Beyond the Body: Not One-Size-Fits-All - How Sex and Gender shape our health

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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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?’ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.

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 clinicHow to prevent weaponisation of the tax systemHost: Professor Amanda Henry Program Head, Women’s Health, AustraliaCo-host: Associate Professor Mehera San RoqueGuest: Associate Professor Ann Kayis-KumarThe George Institute’s Global Women’s Health ProgramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 AcademyGuest: Associate Professor Lizzie Muller Professor Amanda Henry Program Head, Women’s Health, AustraliaThe George Institute’s Global Women’s Health ProgramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 MedicineThe 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.

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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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/musculoskeletalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.