anthony Perry Keith Perrinjaquet Craig Ferrer Perez Carolina Cachafeiro Perez Santiago Achiaga Perez Natalia Margaret Peel Paze Enrica Payne Ruth Parry Matti Parker Katherine Papo Jacqueline Paden Anna Oyewole Laura Owolabi Helen Owa Adewale Kampe im Otte Eveline Lorenzo Straub Kate Stier Agnes Stidolph Paul Tara Stewart Stewart Holley Stevenson Anne Stevenson Jennifer Stanojevic Sanja Springall James Speirs Christopher Snell Gemma James White Graham Whincup Peter Werner Georgia Wensley Frances Weller Richard Weintraub Philip Weeks Valerie Weatherall Rosamund Warren-Gash Charlotte Ward Ronald Walsh Amanda Wall Anna Walker Godfrey Walker Anna Zoe Vowles Salim Vohra Pauline Vetter Vermund Sten Varma Raja Anitha Varghese Vandervelde Elise Broek Vander Charles Pomeren Van Tayma Loggerenberg van Francois Hove Van Dirk Hest Van Norbertus Ajay Vamadevan Sarala Valenzuela Leonard Uusitalo Ulla Turner Kathryn Turkington Cheryl Ming-Yuan Tseng Cassia Trewin Sara Tran Tookey Patricia Tomova Dimitrinka Tomlinson Laurie Todd Mark ToddSophie To Lee Mark Timlin Thomson Rebecca Thomas Camille Theocharaki Foivi Tamirat Tesfamariam Casie Tesfai Tefera Alemayehu Taylor Jayne Taylor Dawn Tayeh Ahmed Targett Geoffrey Hirsch Tami Adriana Szczepanski Jaromir Sugiura Kanna Alessandro Za Alessandro Yusuff Usman Woskie Liana Williams Sian Williams Frances Williams Farah Wilks Rainford Wilkie John Wilkes Lesley Wighton Susan Whitty Robert

Alumni News 23 Whitehorn

Subissi 24 Alumni News Alumni Events

Thank you to everyone who attended a recent alumni event. Information about all our forthcoming events are available online at http://alumnionline.lshtm.ac.uk/events-homepage. Highlights from the past year include:

Over 80 alumni attended a special event during the AIDS 2016 conference, hosted by School Director Professor Peter Piot.

Staff, students and alumni attended

The Deputy and special exhibitions in UAE in Qatar. AIDS 2016 Reception – Durban, South Africa capital’s work on Smart Cities. London Universities showcased the Deputy-Director and Provost Professor Dame Anne Mills along with some of the world’s leading health economists met alumni in , Ethiopia in May.

Over 70 alumni attended our annual reception in Geneva. The weather didn’t quite go our way but the company was great. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Abu Dhabi, UAE and Doha, Qatar

Professor Peter Piot hosted an alumni reception during the 2015 European Congress on Tropical Medicine and International Health.

ECTMIH Reception - Basel, Geneva, Switzerland Switzerland

Over 200 alumni attended our annual ASTMH reception in Philadelphia. Friends of the School Gus and Jenny Carey also kindly hosted a fundraising dinner.

A record number of guests attended our annual reception for alumni, students and staff of our Distance Distance Learning Philadelphia, USA Learning Programme. Reception – London, UK Alumni News 25 Alumni Chapters chapter volunteers and to everyone who took part in Chapter activities. Our international Alumni Chapters held over 50 events in the past year around the world. Thank you to all our amazing

Amsterdam Chapter Launch LA Chapter Brunch

Paris Chapter Drinks Kuala Lumpur Chapter Launch

Tokyo Party 20th Anniversary Party Gambia Chapter Meet-up

Montreal Chapter Meeting Sao Paulo Chapter Launch Boston Chapter Meeting The School offers free The School’s free online courses were launched to align with the School’s mission of improving health worldwide. Free online courses are a way for the online courses. Over School’s cutting-edge research and world-class teachings to reach professionals 30,000 participants have who would otherwise be unable to undertake a course at the School. completed the courses The courses cover important topics linked to global health and give an below, with more courses introductory overview at postgraduate level on various topics. in the pipeline.

