Pharmacist and epidemiologist advancing equity-driven, policy-relevant public health research — working at the intersection of antimicrobial resistance, tobacco harm reduction, and pandemic preparedness.
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.
Directed research activities developing critical thinkers and leaders across 26+ countries. Led international teams on health equity advocacy and grassroots 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).
UKRI ESRC 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.
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
Research Funding
Over €170,000 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
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
Royal Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene
2022
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
Contact
I welcome enquiries about research collaborations, speaking engagements, peer review, consultancy, or mentorship. Don't hesitate to reach out.