Yuhang Du awarded prestigious 2026 Professor Sir James Ball PhD Prize

Yuhang Du, a PhD student in Management Science and Operations at LBS, has been awarded the prestigious 2026 Professor Sir James Ball PhD Prize, recognising her academic excellence and the potential real-world impact of her research.

Du’s work focuses on healthcare operations and global health delivery, exploring how health systems can improve both fairness and efficiency in maternal and perinatal care across low- and high-income countries.

Speaking about her recognition, Yuhang Du said; “I am truly honoured to receive the 2026 Professor Sir James Ball PhD Prize. It is particularly rewarding to see my research recognised for its potential to make a difference to healthcare delivery. I hope my work can contribute to more equitable and efficient maternal and perinatal care, helping health systems improve outcomes for mothers and babies worldwide.”

Established in honour of the late Professor Sir James Ball, Emeritus Professor of Economics and former Dean of London Business School from 1972 to 1984, the Professor Sir James Ball Endowed Scholarship Programme supports academic excellence and innovation through an MBA Scholarship and PhD Award. The programme is generously funded by Lady Ball, Sir James's widow, in recognition of his enduring legacy.

Combining rigorous theoretical research with practical data, Yuhang has collaborated with organisations including Liberia’s Ministry of Health, Cambridge University Hospitals, and Amref Health Africa in Kenya. Together, they have developed operational tools designed to support decision-making and improve healthcare delivery in practice.

Her research has also attracted wider academic recognition, including several awards for her paper, 'Optimal Assignment Guidelines for Maternity Waiting Homes in Resource-Constrained Environments'. Yuhang Du joined London Business School as a doctoral student in Management Science and Operations in 2021.