The Pan-University Network for Global Health: framework for collaboration and review of global health needs
Journal Article
2016
Permanent link to this Item
Authors
Journal Title
Globalization and Health
Link to Journal
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
BioMed Central
Publisher
University of Cape Town
Department
Faculty
Series
Abstract
In the current United Nations efforts to plan for post 2015-Millennium Development Goals, global partnership to address non-communicable diseases (NCDs) has become a critical goal to effectively respond to the complex global challenges of which inequity in health remains a persistent challenge. Building capacity in terms of wellequipped local researchers and service providers is a key to bridging the inequity in global health. Launched by Penn State University in 2014, the Pan University Network for Global Health responds to this need by bridging researchers at more than 10 universities across the globe. In this paper we outline our framework for international and interdisciplinary collaboration, as well the rationale for our research areas, including a review of these two themes. After its initial meeting, the network has established two central thematic priorities: 1) urbanization and health and 2) the intersection of infectious diseases and NCDs. The urban population in the global south will nearly double in 25 years (approx. 2 billion today to over 3.5 billion by 2040). Urban population growth will have a direct impact on global health, and this growth will be burdened with uneven development and the persistence of urban spatial inequality, including health disparities. The NCD burden, which includes conditions such as hypertension, stroke, and diabetes, is outstripping infectious disease in countries in the global south that are considered to be disproportionately burdened by infectious diseases. Addressing these two priorities demands an interdisciplinary and multi-institutional model to stimulate innovation and synergy that will influence the overall framing of research questions as well as the integration and coordination of research.
Description
Reference:
Winchester, M. S., BeLue, R., Oni, T., Wittwer-Backofen, U., Deobagkar, D., Onya, H., ... & Airhihenbuwa, C. (2016). The Pan-University Network for Global Health: framework for collaboration and review of global health needs. Globalization and Health, 12(1), 1.