Date conference: 16 October 2026
Location: Radboud University, Nijmegen (the Netherlands)
Abstract Submission Deadline: 24 May 2026
The Radboud University Network on Migrant Inclusion (RUNOMI) and Radboud University invite paper submissions for the conference Supporting Health(-Care) of Migrant Residents: Access, Equity and Governance, taking place on 16 October 2026 in Nijmegen. The event is organized as part of the Cluster of Research Excellence (CoRE) in Migration & Health and provides a platform for scholars from different countries and disciplines, working on topics at the intersection of health and migration to share their research and come together to discuss advancements in the field. The event is also part of the RUNOMI Sectorplan program on Digitalization, Migration & Health funded by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science. The conference is organized in connection with the RUNOMI PhD Autumn School “Supporting Health(-Care) among Migrant Residents: Methodological, Ethical and Empirical Dilemmas”. If you are a PhD candidate working on these topics, please check out the call and all the details using the link above.
We welcome empirical, theoretical, and methodological submissions to a range of topics. These can include, but are not limited to:
- Health needs and challenges of access to care for specific groups of migrants
This theme focuses on health needs and challenges of access to care for specific migrant groups, for instance elderly migrants, migrant children, asylum seekers and refugees, and labour migrants. It explores determinants of health support-seeking behavior amongst different migrant groups and their subjective experiences of their health and illness. It also explores specific societal concerns, for instance relating to migrant women’s health and the effects of gender-based violence.
- Healthcare provisions enhanced access for migrant
This theme focuses on how healthcare may become more accessible to people with migration backgrounds (incl. short and long-term residents, asylum seekers and refugees, seasonal workers), how healthcare providers connect with the needs of migrant communities (e.g. targeted vs mainstream services; communication between providers and patients; role of cultural differences and relevance of culturally sensitive interventions). It also explores health interventions in disaster/conflict areas (e.g. MHPSS) and how interventions target migrant populations more difficult to reach.
- Data and methods to research migrant resident health
This theme explores the role of relevant data, information systems and research methods to gain a more profound understanding on migrant resident health and efficacy of targeted healthcare provisions (e.g. role of large-scale health related data; Health Demographic Surveillance Sites data; demographic patterns, intervention studies). It also considers data initiatives measure health concerns as (in-)direct drivers of migratory movements, as well as inclusive and participatory methods in health research.
- Borders, Systems, and Well‑Being: Health Impacts of Migration Governance and Social Inclusion
This theme explores the health impacts of various migration governance and control measures as well as systemic discrimination on refugees and migrants at large. For instance, it considers effects of migration border policies on physical and mental health of migrant residents, migration control/enforcement in healthcare systems. Also important is the impact of asylum system and integration policies on the psychosocial health of refugees and migrants at large. Also this theme is open to explorations of the relationship between discrimination/racism and migrant resident’s health outcomes. Finally, contributions to this theme can explore how migration governance and healthcare systems evolve in response to diversity, including shifts between policy including migrant-specific interventions and diversity-mainstreamed and/or intersectional policies, and their implications for access, inclusion, and inequality.
Conference Format
The event will feature a keynote address (speaker t.b.a.), paper presentation sessions and networking opportunities.
To include contributions from scholars operating in diverse geographical contexts, the event will have a semi-hybrid format, allowing a limited number of participants who cannot attend the on-site event in Nijmegen to present their work online. The keynote speech will also be streamed online.
The conference participation fee is €30 to cover part of the hosting and catering costs. Fee waivers are available upon reasonable request. The conference is open to scholars at different career stages.
Submitting an abstract
Please submit your abstracts (250-300 words) to runomi@ru.nl by 24 May 2026, specifying as subject “Abstract Submission: Supporting Health(-Care) of Migrant Residents”. Please include the abstract title, 3 key words, your position and affiliation(s), and contact details (e-mail, phone number) in the abstract and in the text of your email.