Kiran Manku

Kiran supports the NeuroGenE team at the University of Oxford working on the methodology and research strategy for the projects. She contributes research to the stigma component of the NeuroGenE project, by carrying out systematic reviews, case studies, and collaborative research papers. In addition, Kiran supports the Africa Ethics Working Group in an administrative role.

Kiran’s research interests include psychological mechanisms to support a cohesive society, exploring factors that contribute to stigma, and evidence-based policy and practice in the field of disability and development. This encompasses many components such as the role of empathy, the competing views of traditional healing with modern biomedicine, and access to health care. Her current research focuses on attitudes towards persons with neurological disorders. Kiran takes a multidisciplinary approach in her methodology intertwining development, psychology and anthropology. She has completed fieldwork in Kenya on attitudes and empathy towards persons with non-visible disabilities (e.g. psychosocial and intellectual disabilities), in comparison towards persons with visible disabilities (e.g. physical impairment). Kiran is in the process of publishing this work. She also has a passion for translating academic research to the policy and practice level to support action and real outcomes for persons with neurological disorders.

Kiran was awarded her Masters in International Development from the University of Birmingham, UK. Prior to this she completed her Bachelor degree in Psychology also at the University of Birmingham, with a year aboard in Anthropology at Universität Heidelberg, Germany.