CPC Network members and Program on Forced Migration & Health Faculty Inform Wellcome Trust Investment in Research to Strengthen the Public Health Response in Disasters and Humanitarian Emergencies

Dr Alastair Ager served on the planning group for the recent (June 29-30, 2010) Wellcome Trust Frontiers Meeting addressing the specific topic of Research to Strengthen the Public Health Response in Disasters and Humanitarian Emergencies. Frontiers Meetings are a means for the Wellcome Trust to engage with key researchers and institutions in a field of study in advance of potential research funding investments. The meeting brought together researchers, humanitarian agency staff and funders from across Europe, the USA, Africa and Asia. The leadership of the PFMH in this field was recognized in the attendance of four professors with appointments with the Program: Drs Alastair Ager, Les Roberts, Ron Waldman and Mike Wessells.

Dr Ager addressed the meeting in the closing session on models of collaboration with a presentation entitled: Collaboration, partnership and effective working: lessons from five years of the CPC initiative. This detailed the evolution of the research , practice and policy engagement between PFMH and partners through the initial CPC Initiative and, latterly, through the CPC Learning Network. The close working between agencies secured through the CPC was recognized as a potential model across the sector.