Usher Connects and EMS300 event explores past, present and future of population health sciences | Usher Institute

The Usher Institute welcomed colleagues, researchers, students and guests to the Usher Building and online on Tuesday 3 November 2026 for a special Usher Connects event, held as part of Edinburgh Medical School's 300th anniversary celebrations.

The event, Population Health Sciences: past, present and future, brought together speakers from across the field to reflect on the development of public health and primary care, highlight current research and consider how population health sciences can respond to the challenges and opportunities ahead.

The morning programme featured a mix of presentations, conversations and interactive panel discussions, exploring the evolution of population health sciences and the role of multidisciplinary research, data-driven approaches and public involvement in improving health outcomes.

Following lunch and an opportunity to explore research poster presentations, the afternoon featured our Distinguished Lecture, delivered by Professor George Davey Smith, Professor of Clinical Epidemiology at the University of Bristol.

In his lecture, Causality in (so-called) non-communicable diseases, Professor Davey Smith explored the complex relationships between infections, vaccinations and chronic diseases, examining how we establish causality and why this matters for public health. The lecture was followed by an audience Q&A.

The event provided an opportunity to reflect on the achievements of the past, celebrate the breadth of research taking place today and share perspectives on the future of population health sciences.