Sir Michael Marmot

Who Sir Michael Marmot is

Professor Sir Michael Marmot is Professor of Epidemiology at University College London and Director of the UCL Institute of Health Equity, a position he has held since the Institute was established in 2011. He has been Professor of Epidemiology at UCL since 1985, initially serving as Head of Department for 26 years. He chaired the WHO Commission on Social Determinants of Health and, at the request of the British Government, conducted the Strategic Review of Health Inequalities in England, published as 'Fair Society, Healthy Lives' (the Marmot Review) in 2010. He is known for arguing that health inequalities are avoidable and that reducing them requires action on the social determinants of health — the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age. He was knighted in 2000 for services to epidemiology and understanding health inequalities, and appointed a Companion of Honour in the King's 2023 New Year Honours for services to public health.

References for this biography

1. 1.Professor Sir Michael Marmot – Institute of Health Equity — Current role titles, UCL tenure since 1985, WHO Commission, Marmot Review, BMJ award, knighthood
2. 2.UCL's Professor Sir Michael Marmot launches UK's first health equity network – UCL News — Launch of Health Equity Network (2023), Companion of Honour honour
3. 3.Fair Society Healthy Lives (The Marmot Review) – Institute of Health Equity — Government commissioning of Marmot Review in 2008, publication in 2010
4. 4.Professor Sir Michael Marmot – The Health Foundation — BMA and World Medical Association presidencies, books authored, WHO advisory role
5. 5.Contact – Institute of Health Equity — Organisation head-office address (1-19 Torrington Place, London WC1E 7HB) and press contact email

Notable achievements

• Chaired the government-commissioned Strategic Review of Health Inequalities in England, producing 'Fair Society, Healthy Lives' (the Marmot Review) in February 2010. Source ↗
• Chaired the WHO Commission on Social Determinants of Health, which produced 'Closing the Gap in a Generation' in 2008. Source ↗
• Appointed a Companion of Honour in the King's 2023 New Year Honours for lifetime achievement in public health. Source ↗
• Launched the UK's first Health Equity Network in January 2023, in partnership with Legal & General, to help towns, cities and regions reduce health inequalities. Source ↗
• Received the BMJ Outstanding Contribution to Health award in 2021. Source ↗
• Served as President of the British Medical Association in 2010–2011 and President of the World Medical Association in 2015. Source ↗

What Sir Michael Marmot has said

• “Sir Michael Marmot, Director of the University College London Institute of Health Equity, visited North Tyneside on Tuesday 24 March to support the borough's work to become a Marmot Place.”

  Director of the University College London Institute of Health Equity · Health inequalities · 4 Oct 2026 · Sir Michael Marmot visits North Tyneside as work begins towards becoming a Marmot Borough ↗

• “Evidence shows that one of the giants, health and disease, is strongly influenced by the other four. That has been the thrust of our many 'Marmot' reports, which explain why unfair, avoidable health gaps (health inequalities) exist and suggest ways to fix them.”

  Founder of the Marmot Principles, Director of the Institute of Health Equity · Health inequalities · 30 Sept 2026 · The UK is not doing well. Here's how the Marmot Principles could help Starmer turn things around ↗

• “At the launch of the East Suffolk Marmot Place, Sir Michael Marmot delivered a presentation on health inequalities in the district”

  Author of independent report on health inequalities (2010) · Health inequalities · 30 Sept 2026 · Tackling health inequalities in East Suffolk ↗

• “social injustice is killing on a grand scale”

  Researcher on health inequality · Health inequalities · 30 Sept 2026 · We need a national plan to tackle the health inequity that is killing people | Letters ↗

• “Oxfordshire has shown real leadership by becoming a Marmot Place. The IHE is now working with nearly 70 places across the country, including the whole of Scotland and Wales. We are building up a wealth of evidence on how to implement the eight principles for greater health equity. The task now for Oxfordshire is to build on the strong work already under way and create the conditions that allow all local residents to flourish, equitably.”

  Director of the UCL Institute of Health Equity · Health inequalities · 30 Sept 2026 · Putting children first in Oxfordshire’s drive to reduce health inequalities ↗

• “"It's huge. If our health and life expectancy is in decline, it's about as clear a sign as you can get that our society is in decline."”

  epidemiologist · Elderly care & frailty · 27 Aug 2026 · This is a life and death story for the UK – so why is it being brushed under the carpet? | Aditya Chakrabortty ↗

• “Sir Michael Marmot often draws a powerful distinction between hope and despair. Despair is when we can describe a problem but have no clear path to address it. Hope emerges when we can articulate a plan grounded in evidence and effective interventions.”

  Public health expert · Public health & prevention · 27 Aug 2026 · BLOG: Whole systems approaches in public health, from framework to movement ↗

Where Sir Michael Marmot has been quoted

1. Public health expert Professor Sir Michael Marmot helps launch landmark fairer health initiative in North East Lincolnshirenelincs.gov.uk · 9 Oct 2026
2. Sir Michael Marmot visits North Tyneside as work begins towards becoming a Marmot Boroughnorthtyneside.gov.uk · 4 Oct 2026
3. The UK is not doing well. Here's how the Marmot Principles could help Starmer turn things aroundbigissue.com · 30 Sept 2026
4. Tackling health inequalities in East Suffolkeastsuffolk.gov.uk · 30 Sept 2026
5. We need a national plan to tackle the health inequity that is killing people | Letterstheguardian.com · 30 Sept 2026
6. Putting children first in Oxfordshire’s drive to reduce health inequalitiesnews.oxfordshire.gov.uk · 30 Sept 2026
7. This is a life and death story for the UK – so why is it being brushed under the carpet? | Aditya Chakraborttytheguardian.com · 27 Aug 2026
8. BLOG: Whole systems approaches in public health, from framework to movementliverpoolexpress.co.uk · 27 Aug 2026

Related media coverage

Recent UK press coverage of their topics — not necessarily citing them directly.

• Mental Health Foundation unveils next leaderThird Sector
• Public health expert Professor Sir Michael Marmot helps launch landmark fairer health initiative in North East LincolnshireNorth East Lincolnshire Council
• Sign up for our free, live event: How to thrive through mid-life & menopause, with experts including Dr Amir KhanWhich?

Contact & links

• Staff pagehttps://www.instituteofhealthequity.org/about-us/about-professor-sir-michael-marmot
• Staff pagehttps://profiles.ucl.ac.uk/9195-michael-marmot
• Press office emailf.porritt@ucl.ac.ukpublished here ↗

Organisational contact points only, each taken from a page the organisation publishes itself. No personal or direct contact details are held or shown.