In this final episode of our mini-series on research capacity strengthening, we explore how pursuing a PhD, using the PACTS programme (Patient-centred Sickle Cell Disease Management in sub-Saharan Africa), as a real-world example—can enhance, rather than compete with, clinical practice.

Our guests reflect on what it means to balance research with clinical care, teaching, community outreach, and academic responsibilities, and share honest insights about the challenges and opportunities that come with embedding a PhD within a larger programme. From learning by doing to mentoring the next generation, this episode looks at how research can be a powerful tool for real-world impact in health systems.

In this episode:

Dr. Mmamulatelo Siame Mumba - PhD Student, SBA lead, Project coordinator, Zambia

Dr. Mmamulatelo Siame Mumba is a paediatrician and implementation researcher based in Zambia. She is undertaking a PhD with the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and leads the Standards-Based Audit teams across PACTS sites while coordinating research activities on the ground.

Dr. Hezekiah Isa Albarka - Lecturer at University of Abuja, Nigeria

Dr. Hezekiah Isa Albarka is a senior lecturer at the University of Abuja and a haematologist with a long-standing interest in sickle cell disease. He is currently pursuing a PhD through the PACTS project, building on years of experience in clinical care and academic teaching.

Dr. Eunice Agyeman Ahmed - PhD Student Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Ghana

Dr. Eunice Agyeman Ahmed is a haematologist at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Ghana and a PhD student at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. Her research supports adolescents with sickle cell disease transitioning into adult care, alongside her wider advocacy and training work across Ghana and Africa.

• Patient-Centered Sickle Cell Disease Management in Sub-Saharan Africa
• Patient-centred sickle cell disease management in sub-Saharan Africa (PACTS) | LSTM

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The podcast cuts across disciplines, including health systems strengthening, gender and intersectionality, tropical diseases (NTDs, TB, Malaria), maternal and child healthcare (antenatal and postnatal care), mental health and wellbeing, vector-borne diseases, climate change and co-production approaches.

If you would like your project or programme to feature in an episode or miniseries, get in touch with the producers of Connecting Citizens to Science, the SCL Agency.

In this second episode of our mini-series on Research Capacity Strengthening (RCS), we explore what it means to widen the focus of capacity strengthening, beyond researchers and clinicians, to include media, programme managers, community leaders, teachers, caregivers, and more.

Hosted on location at the PACTS Year 3 Partners Meeting, this episode shows how the PACTS programme (Patient-centred Sickle Cell Disease Management in sub-Saharan Africa) has embedded a more inclusive and cyclical approach to RCS. You’ll hear how strengthening media capacity, using content analysis, and co-developing strategies with non-clinical stakeholders can make health systems more responsive and sustainable. We also look at how information itself, when shared in the right way with patients and communities, can be a powerful form of capacity strengthening.

In this episode:

Dr. Motto Nganda – Global Health Researcher: Collaborative Implementation Research for Health Systems Strengthening, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine

Motto is a medical and public health professional from the University of Douala and the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. He brings over six years’ experience in participatory implementation research, focusing on person-centred care and health system strengthening in the Global South. In PACTS, Motto supports implementation research across all three countries, coordinating participatory action cycles, standards-based audits, and realist evaluation.

Bernard Appiah - Assistant Professor, Department of Public Health, Falk College, Syracuse University

Bernard is a pharmacist, journalist, and Assistant Professor at the Department of Public Health, Syracuse University, USA. He is also Director of the Centre for Science and Health Communication in Ghana. With expertise in media, health communication, and public engagement, Bernard leads the media content analysis and communication work for PACTS. His work connects journalists and researchers, builds capacity through joint training, and strengthens how sickle cell disease is communicated across public platforms and policy.

Reuben Chianumba - Programme Manager for the PACTS Project, Centre of Excellence for Sickle Cell Research and Training (CESRTA), University of Abuja

Reuben is the Programme Manager for PACTS in Nigeria, with a background in Medical Biochemistry and extensive experience in research coordination, stakeholder engagement, and community mobilisation. He supports the delivery of PACTS objectives at CESRTA and plays a key role in integrating newborn screening, capacity-building workshops, and local advocacy efforts.

Useful Links:

• Patient-Centered Sickle Cell Disease Management in Sub-Saharan Africa
• Patient-centred sickle cell disease management in sub-Saharan Africa (PACTS) | LSTM

Want to hear more podcasts like this?

Follow Connecting Citizens to Science on your usual podcast platform or YouTube to hear more about current research and debates within global health.

The podcast cuts across disciplines, including health systems strengthening, gender and intersectionality, tropical diseases (NTDs, TB, Malaria), maternal and child healthcare (antenatal and postnatal care), mental health and wellbeing, vector-borne diseases, climate change and co-production approaches.

