Miss Carrie Barrett

Biography

Carrie Barrett is a multi-disciplinary researcher, specialising in mixed-methods evaluation of implementation research within the area of neglected tropical diseases, mental wellbeing, and health systems research in sub-Saharan Africa.

Within her post-doctoral role Carrie is working on SHINE and REDRESS health systems research programmes. In the multi-country SHINE project in Kenya and Bangladesh, Carrie is leading the quantitative working group focusing on survey design and evaluation for a community co-designed intervention. Within REDRESS, Carrie led the evaluation of integrated mental health interventions within the health system in Liberia. Carrie was recently awarded with an internal Directors Catalyst Fund for her project titled ‘A Novel Geostatistical Approach to Estimate the Burden of Lymphatic Filariasis in Endemic Countries’ to validate, optimise and scale-up this spatial modelling approach to predict lymphatic filariasis case distributions in endemic countries.

Carrie completed an MRC Doctoral Training Programme at Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine in 2024, this included a MRes at Lancaster University in Global Health: Quantitative and Translational Skills, and a 5-week training course in The Gambia on mixed-method approaches from the University of Antwerp.

Carrie’s PhD thesis focused on lymphatic filariasis in Malawi, and the perspectives of persons affected to understanding the psychosocial consequences of disease and the impact of a self-care intervention. She has used geospatial modelling to understand the distribution of lymphatic filariasis in Malawi, as well as participatory qualitative methods to understand LF, mental health and stigma. Within her PhD she collaborated with the Malawi National LF program and her supervisors, Dr. Louise Kelly-Hope, Dr. Laura Dean, and Dr. Jonathan Read.

In 2018, Carrie graduated from the University of Liverpool with an Integrated Masters plus Honours (MBiolSci) following a Tropical Disease Biology pathway. In this time, she undertook an internship in a parasitology diagnostic laboratory at Chiang Mai University, Thailand, conducted research investigating ant morphology in Kibale Rainforest, Uganda and parasitic nematode host-seeking behaviour in the laboratory.

Research interests

Carrie’s research interests include neglected tropical diseases, specially those that effect the skin in particular lymphatic filariasis and leprosy. Within neglected tropical diseases,she is interested in mental health, disability and inclusion, geostatistical modelling, mapping and health system intervention evaluation. 

Teaching

Carrie delivers QGIS mapping software training and Statistical Training in R programme.

Selected research publications

‘The Lost Peace’: Evidencing the Syndemic Relationship between Neglected Tropical Diseases and Mental Distress in Liberia – Journal: Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease – Published: 17th August 2024

Addressing the Syndemic Relationship between Lymphatic Filariasis and Mental Distress in Malawi: The Potential of Enhanced Self-Care – Journal: Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease – Published: 31st July 2024

The national distribution of lymphatic filariasis cases in Malawi using patient mapping and geostatistical modelling – Journal: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases – Published: 25th March 2024

Elimination of lymphatic filariasis as a public health problem in Malawi – Journal: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases – Published: 16th February 2024

Mental health conditions in people affected by filarial lymphoedema in Malawi: prevalence, associated risk factors and the impact of an enhanced self-care intervention – Journal: International Health – Published: 20th December 2023

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