Olivia Biermann

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About me

I am a health policy and systems researcher with a PhD in Medical Science from Karolinska Institutet and work experience from the World Health Organization. My mission is to do research that is relevant and useful for informing decision-making in health, and to build capacity for research and research use. I was named an Emerging Voice for Global Health in 2018. I am currently affiliated to the Department of Global Public Health at Karolinska Institutet.

Previously, I was a postdoctoral researcher at Karolinska Institutet (2021-2024), focusing on the political economy of adolescent mental health and well-being. During that time, I served as a Lancet Commissioner, co-leading a workstream on the topic as part of the second Lancet Commission on Adolescent Health and Wellbeing. During my PhD at Karolinska Institutet (2017-2021), I was also a Fellow at the Boston University-Rockefeller Foundation Commission on Health Determinants, Data, and Decision-making.

Prior to my academic activities, I worked for three years as a full-time consultant in knowledge translation and evidence-informed policy-making at the World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe (2014-2017) where I provided technical support to the Evidence-informed Policy Network (EVIPNet) Europe. I worked and studied in Bangladesh, Ecuador, Ethiopia, India, Nepal, Nicaragua, South Africa, Uganda and Vietnam. In addition, I served as President of the non-governmental organization Foundation Human Nature, supporting community-based rural health and development work in Ecuador, Ghana, Nepal and Rwanda.

Research

Within the field of health policy and systems research, I conduct qualitative and mixed-methods research, as well as reviews. I am particularly interested in the gaps between evidence and policy, and policy and implementation.

My PhD thesis was entitled "Global policy to local implementation: experiences from active tuberculosis case-finding in high-burden countries" and is available for download here: https://openarchive.ki.se/xmlui/handle/10616/47542. The work was part of the Horizon 2020-funded IMPACT TB.

Teaching

I teach health systems and policy in the following programmes:
* Master's Programme in Global Health, Karolinska Institutet
* Master's Programme in Health Economics, Policy and Management, Karolinska Institutet
* Master's Programme in Public Health, Lund University

