WHO collaborating center supports global nutrition research

A renewed partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO) will lengthen the Division of Nutritional Sciences’ (DNS) international impression, participating college consultants in opinions and coaching that assist form WHO tips and analysis networks.

As a part of the partnership extending into 2026, the division will function a Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)/WHO Collaborating Centre on Nutrition Research for Health – the one such middle within the U.S. devoted to diet points.

“One of our missions is the interpretation of analysis for the general public good, and this can be a direct instance of that,” mentioned Patricia Cassano, division director and the Alan D. Mathios Professor within the College of Human Ecology (CHE). “We’re making use of our experience in diet and well being to systematic opinions that can assist policymakers develop tips advising the world on find out how to enhance diet for higher well being. It’s a critically vital partnership.”

The collaborating middle is led by Cassano and affiliate administrators Julia Finkelstein, affiliate professor of epidemiology and diet in DNS and affiliate professor of world improvement within the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS), and Dr. Saurabh Mehta, the Janet and Gordon Lankton Professor in DNS, professor of world improvement (CALS) and director of the Program in International Nutrition.

A centerpiece of the partnership is the WHO/Cochrane/Cornell Summer Institute, to be held nearly this July with roughly 30 worldwide diet scientists and practitioners anticipated to take part from so far as India and Ecuador.

The institute options two weeks of coaching in systematic opinions of diet interventions in populations, a course of that underpins the formation of WHO tips. Systematic opinions outline policy-relevant analysis questions, then study and summarize proof and gaps in analysis utilizing rigorous methodologies championed by the nonprofit Cochrane.

For instance, Cassano mentioned, the institute not too long ago targeted on systematic opinions wanted to advance WHO tips associated to toddler feeding within the context of the virus that causes COVID-19, and to decreasing childhood weight problems. Overall, she mentioned, greater than a dozen WHO coverage tips have included the institute’s analysis opinions, which she mentioned faucet division and college experience spanning diet, epidemiology, public well being, statistics and knowledge science.

Dr. Francesco Branca, director of the WHO’s Department of Nutrition for Health and Development, mentioned he was happy to proceed a partnership with Cornell that he mentioned has labored actively and efficiently since 2016.

“We take into account it important to proceed participating and collaborating with the Division of Nutritional Sciences,” Branca mentioned.

In addition to the systematic opinions led by Cassano, the middle focuses on constructing the capability of analysis networks within the PAHO area, which incorporates greater than 113 summer time institute alumni, by collaborative initiatives and multicenter research.

“In many international locations, groups have been educated and these are the consultants who implement evidence-informed decision-making,” mentioned Dr. Luis Gabriel Cuervo, PAHO/WHO’s senior adviser on analysis for well being. “Because these groups additionally interact in worldwide analysis collaborations, we now have networks of leaders elevating the standard and resilience of native well being programs and providers. These capacities are invaluable belongings for his or her communities.”

For instance, summer time institute alums have began Cochrane facilities for systematic opinions and coaching in India and Malaysia.

Said Cassano: “You’re constructing the power to supply opinions related for native and regional conditions – to tell the synthesis and translation of proof for policymakers and practitioners.”