Biomedical science and public health research to address national and global health challenges through a collaboration between US NIH and WHO - The World Health Organization (WHO), as specified in its constitution, is the “directing and coordinating authority on international health work”. The organization develops global norms and standards and provides scientific and technical assistance to Member States. Especially since the creation of the Science Division in 2019, WHO has increasingly focused on, and will in the future be a science-based organization, ensuring that the very best available science informs its work and advice. WHO maintains deep collaboration with governments and research organizations throughout the world, including through its unique network of country and regional offices and the network of WHO Collaborating Centres. WHO’s research portfolio is complementary to the goals of NIH’s specialized institutes, covering communicable and noncommunicable diseases, and endemic, epidemic, and emerging health threats. As a global leader in biomedical research, NIH is a critical partner for WHO in advancing the scientific knowledge base and in the development of effective interventions. This proposal aims to enhance collaboration between NIH and WHO to strengthen research in support of the most pressing public health needs. Enhanced collaboration will be achieved by combining the strengths of both organizations, building on NIH’s excellence in medical and biomedical research and its access to a vast research infrastructure, and on WHO’s global reach, expertise in setting norms and standards, and in implementation science. Five major activities are proposed in these areas: Infectious Disease Global Health Research; Immunization Agenda 2030; Genomics for Global Health, including the WHO Science Council; Collaboration for Cancer Control; Global Mental Health Agenda; and a Global Health Activity Fund. The collaboration will make use of WHO’s broad scientific experience, its capacity to convene independent global experts and set agendas, and to develop consensus through transparent and inclusive consultative processes, taking into consideration all geographic regions and communities, exploiting WHO’s decentralized structure. This application proposes collaborative action in emerging issues in public health that require investments in basic, translational, and implementation research,. There is significant room for expansion of collaborative activities that support the shared goals and objectives of the institutions of NIH and WHO.