Articles

Article: BMC PUBLIC HEALTH. 2025;25(1):1509
Political economy of adolescent mental health and well-being in Sweden: how to overcome barriers to effective financing and youth-centered collective action
Biermann O; Claeson M; Derko M; Mikaelsdotter C; Nordenstam A; Peterson SS
Article: BMC MEDICAL EDUCATION. 2025;25(1):434
Nursing and medical students' views on their knowledge related to the Sustainable Development Goals - a mixed methods study at three Swedish universities
Niemi M; Alvesson HM; Hellden D; Biermann O; Henje E; Nordenstedt H; Sundberg CJ; Alfven T
Article: SOCIAL PSYCHIATRY AND PSYCHIATRIC EPIDEMIOLOGY. 2024;59(4):585-598
Pandemic stressors and mental health indicators in eight countries
Abdalla SM; Koya SF; Rosenberg SBB; Stovall IBB; Biermann O; Zeinali Z; Cohen GHH; Ettman CKK; Galea S
Article: GLOBAL HEALTH ACTION. 2023;16(1):2190649
Integrating the United Nations sustainable development goals into higher education globally: a scoping review.
Amorós Molina Á; Helldén D; Alfvén T; Niemi M; Leander K; Nordenstedt H; Rehn C; Ndejjo R; Wanyenze R; Biermann O
Article: GLOBAL HEALTH ACTION. 2023;16(1):2173853
Sustainable preventive integrated child health care: reflections on the importance of multidisciplinary and multisectoral stakeholder engagement
Biermann O; Nordenstam A; Muwonge T; Kabiri L; Ndeezi G; Alfven T
Article: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH. 2022;32(6):976-981
Media use and trust during the COVID-19 pandemic: evidence from eight cross-sectional surveys in Sweden
Winters M; Biermann O; Bohlin G; Bergman M; Brouneus F; Zeebari Z; Nordenstedt H
Article: PLOS GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH. 2022;2(12):e0001205
Addressing TB multimorbidity in policy and practice: An exploratory survey of TB providers in 27 high-TB burden countries
Jarde A; Siqueira N; Afaq S; Naz F; Irfan M; Tufail P; Aslam F; Todowede O; Rakhshanda S; Khalid H; Lin Y; Bierman O; Elsony A; Elsey H; Siddiqi N; Siddiqi K
Article: BMJ OPEN. 2021;11(10):e049900
Barriers and facilitators to accessing tuberculosis care in Nepal: a qualitative study to inform the design of a socioeconomic support intervention
Dixit K; Biermann O; Rai B; Aryal TP; Mishra G; Teixeira de Siqueira-Filha N; Paudel PR; Pandit RN; Sah MK; Majhi G; Levy J; van Rest J; Gurung SC; Dhital R; Lonnroth K; Squire SB; Caws M; Sidney K; Wingfield T
Article: JOURNAL OF URBAN HEALTH-BULLETIN OF THE NEW YORK ACADEMY OF MEDICINE. 2021;98(SUPPL 1):15-30
Housing as a Social Determinant of Health: Evidence from Singapore, the UK, and Kenya: the 3-D Commission
Mwoka M; Biermann O; Ettman CK; Abdalla SM; Ambuko J; Pearson M; Rashid SF; Zeinali Z; Galea S; Valladares LM; Mberu B
Article: JOURNAL OF URBAN HEALTH-BULLETIN OF THE NEW YORK ACADEMY OF MEDICINE. 2021;98(SUPPL 1):4-14
Data, Social Determinants, and Better Decision-making for Health: the 3-D Commission
Biermann O; Mwoka M; Ettman CK; Abdalla SM; Shawky S; Ambuko J; Pearson M; Zeinali Z; Galea S; Mberu B; Valladares LM
Article: IMPLEMENTATION SCIENCE. 2021;16(1):54
Capitalizing on facilitators and addressing barriers when implementing active tuberculosis case-finding in six districts of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam: a qualitative study with key stakeholders
Biermann O; Tran PB; Forse RJ; Vo LNQ; Codlin AJ; Viney K; Caws M; Lonnroth K
Article: BMC HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH. 2021;21(1):295
Building on facilitators and overcoming barriers to implement active tuberculosis case-finding in Nepal, experiences of community health workers and people with tuberculosis
