LSHTM Director Liam Smeeth receives CBE at Windsor Castle
18 February 2026 London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine https://lshtm.ac.uk/themes/custom/lshtm/images/lshtm-logo-black.png
His Majesty The King has honoured Professor Liam Smeeth, the Director of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), at an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle for his work to improve health.
Professor Smeeth was made a CBE in the King’s Birthday Honours for his services to public health and education.
After receiving his medal, Professor Smeeth said: “This award reflects contributions from the many people I have worked with over the years.
“In particular, the award is a welcome recognition of the great work done by LSHTM in contributing to health and health equity worldwide.”
From debunking the myth that MMR vaccine causes autism to using NHS GP records in innovative ways to reveal the disproportionate impact of COVID-19, his clinical and academic career has made a significant impact on patient care and policy.
Professor Smeeth published a seminal paper in 2004 which refuted claims of links between MMR vaccine and autism, and led to a crucial recovery in vaccine uptake.
In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, he co-led the creation of a groundbreaking secure analytics platform known as OpenSAFELY. This collaboration with the Bennett Institute for Applied Data Science at Oxford University allowed NHS electronic records to be analysed to answer urgent questions on factors such as age, ethnicity and disability in determining risk of severe illness and uncover vital evidence about the virus, and is still widely used by researchers for a host of diseases today.
Other research and academic contributions include investigating side effects of statins, as well as providing expertise to a number of key academic and health bodies.
Over the last 20 years at LSHTM, Professor Smeeth has taught and mentored hundreds of postgraduate students in public health and epidemiology, many of whom are now leaders in their fields around the world.
In 2021 he became Director of LSHTM, with a strong focus on creating a supportive and inclusive environment for staff and students in the face of numerous global challenges.
He has spoken about issues including LSHTM’s decolonising work, called for more action on climate and health, and warned of the risks to public health from misinformation.
If you enjoyed this article and would like to build a career in global health, we offer a range of MSc programmes covering health and data, infectious and tropical diseases, population health, and public health and policy.
Available on campus or online, including flexible study that works around your work and home life, be part of a global community at the UK's no.1 public health university.