Maya Semrau

Dr. Maya Semrau is a Senior Research Fellow in Implementation Research at Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS), University of Sussex, specializing in global mental health within Neglected Tropical Disease contexts. Her work integrates physical health, mental health, and psychosocial care for people affected by podoconiosis, lymphatic filariasis, and leprosy in Ethiopia, with strong emphasis on stigma reduction and humanitarian emergency response.

Her educational background includes:

• PhD, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London (with WHO)
• MSc in Mental Health Service and Population Research, IoPPN, King's College London
• MSc in Experimental Psychology, University of Sussex
• BSc Honours in Human Sciences, University of Sussex

Dr. Semrau's research centers on implementation science to address mental health needs in resource-limited settings, particularly through the development of the HESPER Scale for humanitarian emergencies and integration of mental health into NTD programs. Her work consistently emphasizes community involvement, capacity building, and evidence-based policy development across multiple international projects.

Her publication record (2011-2019) reveals persistent focus on mental health systems strengthening in LMICs, stigma reduction, and physical-mental health integration for NTD-affected populations. She employs diverse methodologies including scale development, cross-sectional studies, systematic reviews, and implementation trials to address real-world health challenges.

Dr. Semrau actively supervises PhD and MSc students at BSMS and teaches on the MSc in Global Health program. She currently leads the EnDPoINT Consortium and IMPRESS project funded by the NIHR Global Health Research Unit on NTDs, with additional involvement in WHO guideline development and the NTD NGO Network's Mental Wellbeing and Stigma Working Group.

Her collaborative work spans the Emerald programme across six LMICs, the INDIGO Partnership in five countries, and multiple WHO initiatives, demonstrating extensive international engagement in mental health and NTD research through coordinated multicountry efforts.