If you would like your project or programme to feature in an episode or miniseries, get in touch with the producers of Connecting Citizens to Science, the SCL Agency.

Welcome to our new mini-series on research capacity strengthening, produced in partnership with the Centre for Capacity Research at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. In this first episode, we explore the design of a Research Capacity Strengthening (RCS) component within an implementation research project, and why it is crucial for sustainable, patient-centred healthcare. Our conversation draws insights from those actively embedding RCS into their work, demonstrating how improving research skills and systems drives real impact in global health.

In this episode:

Dr. Justin Pulford - Reader at the Centre for Capacity Research, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine.

Dr. Justin Pulford is Deputy Head of the Centre for Capacity Research (CCR) at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM). A behavioural scientist by training, he has extensive experience developing, implementing, and evaluating research and health systems strengthening initiatives across sub-Saharan Africa and the South Pacific. Dr Pulford also convenes the ‘TROP 703: Public Health Programmes, Policies and Strategies’ module for LSTM’s MPH programme.

Professor Obiageli Nnodu - Co-lead of the PACTS programme, University of Abuja.

Professor Obiageli Nnodu is Professor of Haematology and Blood Transfusion at the University of Abuja, Nigeria, and Director of its Centre of Excellence for Sickle Cell Disease Research and Training. She leads multiple NIH-funded sickle cell projects and chairs Africa’s largest SCD network. Professor Nnodu also advises the Nigerian government on non-communicable diseases and serves on WHO AFRO committees dedicated to improving sickle cell care.

Professor Alex Osei-Akoto - Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana

Professor Alex Osei-Akoto is Principal Investigator for PACTS in Ghana. A Professor of Child Health at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and Consultant Paediatrician at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, he has focused on sickle cell disease for over two decades. Professor Osei-Akoto led key newborn screening initiatives, advised Ghana’s Ministry of Health on SCD, and co-authored numerous publications. He now spearheads PACTS implementation in Ghana, building on his extensive clinical and research leadership in paediatric haematology.

Dr. Catherine Chunda-Liyoka - University of Zambia

Dr. Catherine Chunda-Liyoka is Head of the Paediatric Haematology Department at Zambia’s University Teaching Hospitals–Children’s Hospital. She provides specialised care in sickle cell disease, haemophilia, aplastic anaemia, HIV, and TB, while leading multiple research initiatives. As an Honorary Lecturer at the University of Zambia and an Honorary Fellow at LSTM, she mentors health workers nationwide. Dr. Chunda-Liyoka also advises the Zambian Ministry of Health on paediatric haematology and infectious diseases, and plays a key role in major SCD networks—including SPARCO and PACTS—to strengthen national guidelines and clinical practices.

Useful links

• Centre for Capacity Research | LSTM
• Patient-centred sickle cell disease management in sub-Saharan Africa (PACTS) | LSTM

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The podcast cuts across disciplines, including health systems strengthening, gender and intersectionality, tropical diseases (NTDs, TB, Malaria), maternal and child healthcare (antenatal and postnatal care), mental...

Global health systems have long been shaped by Western frameworks that separate health from land, environment, and community. But for Indigenous communities worldwide, health is holistic—deeply rooted in ancestral knowledge, cultural traditions, and reciprocal relationships with nature.

Yet, Indigenous ways of knowing have been overlooked and undervalued within research, policymaking, and health interventions. How can we shift this paradigm and centre Indigenous-led approaches in global health?

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Walter Flores, Dr. Rebecca Rae, and Dr. Lorenda Belone about Indigenous communities in health research, examining systemic barriers, the importance of Indigenous knowledge in health equity, navigating differences between Indigenous and Western research approaches, and how policy shifts impact Indigenous communities. We also discuss the connection between research, activism, and advocacy.

Our guests:

Dr. Walter Flores - Research Professor, Accountability Research Center, American University, Washington DC, USA

Dr. Walter Flores is a social scientist and human rights advocate with over 25 years of professional experience. He holds a PhD and a Masters of Community Health from the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, UK. Dr Flores’ professional work has been carried out in more than 30 countries from Latin America, Africa, Asia and Europe. His areas of expertise are health systems and policy, right to health and indigenous populations, democratic governance, social accountability, legal empowerment and community participation. Currently, Dr Flores is research professor at the Accountability Research Center, American University, Washington DC and a research associate at the Center for the Study of Equity and Governance in Health Systems.

