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 Westthe prospective life-saving researchers and visionary global health leaders of tomorrow

- 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.”

One way that LSTM is keen to innovate further is through continuing to offer scholarships, helping talented students from underrepresented or disadvantaged backgrounds to access postgraduate education.

“We know from talking to LSTM students and alumni that scholarships change lives,” said Isabel.

“Those pots of money which go towards student fees and costs of living make the difference between a student getting a degree and going on to save lives, and not.”

LSTM offers a range of financial support and scholarships to prospective students who are unable to obtain the full tuition fee from other sources and on the basis of academic merit and meeting eligible criteria. This includes its 125th Anniversary Excellence Scholarships, which will halve fees for some students from low-and-middle income countries (LMIC). Home students can apply for the MSc Merit Scholarship, which offers partial fee funding, and in 2023 entry it offered The Director's Anniversary Scholarships, providing full fees plus an amount towards the costs of living at the Liverpool campus for a student from the UK and from a LMIC.

For Isabel, this is about giving more opportunities to add to LSTM’s vastly talented student population.

“Our students are outstanding, and I am blown away each year by the impact recent alumni share with us,” said Isabel.

“Just recently, I’ve had the privilege to hear from alumni who had won a World Lung Health Award, and another who had stayed in Liverpool to work with disadvantaged communities to improve health and develop public health policy.

“Every single student that walks through our doors makes a positive difference and saves lives. I feel privileged to work alongside them on their postgraduate journey.”

Rachel Byrne is a Liverpool local whose career in health research at LSTM took an unorthodox path. She left school without A-Levels, and was the first woman in her family to attend university when she enrolled on a foundation course in Tropical Disease Biology at the University of Liverpool. Since then, her postgraduate studies took her to Dublin, to the Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Programme for her PhD, and then back to Liverpool and LSTM, where she is working on novel implementation strategies for diagnosing infectious diseases, primarily for tuberculosis, a leading cause of infectious disease death. She works on the Start4All project, collaborating with institutions in Bangladesh, Brazil, Cameroon, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria and Vietnam.

She’s also involved in delivering science outreach in her hometown. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she teamed up with Everton in the Community as one of their STEM ambassadors to educate young students in Liverpool about the significance of handwashing in combating COVID-19, and has spoken on Radio Merseyside to bring scientific concepts to a wider audience.

She’s a huge advocate for the importance of early career researchers, who may be just beginning their careers in health and disease, but are likely to have crucial roles in ensuring the health of future generations

“We are poised to face the challenges of the next pandemic head-on, however that pandemic looks. Investing in us means ensuring a robust foundation for addressing future health crises effectively,” she said.

Every year LSTM receives more applications for scholarships that we can give away. It therefore relies on philanthropic partnerships with charitable institutions, individuals and the support of businesses to provide further support for talented students.

Isabel’s ambitions for LSTM’s education offer recognises the central importance of being a key part of the city, both in terms of its community and economic offer, but also in encouraging the ambitions of young people in Liverpool to pursue careers in science. That, says Isabel, is made possible through the support of LSTM’s partners in the region and further afield.

“I mentioned the thousands of students taking postgraduate degrees in the North West but do you know only 16% of those are from Liverpool?” she said.

“We want to work with partners that will allow us to be focussed on encouraging and supporting more undergraduates to consider taking their education and professional training further.

“This is not only important to me personally as a Scouser, but it is a key part of LSTM’s mission and values – we exist to make a difference and work in partnership.

“That applies equally to working across the region to ensure those who are capable of accessing a world-leading specialist provider of education, in the top 6% of universities in the world, have barriers removed to allow them to do just that.”

LSTM is Liverpool Chamber of Commerce’s ‘Charity of the Year’ for 2023-24. In November, LSTM will celebrate its 125th anniversary and launch an ambitious Anniversary Campaign.

She says it is crucial that there is support out there for students from backgrounds like hers to take up these essential roles in the future.

“Funding scholarships for students from northwest England is a way of nurturing local talent that might otherwise go untapped and an excellent advertisement for the groundbreaking research happening on our doorsteps.

“Many bright minds in this region might lack opportunities due to various barriers, similar to myself, who can’t afford to pursue higher education without scholarships and bursaries.

“By providing scholarships, we open doors for these individuals to pursue education and careers in fields like global health. Having people in research from all different backgrounds offers a unique perspective that will enrich the global health landscape, enabling us to tackle health challenges more comprehensively.”

There is a long-established connection between the Liverpool business community and LSTM and we are hoping that this partnership will encourage support from members in the same way it did many years ago.

The Founders’ Circle is one of LSTM’s fundraising Anniversary initiatives; a group of 125 ‘founding’ donors who have each made a pledge of at least £1,000. We would be delighted if you would consider making a pledge to LSTM’s 125th Anniversary Campaign and support us. The funds raised from Chamber members via this initiative and through Chamber events will contribute to supporting a Scholarship student from the North-West region. Your pledge can be fulfilled either as a oneoff donation or as part of a fundraising initiative within your organisation.

Contact Stacey Lavey, Senior Philanthropy Manager for more information: Stacey.Lavery@lstmed.ac.uk