School of Health & Wellbeing

The School of Health and Wellbeing's Peter MacPherson is among the latest cohort of Global Health Research Professors who are delivering impact on some of the most pressing global health challenges, as well as strengthening global research leadership and capacity.

Funded by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), the NIHR Global Health Research Professorship (GHRP) scheme supports outstanding researchers to lead ambitious programmes of applied health research and build long-term research leadership and capacity within institutions in the regions where they work.

Professor Peter MacPherson, Head of Public Health in the School of Health and Wellbeing, will work with colleagues in Malawi to investigate a new approach to artificial intelligence testing for tuberculosis (TB).

Despite being curable with antibiotics, tuberculosis is the world’s leading infectious killer. Countries in Africa have experienced skyrocketing TB epidemics due to HIV, poverty, and fragile health systems.

The tools to diagnose TB are severely lacking, with many people delayed in accessing treatment by months, or even years. Chest X-ray can detect the signs of TB early, helping people access treatment and stopping transmission. But many countries lack health workers skilled in reading X-rays.

Using contextual information from patients to augment AI chest X-ray results and determine personalised thresholds for sputum testing will dramatically reduce the number of expensive tests required to diagnose TB and so increase availability of treatment. This approach will be tested in a randomised trial in Blantyre, Malawi, and if successful, could have major cost-saving implications for public health programmes.

Professor Peter MacPherson said: "I am honoured to receive this NIHR Global Health Research Professorship. This award will advance the use of artificial intelligence to improve tuberculosis detection throughout the world. In the award, I will work closely with local partners in Malawi to generate evidence that directly informs equitable policy and strengthens health systems.”

Professor Lucy Chappell, CEO of NIHR and Chief Scientific Adviser at DHSC says: “The Department of Health and Social Care is delighted to see this new cohort of NIHR Global Health Research Professors announced. These awards are about backing talented researchers to find practical ways to improve health and care, especially in communities facing the greatest challenges.

“This investment matters because it helps turn research into real benefits for patients and the public in low and middle income countries - from better diagnosis and treatment to stronger health services. At the same time, it supports local research leaders and teams, working in partnership to build the skills and systems they need to improve health now and in the future.” 

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First published: 14 April 2026