Episodes
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In this episode, host Sarah Iqbal explores the role of stories in global health research through the context of work of the NIHR Global Health Research Centre for Non-Communicable Diseases and Environmental Change. While data and numbers can show us what is happening, they don’t always reveal why. That’s where qualitative research comes in—helping us listen deeply, understand context, and capture the complexity of people’s lives.
Sarah is joined by Dr. Chris Mary Kurian, a seasoned qualitative researcher with two decades of experience studying how communities experience health, illness, and care. Together, they discuss the power of words and lived experience, the challenges of balancing qualitative and quantitative insights, and why spending time in communities is essential for meaningful research.
From fevers and folk remedies to the future of interdisciplinary public health, this conversation is a reminder that the voices of people themselves are not just data points—they are knowledge makers.
NIHR Global Health Research Centre for Non-Communicable Diseases and Environmental Change is funded by the NIHR-Global Health Research Centre award scheme (NIHR203247) using UK international development funding from the UK Government to support global health research. The views expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NIHR or the UK government.
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In this episode, Dr Deepika Saluja speak with Dr Kefilath Bello about how impactful research and research partnership requires an intentional sense-making process that connects and respects diverse cultural contexts. Kefi highlights through examples, that the willingness to engage with communities has to be accompanied with dedicated resources including time, budget, facilitation skills; to go beyond the tokenistic approach, that helps build trust and long-term relationships with community members and understand their contexts better.
Dr Kefilath Bello is the Head, Health Policy and Systems Department, Centre for Research in Human Reproduction and Demography (CERRHUD) in Benin, West Africa. She is completing her PhD from the Institute of Tropical Medicine (ITM), Antwerp and the KU Leuven in Belgium. Her work focuses on promoting evidence-informed decision-making for improving access and quality of Primary Health Care services
We hope you enjoy listening to this podcast, if you do, please share your reflections and thoughts on LinkedIn and your other networks.
If you have any feedback or ideas for us to include in the future episodes, please write to [email protected]
About the series, ‘Ubuntu Reflections: Unpacking the everyday dynamics of building equitable partnerships’
Equitable research partnerships are central to advancing academic global health, particularly to break the power hierarchies, strengthening local capacities and engaging communities in a meaningful manner. However, very little is known about the practical experiences and challenges of navigating and implementing the recommendations provided in the literature (in the form of dos and don’ts) in everyday engagement towards building and strengthening global health partnerships.
In this series, we attempt to extend the conversation through discussing practical experiences, examples and learnings from experts based in different regions, and unpack these less talked about layers of building equitable partnerships on an everyday basis, what does it entail, the challenges encountered, and tools used to navigate these challenges.
This series builds on our existing work at the Ubuntu Initiative
Related item ‘Why does embracing Ubuntu matter for authentic research partnerships?’
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Missing episodes?
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In this episode, Dr Kenneth Yakubu speaks with Dr Seye Abimbola to explore the everyday dynamics of building an equitable research partnership in Africa. Seye outlines different characteristics of research partnerships, and unpack the practical challenges around being a champion, along with the language and labelling that embodies it, especially in the context of partnership building in the African region.
Dr Seye Abimbola is a health systems researcher from Nigeria. He is currently based at the University of Sydney in Australia, where his teaching and research focus on knowledge practices in global health, health system governance, and the adoption and scale up of health system innovations. He served as the inaugural editor in Chief of BMJ GH for nine years, significantly shaping the discourse of global health and the journal.
We hope you enjoy listening to this podcast, if you do, please share your reflections and thoughts on LinkedIn and your other networks.
If you have any feedback or ideas for us to include in the future episodes, please write to [email protected]
About the series, ‘Ubuntu Reflections: Unpacking the everyday dynamics of building equitable partnerships’
Equitable research partnerships are central to advancing academic global health, particularly to break the power hierarchies, strengthening local capacities and engaging communities in a meaningful manner. However, very little is known about the practical experiences and challenges of navigating and implementing the recommendations provided in the literature (in the form of dos and don’ts) in everyday engagement towards building and strengthening global health partnerships.
In this series, we attempt to extend the conversation through discussing practical experiences, examples and learnings from experts based in different regions, and unpack these less talked about layers of building equitable partnerships on an everyday basis, what does it entail, the challenges encountered, and tools used to navigate these challenges.
This series builds on our existing work at the Ubuntu Initiative.
Related item ‘Why does embracing Ubuntu matter for authentic research partnerships?’
