The George Institute for Global Health at Imperial appoints new Director

Professor Otavio Berwanger has been appointed Executive Director of The George Institute for Global Health and Chair in Public Health at Imperial.

Professor Berwanger will lead The George Institute’s work in partnership with Imperial College London, with its core focus on health systems science, multimorbidity, women’s health, large-scale clinical trials and planetary health. He will also build on his personal research interests in exploring innovative clinical trial models, as well as the conduct of efficient implementation science studies.

“I am honoured to be coming on board as the Executive Director to champion the exciting and unique partnership between two world-class centres of scientific excellence. This partnership will enable us to conduct large-scale, transformative research initiatives that truly address the greatest challenges in health globally”, said Professor Otavio Berwanger.

Professor Robyn Norton, Principal Director of The George Institute for Global Health who has been Acting in the Executive Director position said: “We have no doubt that in partnership with the UK team and Institute colleagues across all our offices, as well as with colleagues at Imperial College London, Otavio will accelerate the growth and impact of our work in the UK, Latin America and globally and make significant contributions towards our mission to improve the health of millions of people worldwide, especially disadvantaged populations.”

Professor Berwanger joins The George Institute and Imperial from the Academic Research Organization (ARO) of the Albert Einstein Israelite Hospital in São Paulo, Brazil, where he was Director. An esteemed cardiologist and clinical trialist, Professor Berwanger has extensive research and managerial experience and has led large-scale, randomised clinical trials nationally and internationally across countries including Brazil, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, China, Chile, Argentina, Peru and Colombia. Trials led by Professor Berwanger were published in high-impact journals such as the New England Journal of Medicine, Lancet, JAMA and BMJ.

Professor Deborah Ashby, Director of the School of Public Health, said: “We are thrilled with Professor Berwanger’s appointment. His international research collaborations and ambitions add to the dynamic and wide-reaching research and policy activity across the School of Public Health. We are looking forward to working closely together and continuing our close collaboration with The George Institute to drive health innovation.”

The George Institute for Global Health, UK embarked on a long-term partnership with Imperial College London in early 2022, building on a successful initial collaboration started in 2020. This relationship is being celebrated with a launch event on November 22^nd during which presentations will showcase current and planned research, key experts will consider the future of global health, and Professor Berwanger will outline his vision for our work together.

“Professor Berwanger’s appointment is a celebratory moment in our partnership, as he will help us build on the robust foundations of our research and engagement to drive global health change through recruitment of several new professorial-level positions and expansion of the team’s research, training, leadership and funding opportunities”, said Professor Jonathan Weber, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London.