The social sciences and health system theme conducts multi-disciplinary social science and health systems research to improve health; and provides an environment for training excellent researchers who can effectively apply social science and health systems theory and methods.
The overarching objective of the theme is “to improve health interventions and health outcomes through a better understanding of local knowledge, people’s actions and social interactions, and the context”.
The research portfolio of the theme comprises four thematic areas:
The research portfolio of the theme comprises four thematic areas:
- Society, health, and health seeking. This thematic area includes research that aims to understand how societies experience health, illness and interact with curative and preventive healthcare.
- Health technologies and society. Within this thematic area, the focus is on research enhancing the interface between health technologies, innovations, and societies to improve health outcomes.
- Healthcare practice, policy and systems. This thematic area covers health policy and systems research, aiming to strengthen health systems and make them more resilient, people-centred and equitable.
- Community engagement and ethics. Within this thematic area, we conduct research that seeks to optimise community engagement and involvement in research, ensure it is responsive to local health needs, and optimize ethical conduct of health research.
Maryse Kok
Reader in Health Systems and Social Sciences
Dr Maryse Kok is Reader in Health Systems and Social Sciences at the Malawi Liverpool Wellcome...........
Deborah Nyirenda
Social Scientist
Dr Deborah Nyirenda is a social scientist with extensive experience in global health research. She leads...........
Moses Kumwenda
Behaviour Social Scientist and Health Systems Researcher
Dr. Moses Kelly Kumwenda is a behaviour social scientist and health systems researcher at the Malawi...........
Felix Limbani
Senior Research Associate
Dr Felix Limbani is a Senior Research Associate, and expert in social science and health systems...........
Thomasena O’Byrne
Behavioural and Implementation Scientist
Dr Thomasena O’Byrne is a behavioural and implementation scientist at the Malawi Liverpol Wellcome Programme and...........
Gift Treighcy Banda-Mtaula
Postdoc and Researcher
Dr Treighcy is a Postdoc and researcher at the Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Research Programme, specialising in...........
Olive Mbekwani Kalata
Health Systems and Policy Researcher
Olive Mbekwani Kalata is a health systems and policy researcher and PhD student based in the...........
Rebecca Searle
Liverpool Clinical PhD Programme Candidate
Dr Rebecca Searle is a Liverpool Clinical PhD Programme Candidate at the Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Research...........
Dalitso Maluza-Ndaferankhande
Commonwealth PhD Scholar
Dalitso Maluza-Ndaferankhande is a Commonwealth PhD Scholar at the University of Birmingham, affiliated with the Malawi...........
Kennedy Uadiale
Medical Doctor and a Public Health Practitioner
Dr Kennedy Uadiale is a medical doctor and a public health practitioner. He is currently a...........
Gertrude Mwase Banda
Health systems and policy researcher
Gertrude Banda is a Health systems and policy researcher, Global Health Bioethics Network fellow, a Burdette...........
Charity Gunda
Junior Research Assistant
Charity Gunda is a junior research assistant under the MARVELS group, specialized in qualitative research. She...........
Tracy Chasima-Macheso
Social Scientist
Tracy Chasima-Macheso is a social scientist at the Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Research Programme, specialising in community...........
Wezzie Nyapigoti
Social Scientist and Community Engagement Specialist
Wezzie Nyapigoti is an early career social scientist and community engagement specialist at the Malawi Liverpool...........
Theodora Khofi
Pre-PhD Intern
Theodora Khofi is a Pre-PhD Intern at the Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Research Programme, specialising in global...........
Amr J Saidi
Early Career Social Science Researcher
Amr J Saidi is an early career social science researcher interested in global health, gender equity,...........
Helen Mangochi
Qualitative Researcher & Global Health Bioethics Network fellow
Helen Mangochi is a Qualitative Researcher and a Global Health Bioethics Network fellow at the Malawi...........
Mackwellings Phiri
Social Scientist
Mackwellings Phiri is a social scientist at the Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Research Programme. He holds a...........
