The expert group at the World Health Organization looking for ideas to fund research into diseases disproportionately affecting poor populations will open up its first meeting next week to public input. Participants can register for the open sessions until Monday, 4 April at noon. Proposals for a presentation to the group are due by Friday, 1 April at noon.
The WHO Consultative Expert Working Group on Research and Development: financing and coordination (CEWG) will hold its first meeting from 5-7 April. The group takes over where a similar committee last year left off (IPW, WHO, 22 January 2011).
The WHO posted a statement that, “To ensure transparency in the work of the CEWG, Member States and other stakeholders may attend the open sessions of the meeting.”
In particular Member States and other stakeholders may attend the following sessions subject to registration.
• Open Session on 5th April, Tuesday, 9.30am to 3.30pm
• Open Forum on 6th April, Wednesday, 9am to 6pm
• Open Session on 7th April, Thursday, 5.30pm to 6pm
The group is expected to report to the May 2012 World Health Assembly.
More information from the WHO is available here.