Global Health Briefs - February 2014

January / February 2014 | Volume 13, Issue 1

Experts eye global health strides by 2035

A panel of experts analyzed how to achieve dramatic global health improvements by 2035 and published their suggestions in The Lancet.

• Access Global health 2035: a world converging within a generation from The Lancet Commission on Investing in Health.

Database informs on medicine quality

With global concern about counterfeit or substandard medicine increasing, the Promoting the Quality of Medicines Program has permitted free access to its database containing results from medicine sampling around the world. Information includes sampling sites, drug lot numbers, test results and actions taken in cases of poor-quality medicine.

• Access and learn about the Medicines Quality Database (MQDB) from the United States Pharmacopeial Convention.

PubMed facilitates commentary

PubMed has launched a new commentary option for authors who post their work in its database. The tool, PubMed Commons, enables authors to give and receive constructive criticism on scientific papers and discuss related issues.

Resource records human research rule

Researchers involved in human studies can check the International Compilation of Human Research Standards to ensure they adhere to national laws, regulations and guidelines in 107 countries. The collection is updated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

• Access the 2014 Edition of the International Compilation of Human Research Standards from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

CDC launches new NCD training tool

To help combat the burden of noncommunicable diseases, the CDC has developed 24 training modules that scientists can use to increase their skills in epidemiology, surveillance and management, especially as it relates to low- and middle-income countries. Topics include how to analyze large datasets, evaluate public health programs and develop protocols.

• Access the Noncommunicable Diseases Training Modules from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

NIH updates tool to search projects

NIH has added a new Matchmaker search tool to enhance its RePORTER website, which houses information about NIH-funded projects. Users can submit abstracts or other scientific text and the program will find 100 similar projects in RePORTER.

Mentoring resource is published

A new book, titled Interdisciplinary Mentoring in Science: Strategies for Success, contains stories, tips, and interviews to deepen readers' understanding of the mentoring relationship and its role in spurring science. Fogarty staffer Dr. Linda Kupfer participated in the effort.

• Access the full text and PDF versions of Interdisciplinary Mentoring in Science: Strategies for Success from ScienceDirect.

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