Wezi Msukwa-Panje
Early-career Social Scientist
Wezi Msukwa-Panje is an early-career social scientist whose work focuses on health systems research in low-resource...........
Henry Sambakunsi
PhD Student
Henry Sambakunsi is a PhD Student at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM),...........
Diana Mwaipaya
Assistant Data Manager – Qualitative
Diana Mwaipaya is a Assistant Data Manager (Qualitative) for Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Research Program within the...........
Mtisunge Joshua Gondwe
Post Doctoral Research Associate
Mtisunge Joshua Gondwe is a Post Doctoral Research Associate in the Maternal and Fetal Health group,...........
Nyashadzashe Marapira
PhD candidate
Nyashadzashe Marapira is a PhD candidate at Brighton and Sussex Medical School, based at the Malawi...........
Neema Toto
Projects Coordinator and Co-PI
Neema Toto is Malawi Accelerated Research in Vaccines, Experimental and Laboratory Systems (MARVELS) Projects Coordinator and...........
Doreen Sakala
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Dr Doreen Sakala is a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Research Programme where...........
Blessings Kapumba
Social scientist and empirical bioethicist
Dr Blessings Kapumba is a Malawian social scientist and empirical bioethicist working at the intersection of...........
Precious Innocent Mastala
Pre-PhD Research Fellow
Dr Precious Innocent Mastala is a veterinarian and One Health researcher with experience in clinical veterinary...........
Marumbo Eve Chirwa
Research Assistant
Marumbo Eve Chirwa is a nurse and public health researcher with a Master’s degree in Public...........
Active Projects
This qualitative study is part of a broader cluster randomized evaluation assessing the impact of pneumococcal..........
This Wellcome funded study will advance innovative social science research focused on understanding how communities experience..........
This is a qualitative exploratory study using in-depth interviews and focus group discussions to understand the..........
Timely diagnosis of central nervous systems (CNS) infection remains challenging in low- and middle-income countries due..........
This study aims to address the ethical and social implications of conducting human genomics research in..........
Wezi’s GHBN-funded study examines how “sleeper protocols” can strengthen ethical preparedness for implementation and health systems..........
Charity’s GHBN-funded qualitative study focuses on how BCG challenge studies—which involve the deliberate exposure of healthy..........
Luke Manja’s GHBN-supported project is a multi-site qualitative study titled “Exploring Pupils’ Ethical Awareness of Climate..........
Supported by the Wellcome funded GHBN capacity-building bursary, Chifundo is undertaking a qualitative research project titled..........
The Global Health Bioethics Network (GHBN) aims to promote LMIC-led research in bioethics. Funded by Wellcome,..........
This study explores how pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is perceived, discussed, and incorporated into the everyday lives..........
This research focuses on the implementation and evaluation of a laboratory information management system (LIMS) to..........
This implementation research study aims to strengthen infection prevention and control (IPC) practices in acute healthcare..........
Globally, an estimated 24% of the population is infected with STH, resulting in substantial morbidity and..........
The COHEAR study is NIHR funded and aims to improve community-based ear and hearing care in..........
This study explores the feasibility, acceptability, and policy implications of integrating mental health services into routine..........
This mixed‑methods study uses ethnographic approaches within a sequential explanatory design to examine whether regular surveillance..........
Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) include cerebral palsy, autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, epilepsy, and intellectual disability. NDDs..........
The Institute for Resilient Health Systems (IRHS) is committed to advancing health systems resilience worldwide. The..........
Shaping local policy and action to improve nutrition, mental health and well-being among smallholder farming and..........
Closed Projects
The study was conducted within the NIHR-funded Global Health Research Group on Gastrointestinal Infections (GHRG-GI), a..........
This study aimed to identify acceptable and patient-centred pathways to care for tuberculosis survivors (TBS) experiencing..........
ECCHE was a community engagement initiative that used participatory methods to explore communities' lived experiences of..........
Multimorbidity-associated emergency hospital admissions: a “screen and link” strategy to improve outcomes for high-risk patients in..........
