Maria Berghs

Maria Berghs is an Associate Professor in the School of Allied Health Sciences within the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences at De Montfort University (DMU), where she conducts interdisciplinary research at the intersection of medical anthropology, sociology, and disability studies. She is the Director of the Social Study of Thalassaemia and Sickle Cell (TASC) Unit, continuing the legacy of Professor Simon Dyson, and is affiliated with the Institute of Research and Innovation in Social Sciences and the Mary Seacole Research Centre at DMU.

Education:

• PhD in Sociology and Social Policy, University of Leeds, United Kingdom
• MA in Social and Cultural Anthropology, University of Leuven, Belgium
• MA in Philosophy, University of Leuven, Belgium

Her research centers on disability, chronic illness, global health (particularly sickle cell and thalassaemia), humanitarianism, ethics, gender, and West Africa (Sierra Leone). She investigates the social, cultural, and political dimensions of health, illness, and care, with a focus on structural inequalities, ableism, and decolonial approaches. Her work often explores the lived experiences of marginalized communities, especially disabled people and those affected by sickle cell disorders.

The recent publications demonstrate a consistent focus on sickle cell disease, disability justice, gender, and global health equity. The articles reveal a trajectory of research emphasizing intersectionality—particularly race, gender, disability, and class—in health outcomes, policy, and employment. There is a strong emphasis on qualitative and mixed-methods research, narrative analysis, and critical medical humanities. Her work increasingly engages with decolonial theory, Ubuntu ethics, and global collaboration in health advocacy.

Scientific Awards and Professional Recognition:

• Editorial Board Member, BMC, PLOS ONE, International Journal of Disability and Social Justice
• Editorial Board Member, Berghahn Book Series – Disability and Chronicity Through the Ethnographic Lens
• Peer reviewer for journals including BMJ, Social Science & Medicine, Medical Anthropology, and Frontiers
• Grant reviewer for ESRC, NIHR, Wellcome Trust, and international funders

Advising and Grants:

Maria Berghs supervises PhD students including Fiona Relf, Sharon Anyiam, and Heather Cole. She has been involved in multiple externally and internally funded research projects. Notable grants include:

• NIHR-HSCDR (2025–2027): Voices of change: Exploring culturally-responsive pathways for moving young people from paediatric to adult sickle cell services (Co-Investigator)
• DRILL-UK & National Lottery (2018–2020): Barriers and enablers to employment: Black disabled peoples living with Sickle Cell Disorders (Research Fellow and Co-Investigator)
• NIHR-PHR (2014–2016): Implications for Public Health: Theories and Models of Disability (Co-Investigator)
• DMU VC2020 Projects (2020–2021 and 2018–2019): Research on COVID-19 shielding impacts and gender issues in sickle cell in Sierra Leone (Principal Investigator)

Labs and Research Teams:

Maria Berghs leads the Social Study of Thalassaemia and Sickle Cell (TASC) Unit at DMU, which develops research-informed teaching resources on sickle cell available via tascunit.com and the British Sociological Association’s Acknowledge Repository. She also contributes to the Health Studies and Sociology research group and collaborates with international networks such as the Ebola Response Anthropology Platform and UNESCO Inclusive Policy Lab.