Today, our director Matthew Kavanagh, PhD co-authored a research paper in the New England Journal of Medicine which finds that economic inequality, not conventional preparedness, is the clearest predictor of how countries fare against pandemics.

Even after COVID-19, why is the world still so vulnerable to pandemics? That's the question I'm taking on at the Breaking the Inequality Cycle session at #AIDS2026, with our new research on why preparedness keeps falling short. (hint, it's not 'global health security' capacity)

At the UN member states adopt new high level political declaration on HIV. surprise: it passed with amendments that made it significantly stronger on access to medicines and human rights than original. big deal in a moment where multilateral cooperation is in short supply. Some thoughts…

After 6 years as Special Rapporteur on the right to health, Dr Tlaleng Mokofeng, senior scholar at our Center, gave her farewell speech to the Human Rights Council. The right to health "must be central to diplomacy & the peace & security agenda of the UN" 📺Watch: www.youtube.com/watch?v=QfYH...

Farewell remarks by Tlaleng Mofokeng at the UN Human Rights Council

YouTube video by UN Human Rights Council

youtube.com

Next week, our Senior Scholar Dr Tlaleng Mofokeng presents her final report as UN Special Rapporteur on the right to health: "The Right to Health as an Enabler of Dignity." Six years. Countless country visits. A mandate that put dignity at its centre. Watch live on UN WebTV 🧵

Next week, our Senior Scholar Dr Tlaleng Mofokeng presents her final report as UN Special Rapporteur on the right to health: "The Right to Health as an Enabler of Dignity." Six years. Countless country visits. A mandate that put dignity at its centre. Watch live on UN WebTV 🧵

Tomorrow: Iyaleta Pesquisa launches Brazil's STRIDE research live on YouTube — 6:30pm Brazil /7:30pm ET Ilera Egbé Dudu examines racism's impact on the health of Brazil's Black population. A milestone for anti-racism in global health. Watch live: youtube.com/live/fl_-wdv...

How do civil society advocates turn TB policy promises into results? Join GHPP and KELIN for a webinar with voices from Kenya, Nigeria and Zimbabwe. 📅 16 April, 7am ET / 12pm BST 🔗 georgetown.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_n2g88sd5SqKarzVhYpd6SA#/registration

We have known what causes TB since 1882, and yet it remains the world's deadliest infectious disease. In a new piece for Project Syndicate, our Co-Director Sharonann Lynch and ASLM's Anafi Mataka argue the missing pieces are political. www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/n...

Solving the Tuberculosis Puzzle

Anafi Mataka & Sharonann Lynch foresee near-point-of-care tests narrowing the diagnostic gap – so long as there is sufficient political will.

project-syndicate.org

Today is World TB Day, so we asked John Green — author, broadcaster, and one of the disease's most unflinching advocates — to share his thoughts on what needs to be done to tackle tuberculosis, a respiratory disease that claimed 1.2 million lives in 2024.

What happens when the next pandemic hits? Yesterday we put that question to Dr. Anthony Fauci, Jason Gale, Dr. Nina Schwalbe, Dr. Stephanie Psaki, and Prof. Rebecca Katz — chaired by our Director Prof. Matthew Kavanagh. Watch the full recording 👇 www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_OU...

What Happens When The Next Pandemic Hits?

YouTube video by Georgetown Ctr for Global Health Policy & Politics

youtube.com

New WHO nPOC TB test recommendations are out — what do they mean for #GlobalFund GC8 proposals? Join the DEC & Stop TB for Session 2 of the DEC Study Club on 18 March to find out. 🌐 English & French interpretation available. Register: georgetown.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_qCMA1JulSamJ77yj-lcSbw

Tune to and watch our Director @matthewkavanagh.bsky.social deliver a workshop on the political economy of inequality and pandemics tomorrow at 4pm ET. The link is sign-up is: spr.ly/6041hqwuF. Thank you to the @buceid.bsky.social for arranging this important event.

Boston University Center on Emerging Infectious Diseases@buceid.bsky.social · 5mo ago

Tomorrow, join us & our colleagues at the Pardee Center for their next Global Health Politics Workshop, "A Political Economy of Inequality & Pandemics," featuring @matthewkavanagh.bsky.social from Georgetown University. Join on campus or Zoom: spr.ly/63329hsIL7

Are we more or less prepared for the next pandemic than we were for COVID-19? To find out, join us on 17 March at 3pm ET for a conversation on the future of pandemics and global health. Register for in-person: rb.gy/tfnyfq Register for online: rb.gy/d53zjj

We're excited to welcome Allan Maleche to the Center for Global Health Policy & Politics as a Senior Scholar. As a human rights lawyer and Executive Director of KELIN, Allan brings 15+ years of experience advancing rights-based health, justice, and global governance.

