Author: Nikita Rathod

IGHI people: Meet Professor Ferdinando Rodriguez y Baena, Co-Director, Hamlyn Centre

IGHI is home to a team of staff who are skilled and passionate about their roles. Our talented people are the reason we’re able to tackle some of the most pressing global health challenges through cutting-edge innovation.

We’re giving you the chance to get to know our staff a little better and learn about what motivates them in their roles, who inspires them and what they like to get up to outside of IGHI.

Meet Ferdinando Rodriguez y Baena, co-director of IGHI’s Hamlyn Centre and Professor of Medical Robotics. Find out more about Ferdinando’s passion for engineering and medicine and his love for food!

What does your role involve?

As the engineering co-director of the Hamlyn Centre, I work with Professor Ara Darzi to deliver the strategy we have set out, keep our finances in check, and look for new ways to expand our remit, reach and impact.

What attracted you to the role?

The opportunity to influence a research field that is close to my heart. I was also attracted by the chance to build tighter links between engineering and medicine, which I think are key to understanding what is needed to translate research successfully and achieve clinical impact.

How would your colleagues describe you in three words?

Caring, funny, and with integrity.

What’s your biggest achievement to date – personal or professional?

The impossible question… remaining sane while juggling family life and career in a working couple household!

Who inspires you?

Amazing people that no one knows about.

If you had a superpower, what would it be?

Definitely teletransportation!

What’s your guilty pleasure?

Definitely food! Mrs and I are definitely foodies. Was it not for my discipline and self-control, I would most definitely be rolling into work!

Collaborating globally for better healthcare


Healthcare is for all.

Here at the Institute of Global Health Innovation, we know there’s no better way to make progress towards this than working together.

Global collaboration allows us to learn from each other’s experiences and successes and can result in unique solutions which carefully consider cultural and systemic differences.

To mark World Health Day, we’re shining a light on five IGHI projects, where working with international partners has brought tremendous benefits when creating innovative responses to healthcare challenges.

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How does branding and pricing affect our spending on over-the-counter drugs?

Blister of ibuprofen tabletsWhen we’re having issues with our health, as well as visiting the doctor or hospital, one option we have is purchasing over-the-counter (OTC) medicines to treat ourselves at home.

OTC drugs can be purchased without a prescription from a doctor. They tend to be affordable and have low production costs.

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IGHI people: Meet Neil Clifford, Computer Systems and Security Administrator, Big Data and Analytical Unit

Computer motherboardIGHI is home to a team of staff who are skilled and passionate about their roles. Our talented people are the reason we’re able to tackle some of the most pressing global health challenges through cutting-edge innovation.

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What’s it like to…work in health economics?

Alberto NunezBy Dr Alberto Nunez Elvira, Research Associate, Centre for Health Policy, IGHI

Having a background in economics, I have always cared about improving resource allocation, accountability and making a positive impact in policymaking. Working in health economics helps me to fulfil these goals and improve decision-making in health policy from different standpoints.
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