IANPHI Members Are Hosting WHO Collaborating Centers
World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centers are a network of more than 800 research institutes and universities in 90 member states designated by the WHO director general to carry out activities that support organization programs. The centers work in a variety of different sectors including nursing, occupational health, communicable diseases, nutrition, mental health, chronic diseases and health technologies.
WHO has been engaged with IANPHI since 2005 to establish a set of collaborative partnership activities directed towards the mutual goal of strengthening public health capacity, both nationally and globally. To date, 18 IANPHI members also function as WHO Collaborating Centers, further reinforcing the relationship between WHO and IANPHI.
Brazil: Oswaldo Cruz Foundation - FIOCRUZ
WHO Collaborating Centre for Education of Health Technicians
As a World Health Organization’s Collaborating Centers, FIOCRUZ has been promoting regional research studies aimed at rationalizing resources and assessing and advising the WHO on Brazilian pharmaceutical policies. FIOCRUZ has also worked to adapt and translate WHO guidelines, manuals and methodologies into Portuguese. Additionally, FIOCRUZ has partnered with WHO to improve health-related human resources and technology by conducting research and technical-scientific studies, holding seminars and trainings and assisting in strengthening institutions dedicated to health technician education.
WHO Collaborating Centre on Non Communicable Disease Policy
In Canada, the World Health Organization’s Collaborating Center is run by the Public Health Agency of Canada, which plays a leading role in the characterization and classification of viruses and bacteria, particularly zoonotic disease agents. The agency does scientific research and program evaluation and consults national laboratories on matters of non-communicable diseases, nutrition and cardiovascular diseases. The Public Health Agency also is equipped to detect, assess and respond to major epidemic and pandemic-prone diseases through the implementation of tools, methodologies, practices, networks and partnerships.
Chile: Instituto de Salud Pública
WHO Collaborating Centre for Occupational Health
In Chile, the Instituto de Salud Pública is collaborating with WHO to collect and disseminate information and programs to assess the quality of occupational health laboratories. They provide applied research in occupational health focusing on chemical exposure, noise, health care workers and ionizing radiation, and train occupational physicians and safety engineers. Additionally the Instituto de Salud Pública collaborates with other WHO centers to reach the Global Plan of Action on Worker’s Health objectives.
China: Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention
WHO Collaborating Centre on Community-based Integrated Noncommunicable Disease Control and Prevention
The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention works with the World Health Organization to develop guidelines, manuals and methodologies, in order to disseminate information through education programs and trainings on the subject of non-communicable diseases. The CCDC aims to improve the capacity of the Chinese non-communicable disease network and develop tools and strategies to prevent and treat patients with HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria, specifically targeting the poor and vulnerable populations.
Cuba: Institute of Tropical Medicine "Pedro Kouri"
WHO Collaborating Centre for the Study and Control of Dengue
In collaboration with the WHO, the Institute of Tropical Medicine “Pedro Kouri” in Cuba is hoping to alleviate the impact of dengue and other viruses in the country by contributing to research and educating the population on the virus, vector, host and environment. The Institute of Tropical Medicine participates in WHO training programs and collaborates in the collection of clinical and epidemiologic data to better understand the spread of dengue on the island.
Czech Republic: National Institute of Public Health
WHO Collaborating Centre for Occupational Health
The Czech Republic National Institute of Public Health (SZU) provides research, data collection and product development in the fields of occupational health and patient safety. Working with the Coronel Institute for Occupational and Environmental Health in the Netherlands , SZU is establishing a European Network for Monitoring Trends in Occupational Diseases and New and Emerging Occupational Risks.
Finland: National Institute for Health and Welfare
WHO Collaborating Centre for Mental Health Promotion, Prevention and Policy
The National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) in Finland is collaborating with the World Health Organization in the fields of mental health and neurosciences to implement WHO programs and activities nationwide. THL aims to establish and promote evidence-based mental health information systems to promote the development of integrated mental health policies.
France: Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale
Centre collaborateur de l'OMS pour la Famille des Classifications internationales
The Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale ( INSERM ), works with the WHO to collect and distribute information about diseases and develop methodologies to contribute to strengthened health information systems. Additionally, INSERM is pushing to set norms and standardize nomenclature and terminology in an effort to provide high quality and timely information for national and international health planning.
Italy : Istituto Superiore di Sanità
WHO Collaborating Centre for Research
The Italian Istituto Superiore di Sanità collaborates with WHO to implement the WHO Regional Office for Europe Alcohol and Drug Program while also being involved in other substance abuse programs. The Istituto Superiore di Sanità provides expert consultation, assistance and research for the program in the areas of alcohol consumption, alcohol policies and health promoting strategies in Europe.
