Can Liu is a multidisciplinary researcher specialising in perinatal epidemiology and disability-related health inequalities. She has been affiliated with CHESS since 2013.
Q: What is your academic background, and and what motivated your interest in health inequalities?
My academic journey is fundamentally interdisciplinary, bridging clinical medicine, population health, and social science. I began with a medical degree from Fudan University in Shanghai, which gave me a foundational understanding of individual health, development, and diseases. However, my Master’s in Population Health from the Centre for Health Equity Studies (CHESS) and subsequent PhD in Medicine from Karolinska Institutet shifted my focus to the health of populations and the social determinants that shape it. My postdoctoral work at Karolinska Institutet and Stanford University further deepened my expertise in data science and advanced epidemiological methods.
My interest in health inequalities stems from a core belief that health is a matter of social justice. During my clinical and research training, I repeatedly observed how health outcomes were patterned by social advantage and disadvantage. This was particularly evident in my work on maternal and child health among vulnerable groups. Seeing how systemic factors—beyond individual biology or choice—create and perpetuate unequal health opportunities compelled me to dedicate my research to building scientific evidence that can inform policies to reduce these inequities.
Q. You are currently the principal investigator of two research projects that are focused on disability-related health inequalities, ORCHID and MISMATCH. From a population health perspective, why is it important to study health inequalities among persons with disabilities?
Studying disability-related health inequalities is crucial for several reasons. It addresses a significant gap in our understanding of a large and diverse population group that has repeatedly been shown to have poorer health outcomes. Disability also intersects with other social stratification factors—like socioeconomic status, migration background, and gender—creating unique and compounded layers of disadvantage that are often overlooked.
The health and well-being of persons with disabilities are also powerful indicators of how well our social and welfare systems function. Inequities in access to healthcare, education, social care, and the labour market are not just isolated issues. By studying these inequalities, we can better understand and address systemic failures.
Maternal and child health have been my areas of interest for many years, and I believe these are where we can maximise improvements in population health. For instance, if we can provide better care and services to disabled parents, we can also improve the living conditions of their children. Vice versa, if we can better support disabled children, we may also improve the living conditions of other family members, such as parents and siblings.
Q. You have also conducted research on the intergenerational transmission of inequality. What does this refer to, and why is it important to consider when studying health inequalities?
Intergenerational transmission of inequality refers to the processes by which social, economic, and health disadvantages (or advantages) are passed from one generation to the next. It’s the idea that the circumstances of parents—their health, education, economic resources, and experiences of discrimination—profoundly shape the life chances and health trajectories of their children.
Q. What research topics would you like to pursue in the future?
My future research aims to build directly on my ongoing work while exploring innovative leverage points for intervention. A key priority is to continue advancing the measurement of disability in register-based research, a critical methodological gap I’m addressing through my role on the Lancet Commission on Disability and Health. Better measurement that addresses the diversity within people with disabilities is the foundation of better research and policy.
Alongside this, I am deeply interested in exploring non-traditional forms of support that can strengthen families, particularly those that are more readily available to people with disabilities who face challenges accessing health and social care. This brings me to a planned project about mental health support from assistance dogs or pets. Many individuals with developmental disabilities face challenges with social participation and acquiring emotional support. An assistance dog, or even a pet dog, can be a unique and accessible source of support that benefits the mental well-being of the entire family of children with developmental disabilities. Providing robust evidence here would fill a critical knowledge gap and inform policy to create a more supportive environment for people with disabilities and their service animals.