Biography
Justin Pulford is a Reader in International Public Health and deputy head of the Centre for Capacity Research at Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. He specialises in research systems strengthening with a particular interest in the overlap between national health and research systems. He also has considerable experience in programme evaluation and implementation research, primarily in the context of infectious disease control and addiction-related research in health service (specialist and non-specialist) and community settings. Justin is a behavioural scientist and has worked extensively throughout the South Pacific and across sub-Saharan Africa.
Research interests
Justin’s focus is on research systems strengthening, research capacity strengthening, health systems strengthening, vector control, addiction research, mixed methods, implementation research, and programme evaluation.
Teaching
Justin is a module convenor on Public Health Policies, Programmes and Strategies, and Pharmaceutical Systems Strengthening modules and a contributor on Promoting Health & Improving Health Systems and Quality Improvement for Health in Low Resource Settings modules. He is also the short course lead on the Good Practice in Research Capacity Strengthening course.
Selected research publications
What Happens When [Terai] Girls Play? Understanding the Relationship Between Restrictive Gender Norms, Girls’ Experiences of Playing Sport in South-Eastern Nepal, and the Factors That Influence Their Participation – Journal: Journal of Adolescence – Published: 1st October 2025
Eliciting initial programme theories for a health research capacity strengthening initiative targeting African universities: A realist synthesis – Journal: PLoS ONE – Published: 20th August 2025
Developing an innovation and enterprise framework for translating UK-driven global health research into commercially viable interventions: the FLIGHT study protocol – Journal: PLoS ONE – Published: 13th May 2025
Maintaining essential healthcare services in Addis Ababa during COVID-19: A qualitative study – Journal: PLoS ONE – Published: 27th December 2024
Empowering youth as Changemakers for gender-transformative action: a play-based participatory approach in South-East Nepal – Journal: Perspectives in Public Health – Published: 14th October 2024
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