Biermann O; Dixit K; Rai B; Caws M; Lonnroth K; Viney K
Article: REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH. 2021;18(1):20
Acceptability and feasibility of using vaginal menstrual cups among schoolgirls in rural Nepal: a qualitative pilot study
Pokhrel D; Bhattarai S; Emgard M; von Schickfus M; Forsberg BC; Biermann O
Article: PLOS ONE. 2021;16(3):e0247568
'A double-edged sword': Perceived benefits and harms of active case-finding for people with presumptive tuberculosis and communities-A qualitative study based on expert interviews
Biermann O; Kluppelberg R; Lonnroth K; Viney K; Caws M; Atkins S
Article: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH. 2020;30(5):854-855
Early lessons from COVID-19 response and shifts in authority: public trust, policy legitimacy and political inclusion
Bekker M; Ivankovic D; Biermann O
Article: BMJ OPEN. 2020;10(6):e036285
'Power plays plus push': experts' insights into the development and implementation of active tuberculosis case-finding policies globally, a qualitative study
Biermann O; Atkins S; Lonnroth K; Caws M; Viney K
Journal article: WELLCOME OPEN RESEARCH. 2020;5:19
Research protocol for a mixed-methods study to characterise and address the socioeconomic impact of accessing TB diagnosis and care in Nepal
Dixit K; Rai B; Aryal TP; Mishra G; de Siqueira-Filha NT; Paudel PR; Levy JW; van Rest J; Gurung SC; Dhital R; Biermann O; Viney K; Lonnroth K; Squire SB; Caws M; Wingfield T
Article: WELLCOME OPEN RESEARCH. 2020;5:19
Research protocol for a mixed-methods study to characterise and address the socioeconomic impact of accessing TB diagnosis and care in Nepal.
Dixit K; Rai B; Prasad Aryal T; Mishra G; Teixeira de Siqueira-Filha N; Raj Paudel P; Levy JW; van Rest J; Chandra Gurung S; Dhital R; Biermann O; Viney K; Lonnroth K; Squire SB; Caws M; Wingfield T
Article: TROPICAL MEDICINE AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE. 2018;4(1):E3-3
Action towards Universal Health Coverage and Social Protection for Tuberculosis Care and Prevention: Workshop on the End TB Strategy Pillar 2 in the Western Pacific Region 2017
Oh KH; Rahevar K; Nishikiori N; Viney K; Choi H; Biermann O; Kim HJ; Nou C; Kim S; Zhu G; Zhang H; Xu C; Bounmala S; Senchanthixay M; Purevdorj E; Khaltar U-O; Paguirigan R; Amoguis H; Vu XP; Dang XK
Article: HEALTH RESEARCH POLICY AND SYSTEMS. 2018;16(1):50
Qualitative assessment of opportunities and challenges to improve evidence-informed health policy-making in Hungary - an EVIPNet situation analysis pilot
Mihalicza P; Leys M; Borbas I; Szigeti S; Biermann O; Kuchenmuller T
Journal article: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HEALTH GOVERNANCE. 2018;23(2):120-133
Policy dialogues: facilitators’ perceived role and influence
Biermann O; Kuchenmüller T; Panisset U; Leys M
Article: GLOBAL HEALTH ACTION. 2016;9:32237-11
Collaboration between non-governmental organizations and public services in health - a qualitative case study from rural Ecuador
Biermann O; Eckhardt M; Carlfjord S; Falk M; Forsberg BC
Article: BMC RESEARCH NOTES. 2016;9:151
Perceived feasibility of a primary care intervention for Tobacco Cessation on Prescription targeting disadvantaged groups in Sweden: a qualitative study.
Leppänen A; Biermann O; Sundberg CJ; Tomson T
Article: BUNDESGESUNDHEITSBLATT-GESUNDHEITSFORSCHUNG-GESUNDHEITSSCHUTZ. 2015;58(1):16-22
Patient safety in Sweden
Rutberg H; Eckhardt M; Biermann O
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All other publications

