London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Professor Graham Medley, Director of the Centre for the Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Diseases (CMMID) at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), has been closely involved in supporting the UK government’s response.

In 2017, he was appointed to chair the Scientific Pandemic Influenza Group on Modelling (SPI-M) which provides expert advice based on infectious disease modelling and epidemiology. During the pandemic, SPI-M has been a sub-group of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE), on which Professor Medley represents the consensus views of the members.

SAGE has played a crucial role in steering the country through the pandemic, ensuring that timely and coordinated scientific advice is made available to decision makers. This includes everything from how a potential vaccine is progressing, to lockdown measures and the usefulness of facemasks.

Professor Medley said: “I am grateful that the work and expertise on SPI-M has been recognised. The provision of scientific evidence to support and guide the government response to COVID-19 is critical to help the UK get through this epidemic, and it has been a privilege to work with my colleagues to generate research, understanding and guidance.”

LSHTM Director, Professor Peter Piot said: “Warm congratulations to Graham. This honour is richly deserved and recognises a career dedicated to saving and improving lives. His colleagues in our world-leading Centre for the Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Diseases have played a vital role in the COVID-19 response since the beginning of the pandemic. I’m proud of the skill, commitment and collaboration they have shown.”

Since joining LSHTM in 2015, Professor Medley’s work on the dynamics of disease transmission has included studying the interaction of HIV/AIDS transmission with societal and political processes, as well as investigating neglected tropical diseases such as visceral leishmaniasis and schistosomiasis.

Other notable work includes the analysis of multiple pathogens in humans and livestock, such as bovine TB, hepatitis B and MRSA. Professor Medley is on the Board of Reviewing Editors for Science, and is a member of the Neglected Tropical Disease Modelling Consortium and the SPEAK India Consortium.