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World-leading research recognised in REF 2014

The results of the government's Research Excellence Framework (REF 2014), announced today, confirm the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine's position as one of the UK's leading centres for world-class research.

The School is ranked in the top 10 of all universities in the UK, and second (after the Institute for Cancer Research) on the key measure of impact, in tables published by the Times Higher Education.

The School has the largest volume of world-leading (rated at the maximum 4* level) research in the UK in Public Health, Health Services and Primary Care, with 295 staff submitted and 27 impact case studies. Its research environment in this subject area was also ranked world-leading.

On the measure of impact, the School performed particularly well, reflecting the extent to which its research has influenced policy and the wider world. It submitted a large number of individual impact case studies, in both Public Health and Clinical Medicine, which were judged to be outstanding.

In the School's overall submission, the gender balance of staff was precisely equal, 180 female and 180 male, and many early-career researchers were included, reflecting the School's commitment to nurturing research.

Professor Peter Piot, Director of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine said: "This outcome confirms the School's position as one of the UK's leading centres for world-class research.  Our researchers work with a range of partners - academic colleagues from other institutions globally, clinical and health practitioners, user communities, public, private and voluntary sector organisations. This collaborative approach is central to our ethos, and has enabled the rapid uptake and dissemination of key findings by governments and international agencies."

Professor Anne Mills, Deputy Director and Provost, who is responsible for the School's REF submission, said: "In line with our mission, improving health worldwide, we concentrate our efforts on excellent research that addresses the major health challenges facing the world, and what can be done about them.  This research may not always attract the attention of the top journals, but our performance on impact demonstrates our success in translating the results of rigorous research into real life benefits. Our supportive research environment, recognised in the ranking as world-leading, is a critical factor in our success."

Research at the School encompasses a spectrum from fundamental laboratory research in infectious diseases and studies of disease causation, through development and assessment of novel interventions and services, to advising on implementation in real life settings of interventions, service and system reforms, and evaluation that informs policy and practice.

The Higher Education Funding Council for England will use the REF 2014 outcome to calculate each institution's annual research funding allocation, and these will be announced in 2015.

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