Eliminating Trachoma An estimated 150 million people in 51 countries are and Controlling the Aedes Mosquito affected by trachoma, a neglected tropical disease. It occurs ThisPreventing course looks the at theZika science Virus: behind Understanding the Zika outbreak in some of the poorest populations with limited access to in order to try and understand where the virus has come clean water, sanitation, and healthcare, and is the world’s from, its symptoms, their effect on infected individuals, and leading infectious cause of blindness. At present, we have how it can be controlled. a unique opportunity to eliminate this disease. This course aims to inform and support the personnel implementing and managing trachoma programmes at a district and community level. Transmission, Response and Control ThisEbola free in online Context: course looksUnderstanding at how Ebola caused the recent humanitarian crisis and worldwide panic. It and Adolescents: from Evidence to Action examines the science behind the outbreak, to understand Improving the Health of Women, Children why it has occurred on this scale and how it can be This course is designed for healthcare professionals or controlled. The course is taught by experts from a wide anyone working in a health organisation; medical students range of disciplines from epidemiologists and clinicians and postgraduates wishing to complement their studies; to anthropologists and health systems researchers and and anyone else with an interest in learning about the with contributions from experts who have been directly health of women, children and adolescents. involved in the Ebola outbreak at different stages and from different angles. www.lshtm.ac.uk/study/freeonlinecourses Alumni News 27

Programming for Nutrition Outcomes

Development. It explores the problem of undernutrition, highlights This course is supported by the UK Department for International solutions. Chronic undernutrition affects nearly 200 million children inits lowmulti-sectoral and middle causes income and countries, identifies and potential there is programmatic strong evidence that undernutrition is associated with up to 45% of all child deaths globally. millionsHowever, of undernutrition lives and contribute is preventable. to long-term A set health of direct and nutrition development. specific Credit: Habib Hasan, Public Health interventions have been defined which, if brought to scale, could save Foundation of India Agriculture, Nutrition and Health This course was commissioned by Irish Aid and explores the New Distance multi-sectoral links between agriculture, nutrition and health, highlight current evidence and identify potential programmatic solutions. The Learning MSc

Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation suggests that agricultural in Demography andlatest food State systems of Food must and nowAgriculture play an reportincreased published role in bypromoting the United more & Health nutritious and sustainable diets for populations all over the world.

Global Blindness: Planning and our latest distance learning Managing Eye Care Services programmeWe are pleased in Demography to announce & Health. This unique online Participants are introduced to the magnitude and causes of course offers professional blindness at a global level, with an emphasis on low and middle training for those who wish income country settings. to acquire technical expertise in demographic measurement and estimation; and in understanding the interlinkages between population health, sexual behaviour, fertility, ageing, inequality and migration.

Further information: www.lshtm.ac.uk/study/ distance-demography-health Mwanza Intervention Trials Unit: Showcasing Successful Collaboration In Tanzania

of educational and behavioural training intervention in reducing interventions, control of acute intimate partner violence. aThe joint Mwanza initiative Intervention of the School Trials and and chronic sexually transmitted Unit (MITU) was set up in 2006 as infections, and vaginal microbicides. capacity in the region to support MITU is committed to developing establishedthe Tanzania with National special Institute funding for from Medical Research (NIMR). MITU was to improving health through the is achieved through a number The mission of MITU is to contribute rigorous scientific research. This but is now largely self- supporting development and evaluation of of initiatives including support throughthe UK Medical research Research grant income. Council interventions against HIV and other health problems; to enhance the The collaboration between the capacity to carry out such research in Schoolfor colleagues MSc distance from the learning scientific courses; School and NIMR originated in the community in Mwanza to undertake late 1980s, when the HIV epidemic and to contribute to the translation of complete postgraduate training at was expanding rapidly in East Africa. Tanzania and the East African region; world-leadingsupport for MITU/NIMR academic institutions;staff to Scientists from the School (led by partnership with other stakeholders. delivering an annual intensive Professors Richard Hayes and Heiner research findings into health policy in short course in research methods; Grosskurth) worked with NIMR and participating in international expanded its research portfolio in a and the African Medical Research During the past ten years, MITU has consortia such as Training Health Foundation to develop a programme number of areas. This includes studies Researchers into Vocational of research on HIV interventions in to assess the HIV burden in general Excellence in East Africa (THRiVE). and high-risk populations; research on the epidemiology of human for teaching opportunities that can MwanzaThe collaboration region. has carried out a papillomavirus among girls and young enhanceMITU continues local researcher to identify training. new areas series of ground-breaking studies on women; leading an Ebola vaccine the epidemiology and control of HIV trial; a study of the health system and other sexual health problems, response to non-communicable particularly focusing on randomised diseases and other chronic diseases; To read more about MITU please visit: controlled trials of preventive and a trial to assess the impact of a http://www.mitu.or.tz/ interventions. This included trials

