The Global Health Network reaches 1 million members in the research network
In January 2025, the digital platform The Global Health Network (TGHN), linked to the University of Oxford and partner of Fiocruz reached 1 million members and celebrated this milestone with a series of videos featuring testimonials from key figures in global health, such as the Chief Scientist of the World Health Organization (WHO), Jeremy Farrar, and Brazil’s Minister of Health and former Fiocruz President, Nísia Trindade.
The network also organised a celebratory event in Oxford, UK, on 8 January 2025, where the platform’s director, Trudie Lang, emphasised that the network has already transformed the way research is conducted. “All of us here are trying to embed the capacity, the ability, and the mandate for research everywhere, and it is so rewarding to say, after all these years, that we are changing the careers of health professionals and that they, in turn, change the lives of others through the work they do and the research they conduct with patients” stated Lang.
For Trudie, the support and collaboration of researchers worldwide, including the World Health Organization (WHO), are essential to sustaining and expanding the network’s model. WHO’s Chief Scientist, Jeremy Farrar, also recorded a message reinforcing the importance of this milestone and expressing his hope that the network will grow even further in 2025. “In my view, the heart of TGHN is its distributed network, embedded in the daily reality of healthcare. This integration of research into the core of healthcare delivery is the only way we can face future challenges—whether demographic shifts, ageing populations, non-communicable diseases, or indeed pandemics and epidemics. The network embodies this” said the WHO's chief scientist.
Brazil’s Minister of Health, Nísia Trindade, also commented on the milestone. “When I was President of Fiocruz, I had the opportunity to sign our institution’s commitment to this initiative for the development of common projects in research and health education. And today, as Brazil’s Minister of Health, I am delighted to celebrate the milestone of 1 million members achieved by this initiative. The Global Health Network is fundamental to the priorities we have defined in Brazil, focusing on equity and strengthening science and scientific evidence as the basis for public health policies,” the minister declared.
Fiocruz as part of The Global Health Network
Members from different parts of the world shared their experiences as part of the network, including Fiocruz staff. Cristiane Bresani, a physician and researcher at Fiocruz in Pernambuco, spoke about the importance of TGHN in her work. “Before reaching a research position, I must admit that I faced many challenges. The region where I was born and where I work does not offer many opportunities for research development. So, when I joined the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, I had the chance to collaborate with The Global Health Network, which enabled me to develop various research activities in a short period. Today, I work to share my experience with other healthcare professionals like myself” said the doctor.
Jaime Ribeiro Filho, a pharmacist and researcher at Fiocruz in Ceará, works in teaching and research on inflammatory and infectious diseases in partnership with various institutions in the interior of Ceará. He highlighted the importance of the network in regions with limited resources. “In our work, we deal with the challenge of resource scarcity and support people in situations of severe social vulnerability. The Global Health Network has been a great partner, encouraging these initiatives and allowing us to expand our reach beyond major research centres, thus contributing to high-quality teaching and research and improving the health of Ceará’s population,” the researcher stated.
Fiocruz has been one of the institutions representing Latin American countries in TGHN LAC since 2023.
Check out these and other testimonials marking TGHN’s 1-million-member milestone here.