Dr. Lorenda Belone – Professor, University of New Mexico College of Population Health / Center for Participatory Research

Dr. Belone (Diné/Navajo) is from Naakaii Bito’ located on the Navajo Nation and has been engaged in community-based participatory research (CBPR) with an Indigenous paradigm focused on health disparities with southwest tribal nations. Her research includes partnerships with Tribal Research Teams (Apache, Navajo & Pueblo) on an Indigenous family prevention program called the Family Listening Program (FLP). As an Indigenous CBPR researcher, Dr. Belone integrates her own cultural and tribal knowledge to overcome historical negative research experiences and tribal community members’ perceptions of research exploitation.

Rebecca Rae, MCRP, MWR - Research Lecturer III, University of New Mexico College of Population Health

Rebecca Rae (Jicarilla Apache), MCRP, MWR, is a Research Lecturer III at the University of New Mexico’s College of Population Health. She is an Indigenous scholar, with eighteen years of implementing community-based participatory research (CBPR) projects and Indigenous participatory evaluation in partnership with Tribal communities. She works closely with multiple tribal community partners to mentor, strengthen, and enhance community members’ skills in program development, implementation, data collection, data analysis, grant writing, research, and evaluation.

Useful links:

• Inicio CEGSS Guatemala - CEGSS
• Home - Accountability Research Center

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The podcast cuts across disciplines, including health systems strengthening, gender and intersectionality, tropical diseases (NTDs, TB, Malaria), maternal and child healthcare (antenatal and postnatal care), mental...

Global health systems are built on power structures that often exclude the very voices that should be leading the conversation. Funding, publishing, and policymaking have long been dominated by high-income countries, creating systemic barriers to equity.

In this episode, Dr. Shashika Bandara (McGill School of Population and Global Health), Dr. Moses Tetui (Umeå University & University of Waterloo), and Dr. Joseph Mumba Zulu (University of Zambia) discuss two major initiatives that challenge these structures:

The Lancet article: Shifting Power in Global Health Will Require Leadership by the Global South and Allyship by the Global North and The launch of the Journal of Community Systems for Health, a new platform breaking barriers in global publishing and knowledge sharing.

In this episode:

Dr. Shashika Bandara - Post-Doctoral Fellow, Department of Global and Public Health, School of Population and Global Health, McGill University.

Shashika Bandara is a Sri Lankan post-doctoral fellow at the Department of Global Public Health in the School of Population and Global Health at McGill University. He co-leads McGill University’s research examining policy exemplars successfully addressing structural discrimination with O’Neill-Lancet Commission on Racism, Structural Discrimination and Global Health.

Dr. Joseph Mumba Zulu - Associate Professor of Community, School of Public Health, University of Zambia

Joseph M Zulu is a co-founder and Editorial Board Member of the Journal of Community Systems for Health, a platform dedicated to promoting inclusive, socially accountable, and community-driven health systems research. He is an Associate Professor of Community Health at the School of Public Health and has been involved in community-based implementation research projects in different countries across Africa.

Dr. Moses Tetui - Assistant professor, University of Waterloo, Canada and Umeå University, Sweden

Dr. Moses Tetui is a Health Systems Researcher who specialises in using participatory methods to collaborate with diverse communities and stakeholders to address health system challenges. He serves as a founding board member of the Journal of Community Systems for Health. Moses collaborates with researchers, communities, and decision-makers to explore climate change adaptation strategies for communities living in informal settlements across Africa.

Useful links:

• How to prevent equity efforts from losing steam in global health academia
• Imagining a future in global health without visa and passport inequities
• Shifting power in global health will require leadership by the Global South and allyship by the Global North
• The Journal of Community Systems for Health (JCSH)

Want to hear more podcasts like this?

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The podcast cuts across disciplines, including health systems strengthening, gender and intersectionality, tropical diseases (NTDs, TB, Malaria), maternal and child healthcare (antenatal and postnatal care), mental health and wellbeing, vector-borne diseases, climate change and co-production approaches.

If you would like your project or programme to feature in an episode or miniseries, get in touch with the producers of Connecting Citizens to Science,

Our final episode from the Health Systems Research Symposium in Nagasaki showcases transformative ideas in global health systems research and policy. This episode features discussions on interdisciplinary capacity building, decolonising health policy research, One Health approaches, and advancing gender equity in health systems.

Dr. Hanna-Tina Fischer explores innovative capacity-building models and interdisciplinary research frameworks. Dr. Ayat Abu-Agla discusses the importance of decolonisation in health policy and systems research. Dr. Rosie Steege highlights the interconnectedness of humans, animals, and ecosystems through One Health and its implications for antimicrobial resistance. Finally, Dr. Zahra Zeinali reflects on her work advancing gender mainstreaming and intersectionality in health systems research.

This episode offers fresh perspectives for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers dedicated to creating equitable and resilient health systems.

