The Academy of Medical Sciences & The Lancet International Health Lecture 2025 “Lessons from Africa: health diplomacy in HIV prevention”

The Academy of Medical Sciences & The Lancet International Health Lecture 2025 “Lessons from Africa: health diplomacy in HIV prevention”

4th November 2025, 15.30-17.30 GMT, in London and online

We warmly invite you to register for the Academy of Medical Sciences & The Lancet International Health Lecture 2025. ‘Lessons from Africa: health diplomacy in HIV prevention’ will take place both in person in London, and online, on Tuesday 4 November, 15.30-17.30 GMT. A reception will follow at 17.30 for in-person attendees, with opportunities for speaker and high-profile guest networking.

The lecture will be delivered by Professor Quarraisha Abdool Karim FRS, a world-leading South African infectious diseases epidemiologist and Associate Scientific Director at the Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA).

The role of medical science in policymaking and public engagement is more critical now than ever. Complex challenges such as reduced funding, misinformation and a lack of public influence need to be overcome through strong partnerships and resilient scientific institutions that unite rather than divide.

In this lecture, Professor Karim FRS will explore:

• How we can combine scientific rigour with innovation to solve global health challenges
• Why working closely with communities on a local, national and global level is crucial for generating knowledge and translating evidence into health policy and practice
• How diverse funding, strategic focus, a supportive research culture and shared values can help us build resilience in the face of adversity

Professor Karim will be joined by a global expert panel:

• Dr Anders Nordström (in person), Advisor at the Stockholm School of Economics
• Dr Mohammad Hosseini (online), Assistant Professor at Northwestern University
• Dr Peggy Oti-Boateng (online), Executive Director at The African Academy of Sciences

The lecture will be followed by a Q&A session, chaired by Professor Richard Horton OBE FMedSci, Editor-in-Chief of The Lancet, and Professor Tom Solomon CBE FMedSci, Vice President (International) at the Academy of Medical Sciences. A networking reception will follow for in-person attendees.

For further information, please email laura.schlepper@acmedsci.ac.uk