A place-based Rapid Appraisal of migrants' health needs in Necoclí, Colombia. Funded by UCL Grand Challenges.

This project provided a snapshot of priority health and wellbeing issues for migrants in Necoclí to inform local responses and supported partnerships with local organisations for future funding opportunities.

It represents the first academic research conducted in this region.

Funded by the Norwegian Red Cross. This mixed-methods rapid appraisal combined qualitative interviews with health personnel and community members and a quantitative analysis of medical appointments, diagnoses, and patient demographics in 2022 to assess the impact of gang violence on healthcare access.

Quality Standards, Current Practices, and Conditions in the Central Region of Colombia. Funded by the International Committee for the Red Cross.

This unprecedented project combined a review of gold standard health guidelines, a qualitative appraisal across 16 prisons, and a descriptive analysis of health services in 40 detention centres (2022-2023). Findings directly informed Red Cross aid practices.

Funded by the Wellcome Trust. This project identified key debates hindering the progress of mental health science, providing context on their relevance and stakeholders involved. By exploring contested topics, the research aimed to clarify challenges and propose actionable solutions to drive advancements in the field.

Funded by the Wellcome Trust. This project mapped the digital mental health landscape, identifying key players, activities, and locations. The findings provide targeted recommendations to guide communication strategies and funding initiatives for greater impact.

Funded by the ESRC - UCL Innovation and Enterprise. 

This is a network for recovery in mental health and innovations that promote well-being in contexts affected by violence in Colombia. 

Commissioned by Médecins du Monde, this Rapid Appraisal explores healthcare access for Internally Displaced People (IDPs) in Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria. Co-led by Dr. Norha Vera San Juan (RREAL) and Federico Redin (Max Lock International), the study examines the barriers faced by IDPs in both formal camps and informal settlements.

Using mixed methods—including surveys, interviews, GIS mapping, and fieldwork—it highlights how conflict, relocation policies, and limited infrastructure affect healthcare, water, and sanitation access. Findings are shaping future health interventions, with recommendations shared through stakeholder workshops to support more sustainable, evidence-based humanitarian responses in the region.

CAMINO explores how Latin Americans in London navigate mental health care, from first signs of distress to accessing support. Despite being one of the UK’s fastest-growing populations, this community remains underrepresented in mental health research. CAMINO addresses this gap by mapping pathways to care using interviews, surveys, and process-mapping software. It highlights how language barriers, immigration status, and systemic exclusion shape access to services.

Led by Dr. Norha Vera San Juan and supported by the Colombian Consulate in London, CAMINO is part of the Open Mind Network’s commitment to inclusive, community-informed research.