Sonia Saxena

Professor Sonia Saxena is a Professor of Primary Care at the School of Public Health, Imperial College London, and directs the Child Health Unit. Her research focuses on improving child and adolescent health through primary care innovations. Key roles include Chair of the NIHR Academy’s Selection Committee, President of the European Public Health Association’s Child Health Section, and Global Burden of Disease Collaborator. She leads initiatives addressing vaccine uptake, asthma management, school health policies, and maternal-child health equity.

Her academic background includes an MBBS from St Bartholomew’s Medical College, MSc Epidemiology from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, and MD from the University of London. She maintains a General Practice role and has earned the NIHR Senior Investigator award. Her work during the pandemic included analyzing disruptions to child healthcare and co-creating interventions to safely reopen schools.

Teaching and advocacy are central to her career: she leads the Child Health Specialization in the Global Masters in Public Health and co-founded the Athena SWAN award to support women in academia. Her research spans preconception health, early-years vaccination access, and digital interventions for inflammatory bowel disease symptoms.

• Awards: NIHR Senior Investigator, FRCGP
• Leadership: NIHR Applied Research Collaboration, UNESCO School Reopening Plans
• Key Collaborations: BMJ Editorial Board, Oxford International Primary Care Research Leadership Programme