LSHTM Alumni eNews

New MSc in Global Mental Health launched

The first face-to-face taught MSc in Global Mental Health in the world has just been launched by LSHTM and King’s College London Institute of Psychiatry. Teaching faculty from the two institutions include many leaders in the new discipline of Global Mental Health, including Prof Vikram Patel (LSHTM) and Prof Martin Prince (King’s Institute of Psychiatry). Starting in September 2012, the MSc in Global Mental Health can be taken either full-time for one year or part-time for two years. Read More

LSHTM Distance Learning Reception

We are delighted to invite you all to attend a reception for students and alumni who studied for their degrees by distance learning. The School’s Director Professor Peter Piot is hosting this event, which takes place on Friday 9 March from 4-6pm in the Library. Read More RSVP

New Alumni Chapters

We are delighted to announce the launch of new Alumni Chapters in Scotland, Trinidad and Tobago and the USA. The Edinburgh, Scotland Chapter can be contacted at
lshtm.alumni.edinburgh@gmail.com, the Trinidad & Tobago Chapter can be contacted at  
lshtmtrinidadtobago@gmail.com, the Los Angeles, USA Chapter can be contacted at lshtmLA@gmail.com. Information about all our chapters is available on the alumni website.

Washington DC Chapter Event

The Washington DC Alumni Chapter will be holding regular happy hours on the second Tuesday of every second month at Circle Bistro (One Washington Circle Hotel, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20037). Please join us at our next one on 13 March 13 from 6-8pm. For more information, email lshtmalumdc@gmail.com.

Join the new LSHTM Latin American network initiative

As the School strengthens its collaborative links with different regions around the world, the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) network has been created. The aim of this network is to bring together staff, students and alumni from LSHTM who are currently working or are interested in working in and for Latin American and Caribbean countries. For further information please email  LACnetwork@lshtm.ac.uk

Careers News: Jobs at LSHTM and around the world

Alumni can search for employment opportunities on our targeted careers vacancies page. This site includes full time vacancies, research studentships and voluntary opportunities at organisations around the world. Visit the LSHTM Jobsite for current job vacancies at LSHTM.

Call for Participants for a Global Health and International Development Careers Event

The LSHTM Careers Service is holding an evening forum and networking session for careers in Global Health and International Development on Wednesday 7 March.  The panel consists of members of key organisations in the global health and development fields who will give a brief overview of their current roles and their chosen career path, followed by audience Q&A and an informal networking session. This year we would like to invite alumni to participate as panel members and/or in the networking session.  If you work in this field and would like to take part, please contact Dr Alison Hartshorn in the Careers Service at alison.hartshorn@lshtm.ac.uk or call on +44 (0)20 7299 4737 (Tuesday & Wednesdays only).    

New Research and PhD Studentships

ESRC +3/+4 Research Studentships, Bloomsbury Colleges PhD Studentships and the Thorpe Legacy PhD Studentship are open for applications. Read More

Malaria Centre awarded grant to explore zoonotic malaria infection

A major grant has been awarded to LSHTM researchers to investigate why an infection found only in monkeys appears to be increasingly affecting humans. Thanks to the £2.9m grant, supported by four UK research councils, researchers at the LSHTM Malaria Centre will now be able to investigate how the parasite, previously only identified in macaques, has crossed species and is now causing acute disease and death in humans. Read More

Biosciences partnership wins funding for PhD studentships

The School has been awarded funding from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) to train a new generation of scientists as part of a newly formed London consortium. The new BBSRC London Interdisciplinary PhD Programme is being led by UCL, with LSHTM, King’s College London, Birkbeck, University of London, and the Royal Veterinary College as partners. The £5.4 million award is for 18 four-year studentships a year for three years.  Read More

Tropical Disease Epidemiology 40th anniversary event

The Tropical Epidemiology Group (TEG) has been based at the School for the last 40 years. TEG aims to contribute to improvements in the health of the populations of developing countries through epidemiological research aimed at identifying effective interventions. From a modest beginning, the TEG is one of the largest groups of statistical epidemiologists working on the health problems of developing countries, with a particular focus on major diseases in Africa, including malaria, HIV and tuberculosis. To mark over 40 years of research, TEG is organising a symposium at LSHTM on 29-30 March on “Intervention research to improve health in developing countries: progress and future challenges”. Read More

Towards a global health policy? Celebrating 25 years of health policy research and teaching at the LSE