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Series: Beyond the Body: Women’s wellbeing- science, equity & impact
In this powerful episode, host Professor Amanda Henry is joined by co-host Associate Professor Mehera San Roque and guest Associate Professor Ann Kayis-Kumar to explore how economic abuse — a form of coercive control — plays out in Australia's tax system. Drawing on research and frontline legal experience, they reveal how tax debts are weaponised against victim-survivors, the urgent need for law reform, and the growing national advocacy to fix these hidden injustices. A must-listen conversation on financial abuse, policy change, and the intersections of gender, money and power.
To learn more visit
UNSW tax clinic
How to prevent weaponisation of the tax system
Host: Professor Amanda Henry Program Head, Women’s Health, Australia
Co-host: Associate Professor Mehera San Roque
Guest: Associate Professor Ann Kayis-Kumar
The George Institute’s Global Women’s Health ProgramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Series: Beyond the Body: Women’s wellbeing- science, equity & impact
In this episode, host Professor Amanda Henry speaks with Associate Professor Lizzie Muller about the often invisible world of carers — who they are, what they do, and why care work remains a deeply gendered issue. Drawing on personal experience and her research at UNSW, Lizzie unpacks how caring responsibilities intersect with career progression and what can be done to better support carers at work. A candid conversation about recognition, advocacy, and the real impact of care on women's wellbeing.
Visit to learn more
UNSW Women’s Wellbeing Academy
Guest: Associate Professor Lizzie Muller
Professor Amanda Henry Program Head, Women’s Health, Australia
The George Institute’s Global Women’s Health ProgramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Series: Beyond the Body: Women’s wellbeing- science, equity & impact
In this first episode, host Professor Amanda Henry is joined by Professor Bronwyn Graham, Director of the National Centre for Sex and Gender Equity in Health and Medicine, to explore why sex and gender matter in health and medical research. They unpack common misconceptions, share real-world examples from asthma to mental health, and discuss how integrating sex and gender into research leads to better science and healthcare for everyone. The conversation also highlights international efforts to improve research practices and the crucial role of education in building a more equitable healthcare system.
To learn more visit:
The Centre for Sex and Gender in Health and Medicine
The George Institute’s Global Women’s Health Program
Host: Professor Amanda Henry Program Head, Women’s Health, Australia
Guest: Bronwyn Graham, Director, Centre for Sex and Gender Equity in Health and Medicine, AustraliaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Description: This episode of The Scan features Professor Alta Schutte and Professor Anthony Rodgers discussing one of the world’s biggest health challenges, and a potentially life changing new solution. Around 1.3 billion people live with hypertension (high blood pressure); most live in low- and middle-income countries. It’s a leading cause of heart attacks, strokes, and early death. But there’s hope. In this episode we explore a new treatment solution, the Hypertension Polypill, that could accelerate and simplify care and save lives.
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Back pain tops the charts as the world's leading cause of pain and disability. But do we really know which treatments work? We interview esteemed spinal neurosurgeon Dr Ralph Mobbs, principal investigator of the SUcceSS study, run by Professor Manuela Ferreira and the Musculoskeletal research team at The George Institute for Global Health. By participating in this and other research, Dr. Mobbs is on a mission to generate much-needed evidence into the effectiveness of interventions such as surgery to treat degenerative spine conditions.
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In this episode of we’re delving into musculoskeletal research. From chronic back pain to arthritis, these conditions disrupt lives and limit mobility, impacting millions globally. Our guest, Professor Manuela Ferreira, a leading expert, sheds light on groundbreaking evidence-based treatments, from innovative surgical trials to practical, non-invasive solutions. We’ll discuss how research is transforming patient care and why early collaboration with clinicians is essential. Stay with us for an insightful conversation on what truly works, what doesn’t, and how we can bridge the gap between medical research and everyday healthcare.
For more, please see https://uat.georgeinstitute.org/our-research/areas/musculoskeletal
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In this bitesize episode we speak with researcher Benjamin Talbot about measuring the carbon footprint of health care and research. Ben demonstrates how emissions can be measured and encourages everyone to keep the planet and protection of the planet at the forefront of our minds and in what we're doing.
Read the paper here.
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This bitesize episode features Cara Tannanbaum, a leading global voice on women's health and sex and gender in research. Cara speaks about developments in Australia and the UK to improve health equity outcomes for everyone. These include new policies to ensure sex and gender are considered in research for more comprehensive and meaningful insights, and thoughts about how workplaces can integrate policies that support the entire workforce.
Meet Dr Cara Tannenbaum, Distinguished Fellow Centre for Sex and Gender Equity in Health and Medicine MESSAGE Project
Read more following the links below.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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In this bitesize episode we speak with Alice Witt who speaks about a significant step towards closing the sex and gender health gap in the UK. Until now most UK medical research has been conducted primarily with male participants, animals or cells, and studies rarely analyse data in a way that enables potential sex or gender differences in outcomes to be identified. The Medical Science Sex and Gender Equity (MESSAGE) project has been working to change this, developing a landmark sex and gender policy framework for UK research funders.
