Scientists work to produce good science that helps support the best decisions, but more than science is needed to ensure change. If it is to be useful, scientific knowledge must reach the end user andbe adapted to the needs of different stakeholders. This is particularly true in global health, a tumultuous research field in which scientific contributions have to respond to the needs of politicians, policy makers, health planners and managers, industry, non-government organisations and the needs of a broad range of interest groups as well as the population at large.

ISGlobal is committed to generating new scientific evidence and developing innovative responses to the challenges of global health, a task it undertakes through CRESIB, its research centre. Our aim is to improve health worldwide using a multidisciplinary and translational approachinvolving research in many fields ranging from molecular biology, physiopathology, immunology, clinical assessment and epidemiology to the development of tools for the treatment and prevention of disease and for monitoring and evaluating public health interventions.Our core research model is based on disease-oriented programmes focussed on malaria, HIV/AIDS, and tuberculosis as well as neglected and emerging diseases. This programme is complemented by work in cross-cutting research areas,such as reproductive, maternal and infant health, medical anthropology, host-vector interactions, and public health and evaluation. Our research is supported byour biostatistics platform and our international partnerships in Africa, Latin America and Asia.

CRESIB has seen considerable growth in the quantity and excellence of its scientific output as well as a significant increase in competitive funding. Its position as a key international player in specific strategic knowledge areas and its involvement in a network of highly relevant collaborators and strategic partners -over 100 institutions in 40 countries- makes it particularly attractive to researchers and has contributed to the centre's prestige in the global knowledge management community.

We are proud of CRESIB's contribution to the virtuous circle that transforms knowledge into action through advocacy, training, technical cooperation and think-tank activities, making it a unique research and knowledge transfer centre focussed on global health issues that can effectively contribute to the greater impact of research on society.

Antoni Plasència Deputy Director, CRESIB, leading research center at ISGlobal