Editorial comment: LANCET GLOBAL HEALTH. 2025;13(3):e403-e404
Action towards connecting knowledge translation and implementation research
Biermann O; Schleiff M; Romao DMM; Mikaelsdotter C; Alfven T; Wanyenze RK; Peterson SS; Kuchenmueller T
Corrigendum: PLOS GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH. 2023;3(7):e0002186
Addressing TB multimorbidity in policy and practice: An exploratory survey of TB providers in 27 high-TB burden countries (vol 2, e0001205, 2022)
Jarde A; Siqueira N; Afaq S; Naz F; Irfan M; Tufail P; Aslam F; Todowede O; Rakhshanda S; Khalid H; Lin Y; Biermann O; Elsony A; Elsey H; Siddiqi N; Siddiqi K
Letter: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF TUBERCULOSIS AND LUNG DISEASE. 2022;26(12):1194-1196
Use of big data on the social determinants of TB to find the "missing millions'
Biermann O; Wingfield T; Thapa B; Babajide O; Zeinali Z; Torres I; Abdalla SM; Galea S
Review: COCHRANE DATABASE OF SYSTEMATIC REVIEWS. 2022;3(3):CD010890
Symptom- and chest-radiography screening for active pulmonary tuberculosis in HIV-negative adults and adults with unknown HIV status
van't Hoog A; Viney K; Biermann O; Yang B; Leeflang MMG; Langendam MW
Review: JOURNAL OF URBAN HEALTH-BULLETIN OF THE NEW YORK ACADEMY OF MEDICINE. 2021;98(SUPPL 1):69-78
Food, Big Data, and Decision-making: a Scoping Review-the 3-D Commission
Biermann O; Koya SF; Corkish C; Abdalla SM; Galea S
Doctoral thesis: 2021
Global policy to local implementation : experiences from active tuberculosis case-finding in high-burden countries
Biermann O
Review: HEALTH RESEARCH POLICY AND SYSTEMS. 2020;18(1):93
Indicators to evaluate organisational knowledge brokers: a scoping review
Scarlett J; Forsberg BC; Biermann O; Kuchenmueller T; El-Khatib Z
Editorial comment: BMJ GLOBAL HEALTH. 2020;5(7):e003015
"Together we move a mountain": celebrating a decade of the Emerging Voices for Global Health network
Srinivas PN; Henriksson DK; Gordeev V; Decoster K; Topp SM; Abimbola S
Editorial comment: BMJ GLOBAL HEALTH. 2020;5(6):e002504
Income security during public health emergencies: the COVID-19 poverty trap in Vietnam
Tran PB; Hensing G; Wingfield T; Atkins S; Sidney Annerstedt K; Kazibwe J; Tomeny E; Biermann O; Thorpe J; Forse R; Lonnroth K
Review: PLOS ONE. 2020;15(10):e0240696
Active case-finding policy development, implementation and scale-up in high-burden countries: A mixed-methods survey with National Tuberculosis Programme managers and document review
Biermann O; Phuong BT; Viney K; Caws M; Lonnroth K; Annerstedt KS
Review: BMJ OPEN. 2019;9(12):e031284
Factors influencing active tuberculosis case-finding policy development and implementation: a scoping review
Biermann O; Lonnroth K; Caws M; Viney K
Editorial comment: BMJ GLOBAL HEALTH. 2019;4(3):e001746
Action to protect the independence and integrity of global health research
Storeng KT; Abimbola S; Balabanova D; Mccoy D; Ridde V; Filippi V; Roalkvam S; Akello G; Parker M; Palmer J; Abejirinde I; Abimbola S; Adebiyi B; Affun-Adegbulu C; Ahlgren JA; Ahmad A; Akello G; Al-Awlaqi S; Aloys Z; Amul GG; Arthur J; Asaduzzaman M; Asgedom AA; Assarag B; Atchessi N; Atkins S; Badejo O; Baeroe K; Molleh B; Balabanova D; Bazzano A; Behague DP; Beisel U; Belaid L; Bernays S; Bhuiyan S; Biermann O; Birungi H; Blanchet K; Blystad A; Bodson O; Bonnet E; Bose S; Bozorgmehr K; Brear M; Burgess R; Byskov J; Carillon S; Cavallaro FL; Chabeda S; Chandler C; Chapman R; Chikuse FF; Chinwe JI; Cislaghi B; Closser S; Colvin CJ; Cresswell J; da Cunha Saddi F; Daire J; Dalglish S; de Brouwere V; de Sardan J-PO; Delvaux T; Desgrees du Lou A; Diallo BA; Diarra A; Dixon J; Doherty T; Dumont A; Eboreime E; Engelbrecht B; Erikson S; Faye A; Filippi V; Fischer S; Fournet F; Fox AM; Francis JM; Gautier L; George A; Gilson L; Gimbel S; Glenn J; Gopinathan U; Gordeev VS; Gradmann C; Graham JE; Gram L; Greco G; Grepin K; Guichard A; Gupta PT; Guzman V; Haaland MES; Haggblom A; Hagopian A; Hammarberg K; Handschumacher P; Hann K; Hasselberg M; Hawkes S; Howard N; Hurtig A-K; Hussain S; Hutchinson E; Idoteyin E; Infanti JJ; Irwin R; Islam S; Joarder T; John P; Johnson E; Johri M; Justice J; Kabore C; Kadio K; Kamwa M; Kelly AH; Kenworthy N; Kittelsen S; Kloster MO; Kocsis E; Koon A; Kumar P; Lal A; Lange I; Lanthorn H; Lees S; Lexchin J; Lie AL; Limenih G; Litwin-Davies I; Lodda CC; Lonnroth K; Manton J; Manzi A; Manzoor M; Marchal B; Marten R; Matsui M; Mbewe A; Mc Sween-Cadieux E; McGoey L; McNeill D; Mendenhall E; Mendez CA; Mirzoev T; Mohammed S; Moland KM; Molyneux S; Mumtaz Z; Murray SF; Nambiar D; Nelson E; Nieto-Sanchez C; Norheim OF; Nouvet E; Obare F; Okungu V; Onarheim KH; Ostebo MT; Ouattara F; Ozawa S; Pai M; Paina L; Palmer J; Parashar R; Parker M; Paul E; Peeters K; Pennetier C; Penn-Kekana L; Peters D; Pfeiffer J; Pot H; Prashanth NS; Preston R; Puyvallee ADB; Rahmalia A; Reid-Henry S; Ridde V; Roalkvam S; Rodriguez DC; Ronse M; Sacks E; Samb OM; Sanders D; Sarkar N; Sarriot E; Scheel IB; Schwarz T; Scott K; Seeley J; Seward N; Shannon G; Shearer J; Shelley K; Sherr K; Shiffman J; Simard F; Singh NS; Soors W; Springer RA; Storeng KT; Strong A; Sundby J; Taylor S; Tetui M; Topp SM; Tsofa B; Turcotte-Tremblay A-M; Undie C-C; Van Belle S; Van Heteren G; van Rensburg AJ; Sriram V; Venkatapuram S; Wagenaar BH; Wallace L; Walugembe DR; Wariri O; Whiteside AOBE; Yakob B; Zakayo S; Zitti T; Zwi A
Book chapter: THE PALGRAVE INTERNATIONAL HANDBOOK OF HEALTHCARE POLICY AND GOVERNANCE. 2015;p.
Health Policy Reform in Low-Income and Lower Middle-Income Countries in Southeast Asia
Tomson GR; Biermann O
Book chapter: THE PALGRAVE INTERNATIONAL HANDBOOK OF HEALTHCARE POLICY AND GOVERNANCE. 2015;p. 171-187
Health Policy Reform in Low-Income and Lower Middle-Income Countries in Southeast Asia
Tomson G; Biermann O

Employments

Affiliated to Teaching/Tutoring, Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, 2024-2027
Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, 2021-2024

Degrees and Education

Degree Of Doctor Of Philosophy, Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, 2021

About me

Research

Teaching

Articles

All other publications

Employments

Degrees and Education

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