MRC Epidemiology UnitSenior Research Associate
Global Diet and Physical Activity Research Group
Left the Unit in 2025
Work and interests
Meelan worked on the GDARSpaces project at the MRC Epidemiology Unit. GDARSpaces aims to better understand urbanisation and climate-change (syndemic)-related NCD hazards. Meelan’s work informed the design of resilient food & built environment interventions that support healthy eating and active living in cities in LMICs. Meelan also collaborated with different agencies focusing on initiatives across Urban Planning, Environment and Health sectors.
The outcomes of her work serve social integration, shape implementation strategies of urban policies, and support the optimisation of health promoting tools and assessments.
Background and experience
Meelan is trained in Biology (University of Geneva), Medical Anthropology (University College London) and Health Economics (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine). Her passion for improving health in vulnerable urban populations across the globe led her complete a PhD in Medicine and Translational Research focusing on Environmental and Urban health, funded by the European Commission. As part of her doctoral work, she developed a Health Impact Assessment (HIA) model applicable to fast developing cities in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), which was also the first HIA model for urban transport planning conducted in Africa. Meelan aims to use HIAs in the Urban South to improve health of people and planet.