London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

David Mabey, Emeritus Professor of Communicable Diseases at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), has been recognised in the King’s New Year Honours 2026 for his exceptional and sustained contribution to global health.

He has been made KCMG (Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George), having previously been awarded a CBE.

During his 48-year career, he played a pivotal role in efforts to eliminate trachoma, the world’s leading infectious cause of blindness, and made major progress in preventing mother-to-child transmission of syphilis. The knighthood also honours his service through mentoring global leaders, and his legacy in infectious disease control and capacity building.

As well as extensive research and teaching at LSHTM, he also took on key technical and advisory roles in the World Health Organization (WHO), shaping long-term policy and strategy for neglected tropical diseases, as well as on diagnostics and sexually transmitted infections.

Professor Sir David Mabey joined LSHTM in 1986 after spending 8 years at MRC in The Gambia and retired in 2024. In 2014 he was made CBE for services to health development in Africa and Asia, and in 2019 he received the Prince Mahidol Award for Public Health for his work on trachoma.

One of his major achievements was working with colleagues to show that mass treatment with a single oral dose of the antibiotic azithromycin could eliminate trachoma. Based on this evidence, the manufacturers of the antibiotic agreed to donate it to the affected communities for as long as it was needed.  More than a billion doses have been given, and 27 countries have now been certified by the WHO as having eliminated trachoma as a public health problem.

Sir David said: “This is a huge honour and one I would like to share with all the wonderful colleagues I have been lucky enough to work with in London, The Gambia, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Ghana, Mozambique, China, Laos, Canada, Brazil and Peru.

“LSHTM is a very special place with enthusiastic students and staff coming here from all over the world with the intention of improving global health and making the world a better place.”

Professor Liam Smeeth, the Director of LSHTM, said: “Congratulations to David. He has been a leading influence on global efforts and breakthroughs to reduce the devastating effects of diseases such as trachoma. This honour is richly deserved.”

Several LSHTM alumni were also recognised in the 2026 New Year Honours list. This includes MBEs for the following: Dominique Allwood (MSc Public Health 2009) for services to the NHS; Catherine Mbema (MSc Public Health 2011) for services to public health; Neil Poulter (MSc Epidemiology 1986) for services to hypertension prevention; and Julia Verne (MSc Epidemiology 1993) for services to end of life care and public health.