Lubna Ferdowsi

I am a Research Fellow at Hull York Medical School, University of Hull, working on the CANFit trial, a mixed-methods evaluation of a personalised physical activity programme for cancer survivors. I lead qualitative interviews and process evaluation to explore not only clinical outcomes but also the lived experiences of patients, clinicians, and service providers. This work aims to identify barriers and facilitators to physical activity in cancer care and generate evidence to inform survivorship support, service delivery, and policy.

Alongside this, I am a Research Fellow on the project “Young Women with Lung Cancer : Qualitative Interviews of Needs and Perspectives in the UK.” This study explores the unique psychosocial, clinical, and support needs of young women diagnosed with lung cancer, offering qualitative insights to inform patient-centred policy, practice, and service development.

My academic background spans gender studies, sociology, and medical anthropology, with multiple Master’s degrees (including Erasmus Mundus GEMMA with distinction) and a PhD at the University of Hull on identity politics and diaspora. Over the past decade, I have led and collaborated on interdisciplinary projects on mental health awareness, reproductive and sexual health in South Asia, climate change and displacement, and the lived experiences of refugees. More recently, I have expanded into AI and health research, examining how data science and digital tools can support public health innovation.

The CHaI community aligns closely with my core commitment: understanding health and illness as culturally shaped, socially embedded experiences. I am particularly passionate about bridging social science insights with applied health practice, and about exploring how culture, inequality, and technology intersect in shaping health outcomes.

Through CHaI, I look forward to collaborating with colleagues across disciplines, exchanging methods, and co-creating knowledge that strengthens equity in health research and practice.

Email: lferdowsi@yahoo.com

Affiliation: University of Hull, United Kingdom