UCL Health of the Public Symposium 2026

2026 marks UCL’s bicentennial year, and this year’s Health of the Public Annual Symposium will showcase the bold ideas shaping healthier futures across our community.

Bringing together experts, leaders, and practitioners from across academia, the health sector, and beyond, the symposium will examine how we strengthen prevention efforts, reflecting the priorities set out in the NHS 10‑Year Plan.

We will examine the major preventable risk factors driving poor health outcomes today: obesity, smoking, and harmful alcohol consumption. We will also look at how to strengthen mental health provision, particularly for children and young people, through school‑based teams, community care, prevention and early intervention.

We have an excellent line-up of speakers, including:

• Prof. Ibrahim Abubakar, Vice Provost – Health, UCL
• Dr Rachel Allen, Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition, Department of Health and Social Care
• Prof. Linda Bauld, Professor of Public Health, University of Edinburgh
• Sarah Brown, Head of Children, Young People & Perinatal Mental Health, NHS England
• Dr Adrian Brown, Associate Professor in Nutrition & Dietetics, UCL
• Prof. Jamie Brown, Professor of Behavioural Science and Health, UCL
• Prof. Jessica Deighton, Professor of Child Mental Health and Wellbeing, UCL
• Dr Ranjita Dhital, Associate Professor in Interdisciplinary Health Studies, UCL
• Prof. Sarah Jackson, Professorial Research Fellow, UCL
• Prof. Clare Llewellyn, Professor of Psychology & Epidemiology, UCL
• Dr Gemma Moore, Associate Professor in Health, Wellbeing & Communities, UCL
• Dr Oliver Mytton, Clinical Associate Professor and UKRI Future Leaders Fellow, UCL
• Prof. Praveetha Patalay, Professor of Population Health and Wellbeing, UCL

We look forward to welcoming you in-person or online. Registrations are essential.

Oral presentations
We are calling for abstract submissions for oral presentations from UCL Early Career Researchers (ECRs) whose research is focussed on obesity or on alcohol and smoking.

If your abstract is selected, you will be invited to give an oral presentation in the relevant symposium session.

Poster presentations
We are calling for abstract submissions for posters from UCL Early Career Researchers (ECRs) focussed on a wide range of population health research. If your abstract is shortlisted, you’ll be invited to present your poster at the symposium.

A panel of Early Career Researchers will review the posters at the symposium. The best posters will be awarded prizes at the end of the symposium.

• First place: £100 Love2Shop voucher
• Second place: £50 Love2Shop voucher

All abstracts must be submitted using the Microsoft form by 5pm, Wednesday 18 March.

This event will be photographed, and photos may be used for future UCL promotional material. If you don't wish to be photographed, please make yourself known to a member of the team on the day.

There is a ramp/slope at the entrance of UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health. The ramp/slope is located to the right as you face the entrance. There are accessible toilets throughout the building.

View the full Accessibility Guide for UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health

If you can no longer attend, please cancel your ticket via Eventbrite as soon as possible, or let us know by emailing [email protected].

UCL Health of the Public is a virtual school bringing multiple disciplines together to improve health for all.

Our physical and mental health is shaped by many factors, from the food we eat, to the air we breathe, the work we do, the places we live, the taxes we pay, the health care we receive, and the people around us.

We develop new research communities and collaborations across many fields, including engineering, climate science, the built environment, law and social sciences, alongside population health sciences. This encourages innovative perspectives in research and education, creating a community of researchers and students with skills that transcend disciplines.

By working together across disciplines, and in collaboration with local communities, local government, the NHS, the third sector, and industry, we hope to have a real impact and ensure a healthy future for all.

Info: Opening remarks from Prof. Graham Hart (Director, UCL Health of the Public).

Info: Chair: Dr Oliver Mytton | Presenters: Dr Adrian Brown, Prof. Clare Llewellyn and more to be announced.

Info: Enjoy lunch, networking and an opportunity to see a wide selection of posters in the Winter Garden.

Info: Chair: Prof. Jamie Brown | Presenters: Prof. Linda Bauld, Dr Sarah Jackson, Dr Ranjita Dhital and more to be announced.

Info: Chair: Prof. Praveetha Patalay | Speakers: Prof. Jessica Deighton, Dr Gemma Moore and more to be announced.

Info: Led by the UCL Health of the Public Early Careers Network

Info: Closing remarks from Prof. Ibrahim Abubakar, Vice Provost – Health, UCL.

Info: Enjoy some light refreshments and networking after the event.

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