combined micro-finance and gender- Alumni News 29

Message from the Student Representative Council

The Student Representative Council sends its greetings from London. Today is one of those sunny days that have been their exams, and Research Degree students are moving forwardrare in the with past their few projects. weeks. MSc Some students have planned have just vacations finished during this time just to get some sunshine (we all need our assistance by sharing your perspective of life as a graduate daily dose of vitamin D!) of the School. You can do this in a number of ways – you can write a blog about your career, come back to the School to As the School year moves along, many students have started your current career information. few students have opted to do internships in order to gain give a career talk or simply up-date the Alumni Office with experiencethinking about and their branch future out theirpaths networks. upon finishing Others term. have A applied to jobs and are already working part-time, but all London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, and its sons We hope to foster even greater connections between the students will have that moment when they start thinking and daughters sent all over the world to spread the gospel of about their own purpose in life, and how they can proceed health for all. to improve health worldwide. Best wishes, I’m sure that you have undergone the same deliberation, Dr Adrian Rabe which is why I am reaching out to you to request for some President, Student Representative Council

Obituary: Professor Harrison Spencer

It is with great sadness that we share the news that Professor Harrison Spencer, the School’s former Dean, has died in tragic circumstances.

Professor Spencer was appointed Dean of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine in 1996, and during the four and the launch of new programmes and partnerships. These years of his leadership, he oversaw significant expansion, researchincluded programme,our first distance new learningDFID projects, courses, and the in Malaria1999, the celebrationCentre, a US$40 of the million School’s Gates-funded Centenary. collaborative malaria

for Disease Control and Prevention. He founded and directed appointment as President and CEO of the Association of the CDC research station in from 1979 to 1984, SchoolsIn 2000, and he returned Programs to of the Public USA Healthto take (ASPPH),up a new where he achieved great success in advocating and advancing cooperation in public and global health. Professor Spencer wasserved Chief as Seniorof the Parasitic Medical OfficerDiseases at Branchthe Malaria at CDC. Action From 1991 toProgram 1996, he of wasthe World Dean ofHealth the Tulane Organization School ofin PublicGeneva, Health and and Tropical Medicine in New Orleans. was elected a Founding Fellow of the UK Academy of Medical SciencesHarrison inSpencer 1998 and studied to the at U.S. Haverford Institute College, of Medicine Johns in 2003. Professor Spencer was greatly respected and loved by colleagues and students alike. He will be much missed, and student on our Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene our deepest sympathies and thoughts are with his family and programmeHopkins and in Berkeley. 1972. His He early first careercame to was the with School the as Centers a many friends.

@ACETcharity @BandAid30 HoholeMaeza, school the buildmain -contractor only woman on contractor in Mekele #Ethiopia

Our lives aligned 31 years ago, so wonderful Band Aid nurse to celebrate a very different #Ethiopia together in 2016 @BandAid30 Dame Claire Mekele really is Booming! & Blooming! great to see it so transformed since my time Bertschinger here in the 80s #Ethiopia So joyful to see beautiful Birhan Woldu & finally meet her daughter Claire, my returns to Ethiopia namesake #Ethiopia

The School’s Director of the Diploma in Tropical Nursing, Dame Two dapper humanitarian gents; Bob of Claire Bertschinger, worked in Ethiopia during the 1984 famine. @BandAid30 & @sammyassefa from @ The humanitarian crisis caused by the famine inspired Band Aid ACETcharity waiting for a cup of #Ethiopia and later . Dame Claire recently returned to Ethiopia with fellow humanitarian activists and campaigners. She tweeted about Lack of latrines can be a real barrier to her experiences. menstruating girls staying in education -this one is 10ft deep #Ethiopia Brilliant Bisrat of @ACETcharity #Ethiopia partner EYES “development must involve women, this is how it will happen” Irradiating poverty with education: building a new school for these rural kids by @ACETcharity @BandAid30 #Ethiopia International community must not abandon #Ethiopia in this drought, or we will undo the development of last 30 years Alumni News 31

