The Scope of Global Health Research at Santa Maria College (SMC)

Introduction

At Santa Maria College (SMC), the scope of global health research team is to promote the study, research, and practice of improving health and achieving health equity for all people worldwide¹. This is crucial as global health transcends national boundaries, addressing transnational determinants of health such as pandemics, climate change, and systemic inequality through interdisciplinary collaboration^1,2. The purpose of this article is to describe the scope of SMC Global Health Research projects and programmes.

Core Dimensions of Global Health Research at SMC

The scope of global health is vast, bridging the gap between population-based prevention and individual-level clinical care. So, the SMC Global Health Research Team’s work involves several interconnected pillars as stated below:

Transnational Disease Control: Monitoring, preventing, and responding to infectious diseases (e.g., Ebola) and managing the global rise of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like heart disease and diabetes.

Environmental and Planetary Health: Addressing how climate change, pollution, and ecosystem degradation impact human health, utilising a One Health approach that links human, animal, and environmental ecosystems.

Health Equity and Social Justice: Focusing on vulnerable, marginalized, and low-resource populations to reduce disparities in healthcare access, education, and resources.

Global Health Security and Diplomacy: Utilising international law and collaboration—such as the International Health Regulations managed by the WHO—to contain outbreaks and prepare for future pandemics.

Key Interdisciplinary Pillars

As the determinants of health are deeply rooted outside traditional medicine, the scope of interdisciplinary pillars relies on experts across multiple fields:

• Social and Behavioral Sciences: Understanding cultural stigmas, health literacy, and community behaviors.

• Economics: Evaluating healthcare financing, poverty, and the economic burden of disease.

• Law and Policy: Enforcing human rights regarding health and negotiating international health treaties.

The SMC Global Health Team is also exploring international policy, active outbreaks, and collaborative initiatives through various groups and consortia.

Conclusion

Fundamentally, as global health is about achieving better health outcomes for vulnerable populations and communities around the world, the SMC Global Health Team has been working towards this goal for better world health. The Team work to eliminate health disparities in low-resource settings around the world through research, education and collaborative intervention.

References

1. Santa Maria College(SMC). The Global Health Research and Education Programme: Progress Report, 2009. Hanover: SMC Publications, 2009.

2. Santa Maria College(SMC). The Global Health Research and Education Programme: Progress Report, 2025. London: SMC Publications, 2025.

Correspondence

Professor Dr Daniella Kingsley-Godwin

London England, United Kingdom

Email: info@sntamariacollege.org.uk