London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

Professor Peter Piot, Director of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, received the Bloomberg Hopkins 100 Award at a ceremony in New York City on Monday, 19 September.

The prestigious award was made as part of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health's 100th anniversary celebrations. It recognises Professor Piot's outstanding commitment to public health; particularly his work on the Ebola virus, his huge contribution to HIV/AIDS research and his leading role in the global response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic, especially in Africa.

Peter received his award at a celebration gala which recognised the significant work being done to improve health outcomes in communities across the globe. It was hosted by Bloomberg Philanthropies and Michael R. Bloomberg who announced a $300 million gift to the Bloomberg School.

Peter was joined on stage by other prize winners including Margaret Chan, Director-General of the World Health Organization, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of Liberia, Tabaré Vázquez, President of Uruguay, and Bono, global development activist and lead singer of the band U2.

Peter Piot is the Director of the School and Handa Professor of Global Health. His pioneering work on HIV/AIDS in Africa revealed a major heterosexual HIV epidemic, established much of the knowledge of the clinical manifestations, natural history and epidemiology of HIV in Africa, including the first studies showing the effectiveness of HIV prevention in high risk populations.

Peter was the founding Executive Director of UNAIDS and Under Secretary-General of the United Nations from 1995 until 2008. Under his leadership UNAIDS became the chief advocate for worldwide action against AIDS, also spearheading UN reform by bringing together 10 UN system organisations.

Professor Piot co-discovered the Ebola virus in 1976 and was a leading voice during the most recent outbreak of the disease in West Africa, when he was highly instrumental in mobilising the international community to respond.

Professor Peter Piot said: "I am honoured to have been considered for this award and it was a privilege to stand alongside my fellow award winners. The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine is proud to work in close collaboration with The Bloomberg School which, under the leadership of Dean Michael Klag, continues to make an immense contribution to public health."

"While health care systems are struggling everywhere, the golden era of public health, prevention and population health is emerging - the world needs strong schools of public health for the next one hundred years."

Peter Piot has received various awards including the Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize, the Prince Mahidol Award for Public Health, and the Canada Gairdner Global Health Award.

Related links

• Feature - preparing for the next global outbreak