Professor Majid Ezzati stands as a preeminent leader in global environmental health research, currently serving as Professor of Global Environmental Health at Imperial College London where he directs the Wellcome Trust Centre for Global Health Research. His distinguished academic journey began with engineering training at McMaster and McGill universities, followed by a doctoral degree in Science, Technology and Environmental Policy from Princeton University, establishing a unique interdisciplinary foundation for his career. Ezzati's transition from engineering to public health has yielded exceptional insights at the intersection of environmental science and population health, positioning him at the forefront of addressing complex global health challenges. His leadership extends to his role as Academic Director for Imperial Global Ghana, where he spearheads strategic initiatives to strengthen health systems and research capacity across the African continent.
Ezzati pioneered and led the groundbreaking Comparative Risk Assessment component of the Global Burden of Diseases Study, which formed the scientific core of the influential World Health Report 2002: Reducing Risks, Promoting Healthy Life. His development of the NCD Risk Factor Collaboration has mobilized over 600 scientists worldwide to systematically analyze non-communicable disease risk factors, creating an unprecedented evidence base for global health policy. This work has transformed how international organizations and governments understand and address major health risk factors, directly informing strategic priorities for disease prevention across dozens of countries. His innovative methodological approaches to integrating primary field data with secondary datasets have established new standards for rigorous population health research with practical policy applications.
As a visionary leader, Ezzati directs the Pathways to Equitable Healthy Cities initiative, a global partnership advancing health equity through evidence co-production with policymakers in six countries. His commitment to mentoring the next generation of global health researchers has fostered a vibrant international community dedicated to addressing health disparities through interdisciplinary collaboration. Recognized as a Fellow of the UK Academy of Medical Sciences, Ezzati continues to shape the global health research agenda through his leadership in major scientific collaborations and advisory roles. His current research focuses on developing integrated approaches to tackle the interconnected challenges of urbanization, environmental sustainability, and population health, ensuring his work remains at the cutting edge of global health innovation.
