Founded in 1898, the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) is a world leading centre for research and teaching in tropical diseases. LSTM is part of the University of Liverpool and is based in the UK city of Liverpool. The school has an international reputation for its work in tropical medicine and health, particularly in the areas of malaria, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and neglected tropical diseases. LSTM has a strong track record in both basic science research and applied public health projects.
LSTM was founded following a meeting of medical professionals in Liverpool who were concerned about the high number of sailors dying from disease while on voyages to the tropics. The school was initially located in a converted house on Duke Street, before moving to larger premises on Mount Pleasant street four years later. In its early years, LSTM focused primarily on training doctors and other medical staff to work in the tropics. It also carried out research into tropical diseases and their treatment. One of the first successes of the school was its work on combating yellow fever, which was responsible for killing many sailors at that time.
Over the course of its history, LSTM has been at the forefront of many major advances in tropical medicine. In 1923, it established one of the first courses in parasitology anywhere in the world. In 1948, it launched one of first clinical trials demonstrating that DDT could be used to control malaria-carrying mosquitoes. More recently, LSTM researchers have made key contributions to understanding how artemisinin-based combination therapies can be used to treat malaria; developed new drugs for treating sleeping sickness; and are working on developing a vaccine for dengue fever.
Today, LSTM continues to be a world leader in research and teaching relating to tropical diseases. The school has over 400 staff from more than 60 countries working across a range disciplines including clinical medicine, epidemiology, entomology , pharmacology microbiology immunology , molecular biology , biochemistry global health policy . It runs masters level courses as well as short courses designed specifically for healthcare workers from low-and middle-income countries who are working frontline roles tackling someofthe world’s most pressing health challenges .