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In this regular feature onBreakthroughs, we’ll highlight some of the most interesting reads in global health research from the past week. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton highlighted the importance of research and product development in the fight against AIDS. She declared that creating an AIDS-free generation is a policy priority for the United States. A new report from GHTC member the Treatment Action Group (TAG) shows funding for TB research and development is falling, but GHTC member the TB Alliance and several organizations are collaborating to accelerate development of drugs to fight the disease. The top innovators in medical research spent three days exploring the partnerships and alliances that could help speed medical progress at the Partnering for Cures meeting. An editorial in The Minnesota Daily urges Congress to preserve foreign aid funding as it has helped save lives and improve the quality of life for people around the world. Two GHTC members, the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative and One World Health, are among the organizations forming a partnership to launch a project that will fight visceral leishmaniasis. The Obama Administration is expanding the Global Health Initiative to include another 21 countries, bringing the total amount of focus countries to 29.

Last week, HHS released its first-ever global health strategy at an event that convened leaders from several US agencies involved in global health, as well as representatives from non-governmental organizations. Releasing the strategy, which highlights many priorities for global health research and development (R&D), is an important move for HHS, as it encompasses agencies such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), all of which play crucial parts in global health R&D. HHS Secretary Dr. Kathleen Sebelius, who spoke at the event, stated that “we can no longer separate global health from America’s health … our only chance to keep Americans safe is if our systems for preventing, detecting, and containing disease stretch across the globe too.” She also noted that “every day, Americans benefit from efforts in global health, whether they know it or not.” Sebelius emphasized that the HHS global health strategy should not be an extra, isolated add-on to other programs, but must be an extension of HHS domestic programs and its already-existing programs in global health, with the following goals: To focus on areas where HHS can engage globally in work that benefits and improves the health and well-being of Americans. This will include promoting research partnerships that help develop new treatments to support this goal. To provide leadership in areas where HHS has unique technical expertise, “starting with the world’s leading researchers at the NIH, its leading epidemiologists at the CDC, and its leading regulators at the FDA.” To work with other US agencies and the Administration to advance US interests in global health and support the President’s Global Health Initiative. Sebelius' opening remarks were followed by a panel discussion moderated by KFF Executive Vice President Diane Rowland. Panelists included Nils Daulaire, director of the Office of Global Affairs at HHS; Ariel Pablos-Méndez, assistant administrator for Global Health at the US Agency for International Development; Kerri-Ann Jones, assistant secretary of state for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs; Helene Gayle, president and CEO of CARE USA; Harvey Fineberg, president of the Institute of Medicine; and Jen Kates, vice president and director of Global Health and HIV Policy at KFF. While Sebelius’ speech emphasized the role of the strategy in meeting the health needs of the American population and US diplomatic goals, the panel discussion did the reverse—it examined how US agencies could be more engaged in global health work, and where they are strategically a best fit. The panel had several insights for the use of the HHS strategy and the future of HHS engagement in global health work abroad, including partnerships with HHS agencies not traditionally known as global health leaders—such the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which could help to strengthen health system capacity around the world. The new strategy includes many major objectives that seek to spur global health R&D in order to develop new tools and interventions to help improve health and save lives around the world. These objectives include: Preventing infectious diseases and other health threats, including through measures such as vaccine development, boosting manufacturing capacity, and improving vector control. Increasing investments in regulatory science and partnerships worldwide. Strengthening multilateral efforts to promote science-based standards and guidelines for global health. Amplifying research and innovation to promote the development of new tools and approaches to help prevent, diagnose, and control disease. Overall, the strategy represents a great step forward in global health R&D at the HHS agencies, and a recognition of how essential their programs are, both to the US and populations around the world.

In this regular feature on Breakthroughs, we highlight some of the most interesting reads in global health research from the past week. GHTC member the Sabin Vaccine Institute has launched a new campaign, called END7. The campaign is dedicated to eliminating seven major neglected tropical diseases as a public health threat by the end of 2020. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently launched a new blog, called FDAVoice. The blog will feature posts from FDA staff on news, announcements, and other information about the work done at the agency. The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has committed $1.8 million to health initiatives in Guatemala, as well as funding to support research that will look into the impact of revising the HHS regulations on human subject research. The National Institutes of Health’s newly created National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences has launched a new website. The US Patent and Trademark Office has published four proposed rulemaking implementation provisions for the America Invents Act.

Welcome to the first Research Roundup post. In this regular feature, we’ll highlight some of the most interesting reads in global health research from the past week. In this op-ed in the Huffington Post, Orin Levine, executive director of GHTC member organization the International Vaccine Access Center, draws a parallel between the development of the polio vaccine and the development of RTS,S—the most advanced malaria vaccine candidate that showed breakthrough results last week. Chris Collins, vice president and director of public policy at GHTC member amfAR, argues in this op-ed that the US cannot afford to cut funding from foreign aid because it’s saving the lives of millions of people around the world. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is launching two new Centers of Excellence in Regulatory Science and Innovation to promote the development of new medicines and medical devices. And the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is pushing for a new center to spur innovation and new technologies. World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) launch a new database to accelerate research for neglected diseases. China and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation join forces to improve health innovations in developing countries. The partnership will support the manufacturing of new global health products, including vaccines and diagnostics.