ProfessorSonia Saxena, MBBS MSc MD FRCGP

I am Professor of Primary Care/ Director of the Child Health Unit at the School of Public Health, Imperial College London. My research aims to improve children and young people's health through better primary care. I graduated in medicine from St Bartholomew's Medical College and have practised as a GP in London for the past 25 years. I have held several academy fellowships from the National Institutes for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and now Chair the NIHR Academy's Selection Committee for Doctoral Research Fellowships. In 2023, I was awarded NIHR Senior Investigator.

Research leadership
I lead Imperial's Children and Families Programme for the National School for Public Health Research (SPHR) and serve on its Executive Board and Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity Committee. I also provide cross school leadership for the National School for Primary Care Research. Locally, I lead the Child Population Health Theme for the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration in Northwest London that aims to improve the health of children and families.

International work
As elected President of the Child and Adolescent Health Section of the European Public Health Association, I lead a network of 3000+ public health professionals in a 3 year strategic plan to achieve a WHO ‘Triple A rating (Analysis Advocacy Action) to improve children’s health in Europe (2021-2024). I am a Global Burden of Disease Collaborator, BMJ International Editorial Board Member and Visiting Professor in Europe, Asia and North America

Priority areas
1. Preconception pregnancy and parenthood.
2. Early years; vaccine preventable disease, access to primary care
3. Health in schools; physical and emotional health in schools
4. Long term conditions; asthma, mental health, inflammatory bowel disease

Teaching and capacity building
I lead the Child Health Specialisation for Imperial's online Global Masters in Public Health and teach on undergraduate courses including the Imperial Medicine and BSc Biomedical Sciences.
In 2013, I led a successful application for a Silver Athena SWAN award for the School of Public Health to support career progression for women and disadvantaged staff and students. I have widened academic opportunities through mentoring programmes in the UK and globally (NIHR Academy Mentoring Programme and Oxford International Primary Care Research Leadership Programme.)