IIASA and LSHTM partner to advance health and climate research

The signing of the MoU between IIASA and LSHTM will strengthen IIASA’s longstanding partnership with the United Kingdom, one of the Institute’s founding members and currently represented by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). The agreement was signed on the margins of the “Science in Action: Five Global Challenges, One Shared Future” event, co-hosted by IIASA, UKRI, and the Royal Society in London on Tuesday, 9 September. Bringing together scientific leaders from the UK and IIASA’s global network, the event highlighted the UK’s historic and continuing role in shaping IIASA’s mission and advancing international science diplomacy.

The agreement outlines a broad scope of collaboration, with joint efforts directed toward the development of population health models and health scenarios for decision making, as well as the further integration of health considerations into IIASA’s established integrated assessment models, including the Greenhouse Gas and Air Pollution Interactions and Synergies (GAINS) model, the Global Biosphere Management Model (GLOBIOM), and the Environmental Policy Integrated Climate-based global gridded crop model (EPIC). The partnership will also focus on advancing One Health approaches to capture the benefits of biodiversity and ecosystem services, including modeling zoonotic spillover and land-use change, alongside exploring synergies between climate, nature, and health financing.

“This collaboration brings together IIASA’s expertise in systems modeling and LSHTM’s leadership in health research to generate new insights at the climate-health nexus. By working together, we can better inform decision making that improves health and equity outcomes, while simultaneously safeguarding ecosystems and addressing climate change,” says Josephine Borghi, who leads the Social Cohesion, Health, and Wellbeing Research Group at IIASA.

To ensure this collaboration translates into tangible impact, the MoU also sets out modalities for joint action. These include organizing workshops across the core research areas, knowledge exchange through seminars and staff visits, joint supervision of PhD and master’s students, and the co-development of a short course on systems modeling and health. Importantly, the collaboration will leverage LSHTM’s Medical Research Council (MRC) Units in The Gambia and Uganda, together with IIASA’s regional networks through its Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Member Organization (SSARMO), to support joint capacity building and research in the region.

“At the heart of this MoU is a commitment to capacity development. By training young scientists, fostering cross-institutional exchanges, and building stronger research communities in regions like Sub-Saharan Africa, we are ensuring that the benefits of this collaboration extend far beyond our institutions and help to create lasting global impact,” notes IIASA Capacity Development and Training Dean, Fabian Wagner.

At the signing ceremony, IIASA Deputy Director General, Karen Lips, emphasized the importance of investing in people as much as in science:

“This partnership is not just about producing new research; it is about building the skills and networks that will allow future scientists and policymakers to tackle the complex health and climate challenges we face. By investing in both training and scientific exchange, we are creating the foundations for sustained impact that extends well beyond the duration of this MoU.”

The MoU will run for five years, offering a strong platform for deepened collaboration and the co-creation of knowledge that supports both science and policy.

* Top photo (from left to right): Josephine Borghi (IIASA Social Cohesion, Health, and Wellbeing Research Group Leader), Sepo Hachigonta (Director of Partnerships, National Research Foundation, South Africa), Karen Lips (IIASA Deputy Director General), Caroline Relton (LSHTM Pro-Director Research and Academic Development), Anna Debska (LSHTM Partnerships), and Sir Andy Haines (Professor of Environmental Change and Public Health, LSHTM).