On 1 July 2026, the Ifakara Health Institute (IHI) hosted an insightful one-hour scientific networking session with Dr. Brian J. Hall, Director of the Center for Global Health Equity at New York University Shanghai and Technical Advisor to the WHO team on Mental Health and Digital Systems. The session was held at the Institute’s Mikocheni office in Dar es Salaam. 

In physical attendance were Ifakara scientists, predominantly from the Health Systems, Interventions, Impact Evaluation & Policy Department, led by its Head, Dr Grace Mhalu. Others, including Dr Zawadi Mageni Mboma, Business Development and Partnerships Specialist, Dr Daniel Msellemu, Senior Research Coordinator and Jossam Katanga, Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Specialist, were also present. Scientists from Ifakara and Bagamoyo, including the Director of Science, Dr Ally Olotu, joined virtually.

Dr. Hall shared insights from his extensive research on mental health, migration, and social determinants of health, including studies on African communities in China and transnational migrant workers in Asia, as well as a multi-country project examining barriers to mental health care among migrant populations.

The session highlighted opportunities for collaboration in mental health, digital health innovation, and research on vulnerable and mobile populations.

Participants described the exchange as timely, particularly in light of growing global attention to mental health equity, migration, and the need for context-driven health system innovations. The engagement concluded with interest in continued dialogue and potential collaborative research pathways between Ifakara scientists and Dr. Hall’s team at New York University.