Dr Emma Harding-Esch

Emma Harding-Esch is an epidemiologist whose work focuses on diagnostics and public health research for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). She is Associate Professor at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and Chief Scientist for Tropical Data, supporting countries to collect and use high-quality epidemiological data for disease control programs.

Her research focuses on the evaluation and implementation of diagnostic tests for STIs, and on understanding how diagnostics are used in clinical and public health settings to improve patient care and population health outcomes.

She co-directs LSHTM's STI Research Interest Group and the WHO Collaborating Centre for STIs, and co-leads Bristol Health Partners' Sexual Health Improvement Programme (SHIP) Health Integration Team. She also serves as Chair of the WHO NTD Diagnostic Technical Advisory Group (DTAG) trachoma subgroup and Co-Chair of the DTAG surveillance subgroup.