About us

Orbis-trained integrated eye care worker, Tsehay comforts 13-year-old Asegedech, who is suffering from severe trachoma. Gamo Gofa, Ethiopia. © Geoff Oliver Bugbee/Orbis

The Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene is a charity and membership society that has been dedicated to improving tropical medicine and global health since 1907.

Our ambition is to save lives and improve health around the world through increased access to and greater equity in global healthcare.

Through our activities we help further our members’ careers. We also harness their collective knowledge and expertise to achieve change within the sector. Our members, based in over 90 countries, are at all stages of their careers, working across a multitude of disciplines and from a range of sectors.

The Society, located in London, is governed by a Board of Trustees. RSTMH received a "Royal" designation from King George V in 1920, and the royal connection has been maintained ever since - Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was our Patron up until her death and His Majesty King Charles III was confirmed as our Patron in May 2024. HRH The Princess Royal is an Honorary Fellow.

Join us by becoming a member of the Society

Who we are

We have created this short film to explain more about who we are and what we do.

What we do

Our activities include funding and disseminating multidisciplinary research through peer-reviewed journals and a calendar of meetings and events. We provide grants for UK and international research, and award medals for excellence in practice, and to recognise emerging talent.

Journals

We publish two internationally renowned, peer-reviewed journals: Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene and International Health.

Grants

We provide grants annually to early career researchers from anywhere in the world to carry out their own research on aspects of tropical medicine or global health.

Medals and awards

We recognise excellence and progress in tropical medicine or global health through our prestigious medals, awards and essay prizes.

Policy and advocacy

We identify areas of work where our knowledge, networks and collective expertise can help improve awareness, activities or policy positions that achieve change.

Events

We organise and support events around the world that bring together voices from different sectors working in tropical medicine or global health.

Ambassadors

We recruit Country and Student Ambassadors around the world to raise awareness of RSTMH.