Harish Nair

Professor Harish Nair serves as Professor of Paediatric Infectious Diseases and Global Health and Co-Head of the Centre for Global Health at the University of Edinburgh's Usher Institute within the College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine. He leads the Respiratory Viral Epidemiology research programme and coordinates major international initiatives including PROMISE, RESCEU, and RSV GEN. With over £62 million in research funding as PI or Work Package Leader, his work has established the most comprehensive disease burden estimates for RSV and other respiratory viruses in children.

Professor Nair's research primarily focuses on child pneumonia epidemiology, with significant contributions to understanding RSV, influenza, and other respiratory viral infections. His work extends to refugee health and gender inequities in child health, with internationally recognized research on neonatal and maternal health. His methodological approaches combine epidemiological modeling, global health metrics, and implementation science to address critical gaps in infectious disease prevention and control.

His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on RSV burden across different age groups, immunization strategies in Europe, and respiratory health in low- and middle-income countries. His work spans from fundamental epidemiological studies to policy-relevant research that directly informs global health strategies and vaccine implementation programs.

Scientific Awards:

• Principal's Medal for Exceptional Service (University of Edinburgh, 2019)
• Hind Rattan (Jewel of India) Award (NRI Society of India, 2019)
• Elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (2023)
• Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
• Fellow of the Faculty of Public Health

Professor Nair actively supervises PhD students and has successfully guided 12 PhD candidates to completion, with over 70 student projects published in leading peer-reviewed journals including Lancet journals. He serves on multiple WHO Technical Advisory Groups, chairs the External Advisory Group for WHO's Global RSV Surveillance Programme, and contributes to the NIHR Global Research Professorships panel and MRC Infections and Immunity Board. His leadership extends to co-founding ReSViNET and serving as Regional Editor for the Journal of Global Health.

His current research infrastructure includes active projects addressing RSV evidence gaps in high-risk populations, human metapneumovirus burden in older adults, and the NIHR Global Health Research Unit on Respiratory Health (RESPIRE-2), demonstrating his continued leadership in advancing respiratory health globally.