Chris is a Lecturer in Sociology at the University of Glasgow and a Senior Researcher at MEIRU, where he co-leads the Social Sciences team with Nozga Phiri. His interests include the sociologies of long-term health conditions, gambling, civil society and religion. He has a particular focus on applied and participatory work which uses social and related theories to co-construct and evaluate solutions to health-related problems. His areas of work span the UK, Malawi and Tanzania. 

At MEIRU, Chris leads the social sciences component of the Wellcome-funded Healthy Lives Malawi project and on a range of other studies. These include:

McGee D, Bunn C, Reith G, Udedi M, Yendork J, Franklin G. Leisure or Livelihoods? A Participatory Study of Youth Perspectives on Gambling and its Social, Economic and Health Impacts in Ghana and Malawi. British Academy: £299,189. 20/03/2020 – 20/9/22

Mair F, Jani B, Bunn C, Prentice A, Seeley J, Crampin A, Price A, Chapotera G, Jobe M. Multimorbidity in Africa – Increasing Understanding of the Patient Experience and Epidemiology (MAfricaEE). Medical Research Council: £199,515. 15/3/20 – 15/9/21.

McIntosh E, Mmbanga B, Bunn C, Msoka E, Crampin A, Coast, J. Costed extension to NIHR Global Health Research Group on estimating the prevalence, quality and life, economic and societal impact of arthritis in Tanzania: a mixed methods study at University of Glasgow. NIHR GCRF: £499,338.00 01/04/2021-31/03/22

Crampin A, Nkoka O, Stewart R, Matchado A, Bunn C, Nyirenda D, Phiri N, Abdulla S, Seth-Smith J, Todd H, Amoah A. Wellcome Trust Public Engagement Award: Healthy Lives Malawi Longitudinal Population Study. Wellcome Trust. £245,520.00. 01/02/21 – 31/7/24

Selected Publications

Bunn, C. , Mtema, O., Songo, J. and Udedi, M. (2020) The growth of sports betting in Malawi: corporate strategies, public space and public health. Public Health, 184, pp. 95-101. (doi: 10.1016/j.puhe.2020.03.022) (PMID:32466981)

Bunn, C. , Kalinga, C., Mtema, O., Abdulla, S., Dillip, A., Lwanda, J., Mtenga, S., Sharp, J. , Strachan, Z. and Gray, C. (2020) Arts-based approaches to promoting health in sub-Saharan Africa: a scoping review. BMJ Global Health, 5, e001987. (doi: 10.1136/bmjgh-2019-001987) (PMID:32444361)

Phiri-Makwakwa, E., Bamuya, C., Bunn, C. , Gadama, L., Grant, L., Kachale, F., Stock, S., Whyte, S., Crampin, A. and Reynolds, R. (2020) Assessing the impact of COVID-19 on maternity services in Malawi: preliminary findings from a rapid qualitative study. Project Report. Malawi Epidemiology and Intervention Research Unit, Lilongwe, Malawi.

Draper, C. E., Tomaz, S. A., Zihindula, G., Bunn, C. , Gray, C. M. , Hunt, K. , Micklesfield, L. K. and Wyke, S. (2019) Development, feasibility, acceptability and potential effectiveness of a healthy lifestyle programme delivered in churches in urban and rural South Africa. PLoS ONE, 14(7), e0219787. (doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0219787) (PMID:31365557) (PMCID:PMC6668772)

Ireland, R., Bunn, C. , Reith, G. , Philpott, M., Capewell, S., Boyland, E. and Chambers, S. (2019) Commercial determinants of health and sport sponsorship. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 97(4), pp. 290-295. (doi: 10.2471/BLT.18.220087) (PMID:30940986) (PMCID:PMC6438257)

Bunn, C. , Ireland, R., Minton, J. , Holman, D., Philpott, M. and Chambers, S. (2019) Shirt sponsorship by gambling companies in the English and Scottish Premier Leagues: global reach and public health concerns. Soccer and Society, 20(6), pp. 824-835. (doi: 10.1080/14660970.2018.1425682)

Zimmermann, M., Bunn, C. , Namadingo, H., Gray, C. M. and Lwanda, J. (2018) Experiences of type 2 diabetes in sub-Saharan Africa: a scoping review. Global Health Research and Policy, 3, 25. (doi: 10.1186/s41256-018-0082-y)