About Us

The UCL Institute of Health Equity

Background

Our mission is nothing less than a fairer, healthier society

The UCL Institute of Health Equity was established in 2011 and is led by Professor Sir Michael Marmot.

The aim at the outset was to develop and support approaches to health equity and build on work that has assessed, measured and implemented approaches to tackle inequalities in health - works such as the ‘W HO Commission on Social Determinants of Healt h’ and ‘F air Society H ealthy Lives’ (The Marmot Review).

Since 2011, the Institute has led and collaborated on works to address the Social Determinants of Health and improve health equity.

In 2020 IHE published The Marmot Review 10 Years on, #Marmot2020, which confirmed an increase in the north/south health gap. The largest decreases were seen in the most deprived 10% of neighbourhoods in the North East, and the largest increases in the least deprived 10% of neighbourhoods in London.

Responding to the COVID 19 pandemic, the Institute published Build Back Fairer and The London Bus Drivers Review.

Other key works include:

What we do to support greater health equity

Build the evidence base

We work to ensure that up to date, high quality research evidence is used in the design and implantation of policies and practices by:

translating evidence into practice (through written and online materials)
identifying gaps in research and filling the gaps where possible
monitoring trends in health inequalities and social determinants of health at international, national and local levels
disseminating research evidence and best practice through our website and networks and facilitatin knowledge exchange.

Influence action that works

We work to influence the delivery of interventions to ensure they incorporate action on health and social and economic inequalities and to ensure learning from practice by:

working with delivery organisations, including city authorities, voluntary sector, local government, healthcare services, offering advice and guidance
learning from and reviewing best practice
bringing implementation experience into policy making

Build capacity

We work to build capacity of the health and public health workforce, of policy makers, community organisations and related national and local practitioners, to understand and deliver on action to reduce health inequalities. We do this by:

developing and delivering training courses and publishing resources for the workforce
mentoring and collaborating with individuals, organisations and cities
developing and maintaining networks of people and organisations and whole areas that are interested in and are working on action to reduce health inequalities through the social determinants.