Melanie Cooper

Dr. Melanie Cooper is a Reader in Maternity and Migrant Health at the University of Bradford's Faculty of Health Studies, and a Fellow at the Wolfson Centre for Applied Health Research. Her work focuses on health inequalities among minoritized ethnic and migrant communities, co-designing public health interventions to improve healthcare access and engagement. Key projects include DAISI (digital animation for maternal health), virtual reality interventions for asylum seekers, and initiatives to enhance cancer screening uptake among Black African women. She co-founded the Maternity Stream of Sanctuary, fostering inclusive maternity care for refugees and asylum seekers. Dr. Cooper also led the University of Bradford to achieve the 'University of Sanctuary' designation. Her teaching spans migrant health, qualitative research methodologies, and ethical healthcare practices.

Dr. Cooper supervises seven postgraduate researchers exploring topics such as forced migrant childbirth experiences, digital midwifery leadership, and palliative care for ethnic minority families. She has published extensively on maternal health, refugee healthcare access, and cultural competency in healthcare delivery. Her advocacy extends to institutional policy reforms, including enabling asylum seekers to access higher education.

• Research Themes: Health equity, migrant/refugee health, qualitative research, public health interventions
• Key Projects: DAISI, Maternity Stream of Sanctuary, Health Access for Refugees (HARP) project
• Awards: Pioneered UK's first 'Health Stream of Sanctuary' and 'University of Sanctuary' certifications

Dr. Cooper’s research networks prioritize 'experts by experience'—marginalized communities directly shaping research agendas. This participatory approach underpins her work on interventions addressing cultural barriers in healthcare access and maternal sepsis prevention.