New Health in Humanitarian Crises Centre

The Health in Humanitarian Crises Centre brings together researchers across the School to focus on majorconflict, and natural growing disasters, contributor disease to improving the health of populations ill-healthoutbreaks and and vulnerability other hazards worldwide. are a affected by humanitarian crises They also present a number of through quality research, teaching, distinct challenges for public health consultancy, training and independent intervention and research. advice to relief agencies, and dissemination of objective, http://crises.lshtm.ac.uk/ evidence-based information. Humanitarian crises due to armed

Stacey L. Knobler: President of the American Friends of the School

Stacey is a Senior Adviser and building for evidence-based decision #ETHIOPIA making in low and middle-income Fogarty International Center of the countries. Scientific Program Director at the She currently directs several large- Stacey has built successful research scaleU.S. National initiatives Institutes within theof Health. Division and programmatic collaborations of International Epidemiology and agencies, bilateral and multilateral Population Studies, including a across and among US federal multi-site international research donor organisations, philanthropic collaboration focused on child health foundations, and the life science and development outcomes in industries. resource-limited settings (the She has received many awards MAL-ED study); the development for outstanding achievement and of tools to improve research, development, and delivery of life- Institute of Medicine, the National saving vaccines (SMART Vaccines Academydistinguished of Sciences service and to the the US Fogarty 2.0); and, collaborative research International Center. and capacity building programmes designed to enhance and expand Stacey received her Bachelor’s biorisk management in Pakistan. degrees in Molecular Genetics and

Stacey has over 20 years of Rochester and her Master’s degree in experience as a global health and PublicPolitical Health Science from from the the London University School of development professional in the of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. areas of research, programme design and implementation, and strategic planning related to the epidemiology and control of infectious diseases, maternal and child health, brain disorders, and institutional capacity- GAY SEX SURVEY:

WhyBy Dr Ford Hickson preventing HIV means calling Blame has always been the key note of anthe HIV epidemic end among to gay men. finger In to point to pointingcertain drugs such as of the latest gay men’s sex survey, the the 1980s the self-righteous blamed mephedroneRecently the fingerand the has emergence been turned of largestWe’ve recently and longest released running the resultssurvey of gay people, the promiscuous and sex smartphone apps such as Grindr that its kind in the world. This time more workers. They in turn blamed the make it easier for people to hook up – than 15,000 men answered an online government and the churches. The the powerful combination of stronger, survey about sex, drugs, prevention old blamed the young and the young cheaper stimulants and the means needs and health services. blamed the old. The natives blamed the foreigners, the British blamed the a short period of time. The result is a Americans and the humans blamed chemsexto contact scene. a lot of But “up-for-it” how common men in is the monkeys. No one wanted to be seen as part of the problem. right direction? it? And are our fingers pointing in the Alumni News 33

