Our roots

Sir Richard Doll (1912–2005)

Oxford Population Health traces its legacy directly to the visionary leadership of Sir William Richard Shaboe Doll, widely considered one of the most important medical scientists of the 20th century. His pioneering work in epidemiology not only saved millions of lives globally but also established Oxford as a world-leading centre for medical research.

Transforming Medicine at Oxford

In 1969, Sir Richard was appointed Regius Professor of Medicine at Oxford University. Notably, he was the first epidemiologist to hold this prestigious post. His tenure was transformative; he is credited with making Oxford the 'cynosure of epidemiological studies'.

Beyond his own research, he revitalised the medical landscape of the University by creating five new medical chairs and developing the clinical school into a distinguished and thriving department. His commitment to academic community led him to found Green College (now Green Templeton College), a bold initiative designed to meet the specific needs of clinical students, housed in the historic Radcliffe Observatory.

The Smoking Breakthrough and Scientific Legacy

Sir Richard is best known to the public for his groundbreaking work establishing the link between smoking and lung cancer. Working initially with Austin Bradford Hill in the 1950s, he launched the British Doctors Study. This prospective study of some 40,000 volunteer doctors provided irrefutable evidence that smoking was the main cause of lung cancer and a significant factor in cardiovascular disease.

This work was continued and refined over the next 50 years in collaboration with his close colleague, Professor Sir Richard Peto. Together, they produced seminal research that fundamentally changed global public health policies. Even after his official retirement, it was his partnership with Professor Peto at the Clinical Trial Service Unit and Epidemiological Studies Unit (CTSU) that enabled Sir Richard to remain scientifically productive until weeks before his death at the age of 92.

Despite initial incredulity from the medical establishment and resistance from the tobacco industry, Sir Richard maintained an unwavering determination to report the facts. His research extended to other critical areas of public health, including the effects of radiation, asbestos, oral contraceptives, and peptic ulcer aetiology.

A Life Dedicated to Science

Sir Richard Doll said 'Death in old age is inevitable, but death before old age is not.'  This motto underpins our work to prevent suffering and premature death. It is displayed alongside Sir Richard's portrait in our Richard Doll Building which was opened in 2005, and provides a fitting monument to a man whose work fundamentally changed our understanding of health and disease. 

Continuing the Mission: The Richard Doll Consortium

The work begun by Sir Richard continues today through global collaboration. For example, the Richard Doll Consortium facilitates cooperation between researchers and promotes data sharing to produce reliable estimates of the major causes of premature death.

While large-scale observational studies have identified key risk factors—such as smoking, obesity, diabetes, and hypertension—current global estimates rely heavily on data from high-income countries. The Consortium aims to bridge this gap by promoting studies in low- and middle-income countries, ensuring that disease control strategies are relevant to local populations.