Poor attention to sex and gender has led to critical data gaps in the evidence base, with detrimental effects on health outcomes for all people, but particularly women and girls, as well as trans, non-binary and intersex people.
Read more about the MESSAGE project and framework here.
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This bitesize episode features Menglu, a researcher working on an innovative Stroke trial. Intracerebral haemorrhage is currently the most serious and least treatable form of stroke. The I-CATCHER trial is investigating a new package of treatments, or a Care Bundle approach, to see how this can benefit patients and improve outcomes for people with intracerebral haemorrhage. To learn more about this and how you can become involved, visit https://www.georgeinstitute.org/projects/international-care-bundle-evaluation-in-cerebral-hemorrhage-research-i-catcher
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Cardiovascular diseases, including stroke, remain the leading cause of death worldwide, however knowing more can make a big difference. For World Stroke Awareness Day this bitesize episode features Menglu, a researcher in Stroke, and Mabel, a courageous stroke survivor. Mabel shares her personal transformation post-stroke, shedding light on crucial insights for all. Both Mabel and Menglu play vital roles in the Brain Health team, striving to enhance the understanding and treatment of stroke worldwide.
Read more https://www.georgeinstitute.org.au/projects/brain-health-program
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While we know that eating too much salt is bad for our health, many are unaware it’s a leading cause of high blood pressure. But changing habits - and the food supply - can be challenging. What if we could switch the salt to a substitute with lower sodium and additional benefits?
In this episode we discuss a novel approach to reducing blood pressure. Featuring Alta Schutte, Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine at the UNSW Sydney and The George Institute for Global Health and Bruce Neal, Executive Director of the George Institute for Global Health, and Professor of Medicine at UNSW Sydney. Bruce is a UK trained physician with over 25 years’ experience in clinical research with a focus on high blood pressure and salt.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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The climate is changing, and this is affecting our environment, how we live, work, what we eat, and ultimately our health. This is particularly the case for people in vulnerable communities. For World Environment Day, in this bitesize episode of The Scan we discuss the environment health nexus with two speakers, about work in India.
Research Manager Sarah Iqbal speaks with Mr Gangaram Paikra, a local leader, activist and one of the founder members of Chaupal, a community-led initiative focusing on the right to food working with marginalised and poor communities. Sarah also speaks with Dr. Sahiba Kohli, a Research Fellow at NIHR Global Health Research Center for Non-Communicable Diseases and Environmental Change.Read more about the Center here.
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In this episode of The Scan we speak with Yakubu, a Research Fellow with the Guunu-maana (Heal) Aboriginal & Torres Strait Research Program and co-Lead of The George Institute’s Ubuntu Initiative. Yakubu tells us about the philosophy of the initiative, programs underway, and how he hopes to connect and grow engagement with researchers and institutions in Africa in a sustainable and people-centred way.
Read more about the Ubuntu Initiative here.
Connect with Yakubu on X @mallamyaks1016 or send an email to [email protected]See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Waste workers-otherwise known as sanitation workers-are often made invisible due to informal work arrangements. In India, as in other parts of the world, sanitation workers tend to be from the oppressed and marginalized communities with little access to healthcare and quality health services. This despite, their work being highly important to society and exposing them to various occupational hazards.
In this episode of The Scan we speak with Partho Mukherjee, a Research Assistant focusing on health systems at The George Institute. Partho is working on Arise, a collaboration across low- and middle-income countries, aiming to improve accountability and governance mechanisms towards marginalized communities living in urban informal spaces.
Read more about Arise here.
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Psychedelic drugs, like psilocybin and MDMA, have captivated global interest for their potential in treating mental health disorders. While Australia has become the first country in the world to permit the prescription of these drugs, their efficacy is unconfirmed and access to these potentially transformative treatments is limited.
Dr Dilara Bahceci is a neuroscientist who specialises in the therapeutic potential of these psychoactive drugs. In this bitesize episode of the Scan, Dilara emphasizes the pressing need to innovate mental health treatments and champions equitable access. Tune in to explore the evolving research landscape and exciting prospects ahead.
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It's a condition which, for many, is yet to be diagnosed. It affects one in ten people and has severe impacts on someone's quality of life. Anthony Sunjaya is a medical doctor and doctoral researcher at The George Institute for Global Health who researches this condition -- breathlessness – and is exploring innovative ways to diagnose and treat it.
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