Drink and drugs Testing, testing … Not a magic pill

In the preceding four weeks of the The number of HIV tests taken in But it is a mistake to put everything survey, 89% said they had drunk into PrEP when it comes to alcohol and 39% had smoked tobacco gay sex has increased ten-fold in prevention. In our survey, 20% of – alarming but not surprising. The the UK each year by men who have use of the drugs typically associated the number of diagnoses has also that kissing never transmits HIV. with chemsex was relatively rare. increasedthe past ten and years. the lengthUnsurprisingly, of time men Thinkingrespondents of HIV were prevention not confident only one In the last four weeks only 5% had spend with undiagnosed infection, topic at a time impedes our ability used mephedrone, 3% had used a key parameter for their prognosis, to provide education across the GHB and 2% had used crystal meth – is thankfully getting shorter. But demonstrably wide range of needs in somewhat surprising given chemsex there has not been a surge in new the community. is such a hot topic. It shouldn’t be. HIV infections. Estimates from Public Health England suggest that the Over the years, attention has shifted The use of these drugs is highly number of men being infected has from promiscuity, to not using concentrated in particular groups condoms, to HIV treatment optimism, about 2,600 infections each year. The to the internet, to not enough testing, had used any of these three drugs stayed flat over the last ten years at to chemsex, to PrEP-refuseniks. No and networks. While 7% of all men contexts in which men are getting in the past four weeks, 22% of men infected might be changing but the living with diagnosed HIV and 33% PrEP is widely available and there is doubt in five or ten years’ time, if GAY SEX SURVEY: of men living with HIV in London had blame? done so. In some networks, almost number doing so isn’t. Who is to pointing at something else. all men use these drugs. Among the still an epidemic, the finger will be men using them the risks of harm at the NHS for refusing to provide Looking for singular solutions has are very high. But the needs of men pre-exposureThe finger is currently prophylaxis, pointing or PrEP, not got us ahead of the curve on engaged in chemsex are not best for HIV, an effective but expensive HIV infections among men having served by suggesting chemsex is preventative drug – expensive to the sex with each other. It is a complex universal. In fact, suggesting that it is NHS, who must buy Truvada, the multifaceted problem that requires universal runs the risk of giving the branded drug, and expensive to all sustained systemic change in a wide impression that it is both inevitable those individuals who cannot afford range of social institutions. One and impossible to escape. Most gay the generic version online. This agency alone cannot end HIV, but all men in Britain, even in its gay centres, individual institutions can recognise are not having chemsex. community anger at being strung the part they play in promoting risks alongfinger inis anaccompanied 18-month processby justified to and inhibiting precautions – and to But many men are still acquiring HIV develop NHS guidelines that was reverse them. Finger pointing should summarily terminated – and which play no part. survey asked men with HIV whether during gay sex. For the first time, the raised well-founded suspicions of Dr Ford Hickson is a Lecturer and they thought drugs or alcohol had deception and misdirection. played a part in their acquiring the Course Director in Public Health, infection. A quarter felt they played London School of Hygiene & Tropical a large part, while three quarters felt Medicine. This article was originally they played little or no part. Drugs published on The Conversation. are part of the story but far from the whole story. Credit: Emma Jeffery

Could dog detectives sniff out malaria?

By Dr James Logan Senior Lecturer in Medical Entomology at School and Director of ARCTEC. Alumni News 35

Dogs have a highly sensitive sense of smell, making them great at nosing out illegal drugs or prohibited imports. However, it’s not

also turn their paws to healthcare, as their noses are able to pick upjust on crime the subtle fighting odour these changes dog detectives in humans assist when us somewith. diseasesThey can cause slight biochemical changes in our bodies.

valuable way of detecting the disease. detect certain types of cancer, and canWe knoweven bethat trained dogs canto warn successfully people The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation with diabetes when their blood sugar have awarded a £70,000 Grand levels are higher or lower than a Challenges Explorations grant to

of Durham, the Medical Research them to enter a coma. But could dogs the School along with the University alsospecific be used range, to which detect could malaria? cause charity Medical Detection Dogs, to investigateCouncil Unit the in canineThe Gambia detection and UK elsewhere, suggests that infection of malaria. Workwith malaria in our own can alterlaboratory, a host’s and smell. Pilot studies have also shown that Currently, tests for malaria involve distinctive chemicals can be detected laboratory screening, and although in the breath of malaria-infected finger-prick blood collection and individuals. If dogs could sniff out the test are underway,a novel, non- odour clues to identify people with field trials of a non-invasive breath malaria, they could be a new and invasive method of detection that does not require blood samples Credit: Emma Jeffery or technical expertise could be of

greatDog detectives benefit. do not require a laboratory; they are portable, inexpensive, and could rapidly screen many individuals. They could be particularly useful in detecting malaria in communities where only a few people carry the parasite, since identifying these people, who are acting as ‘reservoirs’ that maintain malaria in the population, would allow us to eradicate the disease far more rapidly. In addition, once areas are malaria-free, dogs could be used at entrances to villages, communities and even countries to detect and treat people carrying the disease before entering.

Although progress on Malaria is being made it is still a huge global health problem – last year alone there were 214 million malaria cases and an estimated 438,000 deaths. Could sniffer dogs help snuff out this devastating

disease?For more We news aim blogs to find and out. comment please visit blogs.lshtm.ac.uk/news Alumni Office London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT Phone: +44 (0)20 7299 4772 Email: [email protected] Improving health worldwide www.lshtm.ac.uk