LSHTM alumni are invited to attend a two day conference celebrating 25 years of health policy research and teaching at LSE. The conference will be held on 19 - 20 March.  Read More

Forthcoming short courses

Places are available for the following short courses:  Factor Analysis and Structural Equation Modelling: An introduction using Stata and Mplus, 15 -17 February, Infectious Diseases in Humanitarian Emergencies, 26 - 30 March , Travel Medicine, 16 - 20 April, Adolescent Health in Low and Middle Income Countries, 11 - 22 June, Public Health Planning for Hearing Impairment - 18 - 22 June, Cancer Survival: Principles, Methods and Applications, 25 - 29 June,  and Understanding an eye health system in order to achieve VISION 2020 - 25 - 29 June.

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) Survey

Colleagues at BMGF recently asked for our help in publicising a survey that is being undertaken on their behalf.  The purpose of the survey is to inform decisions by BMGF and other funders about the effectiveness of the Centre for Health Market Innovations, an initiative to share information about private sector health initiatives in low- and middle-income countries.  The survey is targeted at potential users of the CHMI resources; policymakers, social entrepreneurs, staff of funding agencies, investors, researchers, etc.  BMGF greatly appreciate you giving a small amount of your time to participate in a research survey that will inform the development of a health market initiative that identifies, analyzes and connects programmes working to improve access to, quality and affordability of health care for the poor in developing countries. Survey

Share your stories for London 2012 Olympics

This summer's London Olympic and Paralympic Games are set to be the greatest show on earth. We'd like to hear from anyone who has competed in any major sporting events, particularly in Olympic and Paralympic events, or anyone who is involved with London 2012 in any way, whether as a volunteer, health worker, or simply taking part in the ceremonies. Email: Alumni@lshtm.ac.uk.

Increase in motorway speed limit 'poses risks to health'

UK government plans to increase the motorway speed limit by 10mph in England and Wales will have adverse effects on health, outweighing any economic benefits, according to an editorial by Professor Martin McKee and Dr Jamie Lopez Bernal. The academics criticised government proposals to raise the speed limit on all motorways in England and Wales from 70mph to 80mph by the year 2013. Read More

Genetic screens bring new hope for tackling sleeping sickness

Research led by scientists at LSHTM has exploited a revolutionary genetic technique to discover how human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) drugs target the parasite which causes the disease. The new knowledge could help lead to the development of better treatments for the tens of thousands of people in sub-Saharan Africa who are affected each year. Read More

Knighthood for  Professor Brian Greenwood

Distinguished malaria expert Professor Brian Greenwood has been knighted in the New Year Honours list for his services in tackling the disease in Africa. Professor Greenwood’s work as a physician, teacher, researcher and adviser has played a significant role in several developments in malaria prevention and treatment, including the importance of insecticide-treated bednets. Read More

Professor Polly Roy awarded gold medal for science

Leading virologist Professor Polly Roy has been presented with one of India’s most prestigious academic awards. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh awarded the General President's Gold Medal to Professor Roy in recognition of her excellence in research and contributions to the field of science. Her work in the Department of Pathogen Molecular Biology at the School led to the complete understanding of a distinct group of viruses, orbiviruses, of serious health and economic impact. Read More

Recent awards to LSHTM alumni

Amjad Niazi (Diploma in Tropical Public Health, 1967 and PhD Epidemiology 1980) has been awarded the International Shousha Foundation Prize for 2011. He was awarded the prize for his significant contribution to public health in Iraq. The prize was awarded by the WHO and the Eastern Mediterranean Region EMRO. Alimuddin Zumla, MSc Clinical Tropical Medicine 1981, PhD 1987, has recently been awarded three prestigious awards for his work in the field of tuberculosis; The University of Amsterdam Spinoza Leerstoel award, the India International Foundation Science Award  and the World Health Organisation (WHO) STOP TB Kochon Prize.  Professor Zumla donated the $32,500 prize for the WHO award to academic projects in TB and HIV.  

Message from the Climate and Health Council

Climate change is one of the biggest global health threats of the 21st century. Whether changing patterns of disease, water security, food security, or migration, climate change acts as a stressor on all other stressors. It’s not all bad news though. Professor Ian Roberts, co-founder of the Climate and Health Council, says: "If we design climate change policy to maximise the health benefits, it will be the silver lining to the cloud of global warming. It’s the only bit of good news in the whole story." At international, national and local level, find out what your fellow health professionals are doing to combat climate change. Read More