What is the WHO Collaborating Centre for Participatory Health Research with Refugees and Migrants at UL?

The WHO Collaborating Centre for Participatory Health Research with Refugees and Migrants in the University of Limerick (UL) is a designated World Health Organisation centre of expertise that seeks to improve refugee and migrants’ meaningful involvement in health research. The Centre is committed to Participatory Health Research (PHR) which positions migrants and refugees as expert partners in the co-production of evidence about their health.

According to UL President Professor Kerstin Mey: “We are so proud to have the WHO Collaborating Centre, led by Professor Anne MacFarlane, here at UL. It is a unique centre that positions migrants and refugees as expert partners in the co-production of evidence about their health.”

The WHO Collaborating Centre has two main goals in the next four years (2023-2027): 

  1. To support WHO to build capacity in countries about participatory migrant health research in national and sub national settings.
  2. To work with WHO on the inclusion of refugees and migrants in health decision-making.

In Oct 2023, the new ‘Refugee and Migrant Health Partnership’ (RMHP) with the Department of Health and UL’s World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre for participatory health research with refugees and migrants, led by Prof Anne MacFarlane (UL School of Medicine) was launched.

Group Picture

Left to Right: Professor Ailish Hannigan, Professor of Biostatistics at the School of Medicine, University of Limerick; Mr Jim Walsh, Department of Health; Professor Anne MacFarlane, Director of the UL WHO Collaborating Centre for Participatory Health Research with Refugees and Migrants; Professor Kerstin Mey, President of the University of Limerick; Professor Helen Phelan, Director of the Irish World Music Academy; Mr Ahmed Mohammed Hassan, Doras.