Japan: National Institute of Public Health
WHO Collaborating Centre for Community Water Supply and Sanitation
The National Institute of Public Health in Japan serves as a hub for technical and scientific information on water and associated sanitation issues. In partnership with the World Health Organization, the National Institute of Public Health conducts research and contributes to the regional dissemination and exchange of technical and scientific water and sanitation information by training personnel from member states.
Mexico: National Institute of Public Health
WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Environmental Epidemiology
The World Health Organization is collaborating with the National Institute of Public Health in Mexico to develop and environmental health distance learning program. Together, with other WHO regional collaborating centers, the INSP is reviewing and redesigning the environmental health conceptual model for Latin America with the aim of enabling researchers to better understand and address environmental health issues. Additionally, ISP is helping to evaluate the region’s Collaborating Center and created standardized performance benchmarks.
The Netherlands: National Institute for Public Health and the Environment
WHO Collaborating Centre for the Family of International Classifications
Focusing on research, evaluation and the development of guidelines, manuals, methodologies and other products, the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) in the Netherlands, in conjunction with the WHO, contributes to the development of national and European plans for nutrition, physical activity and overweight prevention. RIVM uses epidemiological research on diet, lifestyle and chronic disease to create knowledge-integrated reports on nutrition, physical activities and overweight issues to increase the capacities within Europe on those issues.
Norway: The Norwegian Institute of Public Health
WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference
Through research and data collection, the Norwegian Institute of Public Health provides training and education on bacterial diseases, specifically the meningococcal situation, and pharmaceuticals to interested countries. The Norwegian Institute of Public Health distributes their findings the WHO-HQ and collaborates with other centers in its research. With pharmaceuticals, their projects include the classification of drugs in accordance to the ATC system, organizing training courses on ATCDDD methodology and providing technical support to countries in setting up medicinal classification systems and consumption information.
Russian Federation: National Research Center for Preventive Medicine
WHO Collaborating Centre on Development and Implementation of Noncommunicable Disease Prevention Policy and Programs
The Russian National Research Center for Preventive medicine is responsible for implementing WHO programs throughout the country to educate and train on the prevention of non-communicable diseases. Additional projects assist in the development of the Global Strategy on diet, physical activity and health at both the regional and global levels by providing technical expertise, inter-sector facilitation and organizational support.
Spain: Instituto de Salud Carlos III
WHO Collaborating Centre for the Epidemiology of Environment-related Diseases
El Instituto de Salud Carlos III provides data collection, research and technical advice to the WHO on environmental health and hazards, and develops guidelines, manuals and methodologies for national and global distribution. El Instituto also works to implement an environmental health information system at the national level and collaborates with the WHO in the development of a health impact assessment and burden of disease methodology. Working with other collaborating centers, El Instituto de Salud Carlos II is developing national action plans to address environmental health impacts.
Thailand: National Institute of Health, Dept. of Medical Sciences, Ministry of Public Health
WHO Collaborating Centre for Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance and Training
The National Institute of Health, run by the Thai Ministry of Public Health, acts as a resource center for WHO Member States that provides technical assistance in establishing antimicrobial resistance surveillance. Their responsibilities include collection and analyzing data on microbial resistance and disseminating information both nationally and internationally. Additionally, they are working to standardize testing by developing appropriate bacterial identification techniques and initiating international external quality assessment schemes for health laboratories.
United Kingdom: Health Protection Agency
WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference
Focusing on research and the collection and distribution of information about bacterial diseases, the UK Health Protection Agency (HPA) helps the WHO monitor the national and international spread of disease. The HPA provides national reference facilities, performs surveys on disease occurrence and has established and developed new laboratory tools to standardize investigations with the purpose of advising and education infection control teams. HPA also monitors resistance and develops systems for optimal infection control policy design and review to help in the prevention and control of hospital infection.
United States: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
WHO Collaborating Centre for International Monitoring of Bacterial Resistance to Antimicrobial Agents
The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides the WHO with technical advice on bacterial diseases, specifically in the implementation and maintenance of international antimicrobial resistance monitoring. The CDC gives the WHO electronic quality control materials and trains professional and technical personnel in methodology of surveillance of antimicrobial resistance. Using their expertise, the CDC assists in the interpretation of data on resistance within the WHONET network and prepares an annual report on Collaborating Center activities. WHO collaborating centers are a network of more than 800 research institutes and universities in 90 member states designated by the WHO director-general to carry out activities that support organization programs. The centers work in a variety of different sectors including nursing, occupational health, communicable diseases, nutrition, mental health, chronic diseases and health technologies.