Washington, D.C., September 30, 2026 (PAHO) – The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Regional Office for the Americas of the World Health Organization (WHO), and Canada’s Bruyère Health Research Institute (Bruyère Health RI) have signed a new five-year framework agreement to strengthen collaboration on disease elimination, health equity, innovation, and capacity-building across the Americas.
The agreement will support PAHO’s Disease Elimination Initiative and other shared regional public health priorities by mobilizing expertise, strengthening partnerships, and promoting evidence-informed approaches to improve health outcomes, particularly among populations living in situations of vulnerability.
Approved by PAHO Member States in 2019, the Disease Elimination Initiative seeks to eliminate more than 30 communicable diseases and related conditions in the Americas through integrated, sustainable, people-centered, and equity-focused approaches that strengthen health systems, address the social and environmental determinants of health, and promote multisectoral collaboration.
"Disease elimination requires science, innovation, partnerships, and a steadfast commitment to reaching the populations that continue to face the greatest barriers to health," said PAHO Director Dr. Jarbas Barbosa. "Through this agreement with Bruyère Health Research Institute, we are strengthening collaboration to help countries translate knowledge into action, accelerate progress toward elimination goals, and ensure that no one is left behind."
Bruyère Health RI is a Canadian academic health research institute affiliated with Bruyère Health and the University of Ottawa, with extensive experience conducting research to inform and support disease elimination strategies. It is recognized for its expertise in health equity, health systems strengthening, evidence synthesis, knowledge translation, and health technology assessment.
The institute also hosts the PAHO/WHO Collaborating Centre for Knowledge Translation and Health Technology Assessment for Health Equity, which has supported evidence-informed decision-making and health equity efforts across the Americas for nearly three decades. Since 2018, Bruyère Health RI has served as the secretariat and legal host institution for the Canadian Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases (CNNTD).
“Building on decades of collaboration, we look forward to mobilizing Canadian expertise and partnerships as we work toward disease elimination and better health outcomes for all, reflecting our shared values,” said Dr. Kumanan Wilson, CEO and Chief Scientific Officer of Bruyère Health Research Institute.
“With PAHO, we have an opportunity to bridge research and action, leading the way to successful disease elimination and helping tackle emerging public health priorities,” said Alison Krentel, PhD, Senior Investigator with Bruyère Health Research Institute and Chair of the Canadian Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases. “We are thrilled to be expanding our cooperation in support of regional priorities, including neglected tropical diseases such as trachoma and lymphatic filariasis.”
Through the agreement, PAHO and Bruyère Health RI will promote collaboration, knowledge exchange, implementation research, and innovation to accelerate progress toward disease elimination goals. The partnership will also foster collaboration among academic institutions, public health networks, researchers, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders across the Americas.
A key focus of the collaboration will be advancing health equity and strengthening approaches to reach populations that are often underserved by health systems, including Indigenous populations and communities living in rural, remote, and underserved areas.
Areas of collaboration may include implementation science, knowledge translation, health technology assessment, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, community-based approaches, surveillance innovations, and other technologies and innovations that can strengthen public health action and help countries address persistent health inequities.
The partnership will also support strategic dialogue, knowledge exchange, advocacy, and other collaborative efforts to advance regional public health priorities and foster sustainable cooperation toward healthier and more equitable societies across the Americas.
About Bruyère Health Research Institute
Bruyère Health Research Institute conducts world-class research to maximize quality of life and shape the future of health care. As part of an academic sciences centre, our research supports evidence-based care with a focus on memory, aging in place, and long-term care, palliative care, rehabilitation and recovery, and social accountability.
About PAHO/WHO
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) works with the countries of the Americas to improve the health and quality of life of the peoples of the Americas. Founded in 1902, it is the world’s oldest international public health agency. It serves as the Regional Office of WHO for the Americas and is the specialized health agency of the Inter-American system (OAS). For more information about PAHO and its work, please visit: www.paho.org
