Cally Tann

Professor Cally Tann is a distinguished Professor of Neonatal Medicine and Child Health at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), working within the Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health and the Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology and International Health. She also serves as a Consultant Neonatologist at University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and holds an Honorary Principal Scientist position at the MRC/UVRI & LSHTM Uganda Research Unit in Entebbe. Professor Tann is the Academic Training Programme Director for paediatrics at NHS England and provides technical expertise to the World Health Organization and the Gates Foundation on newborn and child health interventions.

Professor Tann completed her medical training (MBChB) at the University of Birmingham (1991-1997), followed by a MSc in International Health at LSHTM (2002-2003), and a PhD from LSHTM (2010-2013) focused on perinatal infection and newborn brain injury in Uganda. She earned her FRCPCH from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health in 2018. Her pediatric training spanned London, Australia, and Uganda, providing her with extensive international clinical experience.

Professor Tann's research focuses on newborn health and early childhood outcomes, particularly newborn brain health among term and preterm infants. She leads studies examining risk factors and early outcomes related to newborn conditions in Africa, with emphasis on early identification and intervention for children with developmental disabilities resulting from perinatal events. A co-founder of the Baby Ubuntu program, she has developed a participatory group approach that promotes inclusion for children with developmental disabilities and their families through partnership with expert parents. Her work also encompasses kangaroo mother care implementation, neonatal Group B Streptococcal infection research, and early child development interventions across multiple countries.

Analysis of Professor Tann's recent publications reveals a strong focus on neonatal care in low-resource settings, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Her research spans clinical interventions like kangaroo mother care, neurodevelopmental outcomes following neonatal conditions, and innovative approaches to supporting children with developmental disabilities. The OMWaNA trial represents a major contribution to evidence on early kangaroo mother care implementation, while her work on the Baby Ubuntu program demonstrates a commitment to community-based solutions for developmental disabilities. Her publications show increasing collaboration across disciplines including neonatology, neurology, disability studies, and implementation science.

• Young Investigator of the year - Neonatal Update (2014) for research excellence in neonatal medicine
• Fred Murgotroyd prize (2003) for academic achievement in MSc Tropical Medicine and International Health

Professor Tann has successfully secured substantial funding for her research, including grants from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Grand Challenges Canada, Medical Research Council, and various trusts supporting the Baby Ubuntu program. As Academic Training Programme Director for paediatrics at NHS England, she mentors numerous trainees and has co-founded the NHSE 'Survival Guide to Neonatal Intensive Care' courses to build knowledge and confidence among pediatric trainees. Her collaborative approach is evident in the extensive list of co-authors across her publications, representing multidisciplinary teams from multiple countries.

Professor Tann co-leads the Baby Ubuntu program, which is currently being implemented in 8 countries across sub-Saharan Africa, as well as the UK and India. She works closely with the International Centre for Evidence in Disability at LSHTM and the MARCH Centre. Through her role with the MRC/UVRI & LSHTM Uganda Research Unit, she maintains strong research partnerships in Entebbe, where much of her clinical research takes place. Her leadership extends to numerous committees including the European Cooperation in Science & Technology management committee and the International Society on Early Intervention coordinating committee.