Pharmacist and epidemiologist advancing equity-driven, policy-relevant public health research across antimicrobial resistance, tobacco harm reduction and smoking cessation, and pandemic preparedness, with a focus on health systems, policy, and population-level risk.
About
Yusuff Adebayo Adebisi is a pharmacist and epidemiologist advancing equity-driven, policy-relevant public health research. He serves as Director of Research at Global Health Focus, leading applied research and capacity-strengthening initiatives across the Global South.
His work focuses on antimicrobial resistance, tobacco harm reduction, and pandemic preparedness, with a strong emphasis on real-world evidence, administrative data, and translating science into policy impact. He actively promotes bidirectional knowledge exchange between the Global North and South.
Yusuff has authored or co-authored 250+ peer-reviewed publications across infectious and non-communicable disease epidemiology and population health. His research leadership and social impact have been recognised internationally, including with the Diana Award, honouring young leaders driving positive social change.
He holds an MSc from the University of Oxford, a Bachelor of Pharmacy from the University of Ibadan, and is currently a PhD Researcher at the University of Glasgow.
Experience
Conducting interdisciplinary research on tobacco use, nicotine dependence, and smoking cessation. Contributing to projects examining harm reduction, cessation pathways, and population health impacts of nicotine products.
Leading multi-country research and advocacy initiatives spanning 26+ countries, coordinating international teams to advance health equity and support community-led evidence generation.
Quantifying severe COVID-19 risk among individuals with disabilities in relation to household living conditions, using large-scale linked administrative data including Census, Public Health Scotland, and Ordnance Survey datasets.
Led a project quantifying risks of severe infectious respiratory diseases associated with tobacco smoking using the China Kadoorie Biobank (512,700 participants).
Contributed to evaluating global policy responses and developing the COVID-19 Stringency Index through data collection, analysis, and dissemination.
Education
University of Glasgow, Scotland, UK
Dissertation: Living with disabilities, household conditions and COVID-19 — a population-based study using linked administrative data (5.3 million participants).
United Kingdom Research and Innovation Economic and Social Research Council FundedUniversity of Oxford, United Kingdom
Dissertation: Tobacco smoking and risk of severe infectious respiratory diseases — findings from the China Kadoorie Biobank (512,700 participants).
Commonwealth ScholarshipUniversity of Ibadan, Nigeria
Dissertation: Understanding Smoking Cessation — From Pharmacy Education to Practice in Nigeria.
Publications
A selection of work across high-impact journals, original research, and academic commentary.
Health Science Reports
Published: 9 March 2026
Health Sci Rep. 2026;9(3):e72072. doi: 10.1002/hsr2.72072. PMID: 41816648; PMCID: PMC12971602.
Read →Current Addiction Reports
Published: 17 February 2026
Curr Addict Rep 13, 11 (2026)
Read →IF 6 Social Science & Medicine
European Journal of Public Health
Tropical Medicine & International Health
Addictive Behaviors
World Journal of Emergency Surgery
Scientific Reports (Nature)
Journal of Human Hypertension (Nature)
Journal of Epidemiology & Population Health
Journal of Infectious Diseases
Globalization and Health
Tropical Medicine & Health
American Journal of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene
Springer Nature Singapore
Springer Nature Singapore
Advanced · Global Infection Prevention and Management in Healthcare
World Federation of Public Health Association
Wuhan University Center for Global Health
Wuhan University Center for Global Health
Research Funding
Over $250,000 in research funding secured across international funders.
Università degli Studi di Catania, Italy
Robert Koch Institute / German Federal Ministry of Health
Knowledge-Action-Change, London
Knowledge-Action-Change, London
Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene & National Institute for Health and Care Research
In the Media
BBC
2023 · Guest Contributor
Nature News
2021 · Featured In
University of Oxford
2023 · Profile
Punch Nigeria
2024
Pharmanews Online
2021 · Publisher: Pharmanews Online
Tribune Online
2024
Recognition
Stanford/Elsevier List — among the most influential researchers in public health
Stanford/Elsevier List — consecutive recognition for citation impact
Recognised for inspiring research capacity building across Africa
Top 11 globally for antimicrobial stewardship innovation
Expertise
Affiliations
Featured Video
Blog
Thoughts on public health, equity, global health policy, and more.
Contact
I welcome enquiries about research collaborations, speaking engagements, peer review, consultancy, or mentorship. Don't hesitate to reach out.