Science Council
The World Health Organization Science Council acts as the voice of scientific leadership directly advising the Director-General about high-priority scientific issues, and advances in science and technology that could directly impact global health. The Science Division will facilitate the Council’s activity in setting the top WHO science, research and innovation priorities, independently from programme specifics, and focusing on areas where gaps exist.
WHO / P. Phutpheng
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Credits
The Science Council was established in April 2021 by the Director General of the World Health Organization to provide guidance on the science and research strategy of the organization.
The Science Council will have the following functions:
- Evaluate urgent, high priority scientific issues and provide input and guidance on translating them to public health impact in furtherance of WHO’s mission;
- Identify current and new science and technology issues that WHO needs to address, including global health threats, and new advances with a potential for direct or indirect impact on global health;
- Provide strategic orientation to WHO’s actions in science, research and innovation;
- Participate in the rapid and confidential review of WHO normative products, when requested by the Director-General; and
- Undertake other duties and functions consistent with these Terms of Reference, when requested by the Director-General
Chair
Harold
Varmus
Lewis Thomas University Professor of Medicine at the Meyer Cancer Center of Weill Cornell Medicine, USA
Learn more
Members
Science Council is currently comprised of 9 members, who serve in their
personal capacity and represent a broad range of disciplines encompassing many
aspects of science, ranging from basic research to public health implementation
science.
Members are recruited and selected as acknowledged experts from around the
world in the fields of basic science, translational and clinical research, social
sciences, epidemiology and public health.
The current members are:
Salim Abdool Karim
Director of the Centre for the AIDS program of research in South Africa (CAPRISA), South Africa
Edith Heard
Director General of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Germany and Professor College de France
Adeeba Kamarulzaman
Director, CERiA and President, International AIDS Society, Malaysia; Professor of Medicine & Infectious Diseases, University of Malaya
Mary-Claire King
Professor of Genome Sciences and Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, USA
Abla Mehio Sibai
Professor of Epidemiology and Interim Dean, Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, Lebanon
Denis Mukwege
Gynaecologist and world leading specialist in treating survivors of wartime sexual violence, Democratic Republic of Congo
Jean William (Bill) Pape
Director and Founder of GHESKIO, Haiti
Dr Yongyuth Yuthavong
Senior Specialist, National Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, NSTDA, Thailand
Disclaimer:
In order to enhance its management of Conflicts of Interest as well as strengthen public trust and transparency in connection with WHO meetings involving the provision of technical/normative advice, the names and brief biographies of individuals (“Published Information” ) being considered for participation in such meetings are disclosed for public notice and comment.
The Published Information is provided by the experts themselves and is the sole responsibility of the individuals concerned. WHO is not responsible for the accuracy, veracity and completeness of the Published Information provided. Furthermore, in no event will WHO be responsible or liable for damages in relation to the use of, and reliance upon, the Published Information.
The comments received by WHO through the public notice and comment process are treated confidentially and their receipt will be acknowledged through a generic email notification to the sender. Comments and perceptions brought to the knowledge of WHO through this process are an integral component of WHO’s conflict of interest assessment policy and are carefully reviewed. WHO reserves the right to discuss information received through this process with the relevant expert with no attribution to the provider of such information. Upon review and assessment of the information received through this process, WHO, in its sole discretion, may take appropriate management action in accordance with its policies.
The participation of an expert in a WHO meeting does not imply that they are endorsed or recommended by the World Health Organization nor does it create a binding relationship between the expert and WHO.
The list of participating experts, a summary of relevant interests disclosed by such experts, and any appropriate mitigation measures taken by WHO relating to the management of conflicts of interests, will be reported publically in accordance with WHO practice.