New tuberculosis (TB) diagnostics hold real promise — but how do we take them to scale? Join us and TB experts for a webinar on 25 February at 8–9:30 am ET to find out. 🔗Register here: georgetown.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_BaGDCLCwT_-mWiocQv7_Mg#/registration

Big news in global health: the price of a dual HIV-syphilis test has dropped to $0.84- a record low. A major step towards more equitable, efficient, and sustainable testing access in LMICs, showing what’s possible when global health actors act boldly.

New article from our co-director @sharonannlynch.bsky.social in @plosglobalpublichealth.org: “Unlocking potential: Development finance reforms needed to support localized health product manufacturing.” 🔗Learn more here: shorturl.at/oblmX @who.int

We are honoured to welcome Professor Attiya Waris to the Center as a Senior Scholar. Prof. Waris, a UN Independent Expert, is one of the world's foremost authorities on fiscal law and policy. 👉 Follow us on Bluesky to stay up to date on Professor Waris' work with the Center.

Our latest Newsletter is live! Highlights include the new inequality-pandemic cycle report, @drtlaleng.bsky.social's Right to Health report, and Attiya Waris's talk on fiscal architectures. ✉️Subscribe for updates like this delivered directly to your inbox! shorturl.at/UKUXF

Join us this Friday, 5 Dec for a webinar on how communities can effectively promote fair and sustainable TB treatment for everybody in EECA With @sharonannlynch.bsky.social, @treatmentactiongroup.org's Mike Frick, & TB Europe Coalition's Lesia Tonkonoh 🔗 Register here: tinyurl.com/frsejhk8

Our colleague Agrata Sharma discussing #TB policies for incarcerated populations at the World Lung Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark. #UnionConf2025 #UnionConf #EndTB @matthewkavanagh.bsky.social @georgetownuni.bsky.social

At #UnionConf2025 Tapiwa Kujinga and the Diagnostics Equity Consortium (DEC) calls for doubling the number of #TB tests performed by 2030 and rapid rollout of innovative near point-of-care TB tests. DEC is hosted by @georgetowngirl.bsky.social and PATAM. diagnosticsequity.org

At #Union2025 Tapiwa Kujinga and the Diagnostics Equity Consortium (DEC) calls for doubling the number of #TB tests performed by 2030 and rapid rollout of innovative near point-of-care TB tests. DEC is hosted by the @ghpp.georgetown.edu and PATAM. diagnosticsequity.org

Diagnostics Equity Consortium - Center for Global Health Policy and Politics

About Diagnosis is a fundamental component of health care and surveillance, and a major driver of economic and health outcomes across health systems. Yet the importance of timely access to diagnostics...

diagnosticsequity.org

The US is a strategic player in global health — but stepping back carries risks. Our Director@matthewkavanagh.bsky.social warned in a talk with @malarianomore.org that disengaging from African-led institutions undermines U.S. interests. Absence isn’t a strategy. Engagement is.

Join us at 1pm EST TODAY for this event moderated by @matthewkavanagh.bsky.social with speaker Joy Phumaphi: "An African Perspective on the America First Global Health Strategy" RSVP here: secure.everyaction.com/QQ6Gu3L04k25...

New @nytimes.com article shows US blocking basic public-health terms including equity, UHC and references to WHO during G20 Health Minister meetings. Our director @matthewkavanagh.bsky.social told NYT these principles aren’t controversial - they’re essential for global health cooperation.

🗣️ “Measles is an entirely preventable disease.” Our senior fellow @nschwalbe.bsky.social on @npr.org with to discuss falling vaccination rates and the misinformation crisis eroding trust. Her message: We must rebuild vaccine confidence through transparency and engagement. 🎧 Listen 👇

Science can stop outbreaks, but it’s not enough in the face of the inequality-pandemic cycle. Our director @matthewkavanagh.bsky.social in @scidevnet.bsky.social: debt, monopolies, and lack of local production makes us all more vulnerable. Read more below ⬇️ scidev.net/global/opini... @unaids.org

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SciDev.Net: Bringing science & development together through news and analysis.

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Science can stop outbreaks, but it’s not enough in the face of the inequality-pandemic cycle. @matthewkavanagh.bsky.social in @scidevnet.bsky.social : debt, monopolies, and lack of local production makes us all more vulnerable. Link: www.scidev.net/global/opini... @unaids.org #globalhealth

Pandemic threat isn’t just the virus — it’s inequality

Science can stop outbreaks, but equity is needed to prevent pandemics, writes political scientist Matthew M. Kavanagh.

scidev.net