Sir Michael MarmotAcademic

Biography

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

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

Expertise

Cited on

• Elderly care & frailty
• Public health & prevention

Stated areas of expertise

• Health inequalities
• Social determinants of health
• Health equity policy
• Epidemiology
• Life expectancy and deprivation
• Public health evidence and government review

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.

What they’ve said

• “"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 ↗

Source references

1. 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
2. BLOG: Whole systems approaches in public health, from framework to movementliverpoolexpress.co.uk · 27 Aug 2026

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.