Advancing research, evaluation and policy to understand how digital environments shape health, wellbeing and health inequalities.

Digital environments – including social media, artificial intelligence, digital platforms and algorithmic systems – are increasingly recognised as important determinants of health. They shape how people connect, learn, work and live, influencing opportunities, risks and the distribution of health and health inequalities across populations.

The Digital Determinants of Health Hub, based at the Faculty of Public Health and Policy at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), brings together expertise in public health, epidemiology, systems thinking, evaluation science, digital data science and artificial intelligence to understand how digital environments influence health and health inequalities, and to generate, synthesise and translate evidence that informs policy, practice and public understanding.

What We Do

Research

We generate rigorous, policy-relevant evidence on how social, commercial and political determinants of health shape digital environments, and how digital determinants of health influence health, wellbeing and health inequalities through interdisciplinary research spanning epidemiology, causal inference, evaluation science, digital data science and responsible artificial intelligence.

Policy

We work with governments, regulators and international organisations to ensure evidence informs digital regulation, implementation and evaluation, while maintaining scientific independence and transparency.

Practice, Education & Training

We work across research, policy, law, education, healthcare and the third sector to translate evidence into practice. We provide training and professional education for researchers, students, policymakers and practitioners, alongside practical guidance, accessible resources and evidence-informed approaches that build capacity to understand, research and respond to digital determinants of health.

Why Digital Determinants Matter

Digital environments do not exist in isolation. They are shaped by wider social, commercial and political determinants of health, which influence how digital technologies are designed, governed, financed and experienced. Within these environments, platform design, recommendation algorithms, artificial intelligence, governance and commercial incentives shape digital experiences, determining what people see, how they interact online, and how health risks, opportunities and inequalities are distributed across populations.

Understanding these interconnected determinants and systems is essential for generating robust evidence, adopting systems-informed approaches to research and evaluation, informing policy, and creating healthier digital environments that reduce health inequalities.

Learn more about our framework

Our Approach

Our work is grounded in:

  • Population health science and epidemiology

  • Systems thinking, causal inference and evaluation science

  • Ethical digital data science and responsible artificial intelligence

  • Meaningful youth partnership and co-production

  • Evidence synthesis, knowledge mobilisation and research translation

  • Policy relevance, scientific independence and transparency

Partners, Collaborators & Funders

The Hub works with a wide network of academic, policy and third-sector partners in the UK and internationally to support methodological innovation, real-world relevance and impact.

UK Office for Health Improvement & Disparities

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UK Department of Health & Social Care

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UK Department for Education

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UK Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade

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NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde

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NHS England

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National Police Chiefs' Council

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Centre for Protecting Women Online

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ADHD UK

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The Ben Kinsella Trust

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Alliance 4 Children

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Ofcom

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Scottish Violence Reduction Unit

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University of Bath

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University College London

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University of Glasgow

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Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

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United Nations

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UK Faculty of Public Health

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Metropolitan Police

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NIHR Health Determinants Research Collaboration Coventry

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Conventry City Council

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Celtic Football Club Foundation

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Scottish Professional Football League Trust

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Barnardos

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Elba Hope Foundation

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Children First

UK Office for Health Improvement & Disparities I UK Department of Health & Social Care I UK Department for Education I UK Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade I NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde I NHS England I National Police Chiefs' Council I Centre for Protecting Women Online I ADHD UK I The Ben Kinsella Trust I Alliance 4 Children I Ofcom I Scottish Violence Reduction Unit I University of Bath I University College London I University of Glasgow I Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health I United Nations I UK Faculty of Public Health I Metropolitan Police I NIHR Health Determinants Research Collaboration Coventry I Conventry City Council I Celtic Football Club Foundation I Scottish Professional Football League Trust I Barnardos I Elba Hope Foundation I Children First

Get Involved

There are several ways to engage with the Digital Determinants of Health Hub.

Explore our research
Work with us
Join our Youth Advisory Group