AMPATH Leaders Publish and Present on Reciprocal Innovation

The Fogarty International Center (FIC) at the U.S. National Institutes of Health is highlighting the role of AMPATH partners in advancing the concept of reciprocal innovation through recent publications and an upcoming panel presentation at AIDS 2024, the 25th International AIDS Conference in Munich, Germany.

Reciprocal innovation is the bi-directional and iterative exchange of a technology, methodology, or process between at least two countries, one lower- or middle-income country and one high-income country, to address a common health challenge and provide mutual benefit to both sides. Lessons learned are continually shared throughout the process to suit the needs and infrastructure of each country.

The Indiana University Center for Global Health Equity initially defined the concept based largely on the work of the AMPATH partnership and recognizing the potential that shared innovations held for low-, middle- and high-income countries facing similar healthcare challenges.

The Global Health Reciprocal Innovation project coordinated by the Center for Global Health Studies at the FIC supported the publication of a BMJ Global Health supplement entitled, “Reciprocal Innovation in Global Health Research" highlighting successes and challenges in the exchange of innovations between low/middle-income and high-income countries.

AMPATH authors included in the supplement are:

·       Jepchirchir (Chiri) Kiplagat, Moi University College of Health Sciences

·      Jeremiah Laktabai, Moi University School of Medicine

·       Debra Litzelman, IU School of Medicine

·       Winstone Nyandiko, Moi University School of Medicine

·       Rishika O’Brien, Indiana University Center for Global Health Equity

·       Sonak Pastakia, Canter for Health Equity and Innovation, Purdue University College of Pharmacy, Nursing and Health Sciences

·       David Plater, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Arnhold Institute for Global Health

·       Laura Ruhl, Indiana University School of Medicine

·       Michael Scanlon, IU Center for Global Health Equity

·       Melissa Thomas, Regenstrief Institute (IU School of Medicine)

·       Rachel Vreeman, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Arnhold Institute for Global Health

·       Kara Wools-Kaloustian, IU School of Medicine

In partnership with the Health Resources and Services Administration, the FIC is also organizing and supporting a satellite session titled “Global health reciprocal innovation: optimizing the global impact of health interventions through novel research partnerships and knowledge exchange” at AIDS 2024, the 25th International AIDS Conference. The panel session will include AMPATH investigators, Dr. Kiplagat and Megan McHenry, MD, from IU School of Medicine, as well as participants from the National Institute of Mental Health, the NIH Office of AIDS Research, and the Office of Global Affairs at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

“I look forward to sharing the work that AMPATH colleagues have been doing to take the best ideas developed to address a challenge in one location and continue to improve and refine those ideas to address challenges in other places,” said Dr. Kiplagat.

The session on July 25 at 6 p.m. CEST will introduce the concept of global health reciprocal innovation; explore barriers, facilitators, and lessons learned for implementing a global health reciprocal innovation approach through innovative case examples; highlight lessons from a reciprocal innovation grant program; and conclude with concrete strategies for operationalizing reciprocal innovation.

“We are proud that the Fogarty International Center shares our support for reciprocal innovation and the promise it holds for addressing some of the most common and challenging situations around the globe,” said Dr. Laura Ruhl, director of reciprocal innovation for the IU Center for Global Health Equity.