COVER FEATURE
MAKING A MARK ON THE WORLD Since its foundation in 1898, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) has been a global centre for innovation in health. From pioneering new discoveries to life-saving treatments, LSTM’s world-class research – developed right here in Liverpool - has made its mark on the world.
And as LSTM celebrates its 125th anniversary, it is also reflecting on some of the great, innovative individuals who have come through its heavy wooden doors on Pembroke Place and onto transformative careers in global health. This esteemed group include Dr Natalie Roberts, Executive Director at Medecins Sans Frontieres, Dr Letitia Obeng, the first Ghanaian woman to receive a doctorate in science who went on to be awarded her country’s highest national award the Star of Ghana, Dr Anarfi Asamoa-Baah, the former Deputy Director-General of the World Health Organisation, and Dr Wu Lien-teh, the inventor in 1910 of a mask which is the forerunner of today's N95 respirator. LSTM is a global community of passionate and skilled researchers and future health leaders. However, as well as attracting the best and brightest scientific minds from around the world, LSTM is proud of its Liverpudlian roots, and its role as an anchor
institution in Liverpool’s mission to be a leader in research and development. The LSTM-led Infection innovation Consortium (iiCON) programme alone, established in 2019, is a leading centre for infectious disease R&D based innovation, bringing together industry, academia, and the NHS to accelerate the discovery and development of innovative new treatments, diagnostics, and preventative products for infectious diseases. It plans to boost infection R&D spend in the North West by £1bn by 2030. And LSTM also support local communities – whether it’s the students, staff and alumni working within the NHS, or initiatives such as the Liverpool Vaccine Equity Project, which saw LSTM work closely with Liverpool City Council, local GP practices and community champions and volunteers to halve COVID-19 vaccine inequity and overcome barriers to vaccine uptake. There has been substantial investment in developing LSTM’s educational facilities in the city, including the new £9m Pembroke House, a home for professional, industrial and education training at LSTM. However, to achieve its long-term vision for education, LSTM wants to keep innovating. LSTM’s education leaders are determined that young people from the North West the prospective life-saving researchers and visionary global health leaders of tomorrow
Isabel Lucas
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The Immersive Suite at Pembroke House
- are a key part of its next 125 years. After all, as LSTM’s Dean of Education Isabel Lucas explains, why would you need to study anywhere else? “This is a great city in which to study, live and work and the thousands of students attracted to Liverpool contribute significantly to the local economy,” she said. “More than that though, the impact of those students culturally and in terms of the skills they add business and industry, adds a social richness to Liverpool and allows us to boast about how innovative we are.” “There are significant opportunities here for innovation in healthcare and the huge array of related industries such as logistics, marketing and legal services. “Life sciences, health and education are the largest areas of employment in our region and so working collaboratively to support innovation and create more opportunities is something LSTM takes seriously – you can see this through our current partnership working and the numbers of LSTM staff also working across our NHS. “Whether it’s contributing to health outcomes on Merseyside and helping to boost innovation and economic growth, or if it’s being part of international efforts to better diagnose, treat and eradicate disease, it’s clear that LSTM, and Liverpool, is a great place to study and start a career.”
“Life sciences, health and education are the largest areas of employment in our region and so working collaboratively to support innovation and create more opportunities is something LSTM takes seriously – you can see this through our current partnership working and the numbers of LSTM staff also working across our NHS.”
