The IAPHS Committee on Health & Social Justice invites abstract proposals for the 2026 IAPHS Annual Meeting that explore methodological approaches for conducting rigorous, ethical, and trust-building research with hypermarginalized populations. For this call,hypermarginalized populations refer to communities who experience intensified and overlapping forms of structural exclusion, including (but not limited to) criminalization, displacement or houselessness, immigration enforcement, state surveillance, and chronic institutional neglect. We encourage submissions that recognize the heterogeneity within these groups and avoid treating any community as monolithic.
We are particularly interested in abstracts that highlight liberatory or justice-centered research methods, specifically, approaches that intentionally shift traditional power dynamics in population health research by centering community expertise, ensuring meaningful participation, and reducing the risk of harm. These may include (but are not limited to) community-driven or participatory approaches, data sovereignty practices, trauma-informed research design, abolitionist or freedom-centered frameworks, and other methodologies that support ethical engagement with communities for whom trust in institutions has historically been compromised.
Submissions should describe 1) how researchers or practitioners collaborate with communities experiencing compounded marginalization to build mutual respect and trust . 2) Methods that respect safety, autonomy, and non-extraction. And, 3) Methodological innovation to generate more valid, action-oriented knowledge while maintaining fidelity to ethical practice.
Proposals may draw from research, practice, or community-academic partnerships.