RSTMH Medals and Awards Winners 2024

The winner of this year’s Sir Rickard Christophers Medal is Professor Daniel Chandramohan. The Sir Rickard Christophers Medal is open every three years and recognises outstanding work in tropical medicine and hygiene, and evidence of practical and field applications. 

Professor Daniel Chandramohan is an expert in global public health with a special interest in malaria control in resource-poor settings. He graduated in medicine from Madurai University, India, in 1975, and gained practical experience working in Ethiopia and Zimbabwe. Since 1992, he has been working at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, focusing on malaria diagnosis and prevention, particularly in young children and pregnant women. His research on malaria chemoprevention in children and pregnant women has shaped global health policies. Chandramohan has also contributed to trials of the malaria vaccines, influencing WHO’s malaria vaccination policies across Africa.

"I am deeply honoured to receive the prestigious Sir Rickard Christophers Medal. My heartfelt thanks go to Sir Greenwood for his mentorship, and to my colleagues at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and across Africa, whose invaluable contributions have greatly enriched my research."

Professor Daniel Chandramohan

Nominating him, Professor Brian Greenwood said: “Professor Chandramohan is a very worthy recipient of this medal as his research has made major contributions to many novel interventions in the prevention of malaria in Africa and India, including malaria chemoprevention, malaria vaccination and, more recently, the combination of chemoprevention and vaccination. In addition, he has taught and mentored successfully many young African scientists who have subsequently made their own major contributions to the control of malaria.”

The winner of this year’s Chalmers Medal is Professor Taane Clark. The Chalmers Medal recognises researchers in tropical medicine or global health who demonstrate evidence of mentoring and professional development of junior investigators, and other forms of capacity building. 

Taane Clark is a Professor of Genomics and Global Health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Originally from New Zealand, he began his scientific and epidemiological training at the University of Auckland, before completing a D.Phil in Statistical Genetics at Oxford. He furthered his expertise through post-doctoral research in malaria genomics at the Sanger Institute. 

Professor Clark is internationally recognised for his contributions to infectious disease genomics, particularly in malaria, tuberculosis, and antimicrobial resistance. He utilises high-throughput sequencing and advanced analytical approaches to develop molecular and informatics tools that enhance disease surveillance and inform clinical decision-making. In doing so, he has fostered a large cohort of exceptional young scientists in this approach both nationally and internationally. 

“I am honoured to receive this award and would like to express my gratitude to my colleagues, collaborating researchers, and mentees, as well as to the funders and partnering institutions whose support has been invaluable in making this achievement possible

“The application of ‘omics in global health plays an important role in informing infection control, particularly in high-burden settings. It is my hope that the legacy of our work—strengthening both capacity in people and tools—will continue to inspire and enable generations of researchers to lead ‘omics-supported investigations, ultimately reducing the global burden of disease.”

Professor Taane Clark

Nominating him, Professor David Mabey said:” Taane Clark is a world leader in the field of infectious disease genomics.  His research has increased our understanding of the transmission, virulence, and drug resistance of infectious diseases worldwide. He has supervised 30 PhD students and organised more than 20 genomic epidemiology workshops in low- and middle-income countries, leading to significant improvements in the diagnosis and control of infectious diseases worldwide.”