In this episode:

From ReBUILD for Resilience:

Abriti Arjyal -Research Manager, HERD International

Thazin La - Research manager for the health systems research programme, Burnet Institute Myanmar

Our Guests:

Hanna-Tina Fischer – Postdoctoral Research Scientist, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin

Dr. Ayat Abu-Agla - Health Services Management Centre Lead, University of Birmingham, Dubai

Dr. Rosie Steege – Lecturer, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine

Zahra Zeinali – Doctoral Candidate, Department of Global Health, University of Washington.

Useful links:

• One health
• HSR Global Symposium on Health Systems Research | HSR 2024
• Introducing ReBUILD for Resilience - health systems researchRebuild Consortium

Want to hear more podcasts like this?

Follow Connecting Citizens to Science on your usual podcast platform or YouTube to hear more about current research and debates within global health.

The podcast covers topics like health systems strengthening, gender and intersectionality, tropical diseases (NTDs, TB, Malaria), maternal and child healthcare, mental health, vector-borne diseases, climate change, and co-production approaches.

If you would like your project or programme to feature in an episode or mini-series, get in touch with the producers of Connecting Citizens to Science, the SCL Agency.

Recorded live at the Eighth Global Symposium on Health Systems Research, the episode focuses on the challenges and opportunities of delivering health care in fragile and conflict-affected settings. Collaborating with researchers from the ReBUILD for Resilience consortium, we hear from three inspiring voices tackling displacement, migration, and exclusion in health care.

Dr. Cynthia Maung shares insights on creating governance structures for health care delivery to displaced populations along the Thai-Myanmar border. Dr. Roshan Pokhrel from Nepal reflects on using research to address workforce challenges amid migration and climate change. Finally, Lydia DiStefano highlights the critical role of community health workers in providing equitable care to vulnerable populations and shares exciting plans for the upcoming Community Health Workers Symposium in Bangkok.

This episode offers vital lessons for policymakers, practitioners, and researchers committed to building resilient health systems in fragile settings.

In this episode:

From ReBUILD for Resilience:

Karen Miller – Communications Officer, Liverpool School Tropical Medicine

Shophika Regmi - Senior Manager: Health System Research, Evaluation and Learning, HERD International, Nepal

Thazin La - Research manager for the health systems research programme, Burnet Institute Myanmar

Our Guests:

Dr. Cynthia Maung – Mae Tae Clinic

Dr. Roshan Pokhrel – Secretary Ministry of Health Population, Nepal

Lydia DiStefano – Senior Research and Advocacy Manager, Community Partners International

Useful links:

• The 4th International CHW Symposium
• HSR Global Symposium on Health Systems Research | HSR 2024
• Introducing ReBUILD for Resilience

Want to hear more podcasts like this?

Follow Connecting Citizens to Science on your usual podcast platform or YouTube to hear more about current research and debates within global health.

The podcast covers topics like health systems strengthening, gender and intersectionality, tropical diseases (NTDs, TB, Malaria), maternal and child healthcare, mental health, vector-borne diseases, climate change, and co-production approaches.

If you would like your project or programme to feature in an episode or mini-series, get in touch with the producers of Connecting Citizens to Science, the SCL Agency.

In this special episode, recorded live at the 8th Global Symposium on Health Systems Research (HSR2024) in Nagasaki, we explore key themes shaping the global health landscape. This episode brings together voices from the halls of HSR2024, where our host and researchers from the ReBUILD for Resilience programme have been capturing insightful conversations with experts on resilience, climate, and just health systems.

Hosted by Dr. Kim Ozano, this episode includes interviews with inspiring speakers tackling complex global health challenges, from conflict-affected settings to ethical health financing.

Join us as we share dynamic discussions and explore what they mean for the future of health systems.

In this episode

From ReBUILD for Resilience:

Rouham Yamout – Programme Coordinator, American University of Beruit

Karen Miller – Communications Officer, Liverpool School Tropical Medicine

Our Guests:

Ana Amaya – Board Member, Health Systems Global

Dr. Ali Ardalan - Regional Advisor and Head of Health Systems Resilience Unit, WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region.

Dr. Usman Gwarzo – LAFIYA programme, Nigeria

Useful links:

• Introducing ReBUILD for Resilience - health systems research
• 8th Global Symposium on Health Systems Research (HSR2024)

Want to hear more podcasts like this?

Follow Connecting Citizens to Science on your usual podcast platform or YouTube to hear more about current research and debates within global health.

The podcast covers topics like health systems strengthening, gender and intersectionality, tropical diseases (NTDs, TB, Malaria), maternal and child healthcare, mental health, vector-borne diseases, climate change, and co-production approaches.

If you would like your project or programme to feature in an episode or mini-series, get in touch with the producers of Connecting Citizens to Science, the SCL Agency.