Gilead-Berkeley Global Health Equity Initiative: Addressing Real-World ChallengesGilead-Berkeley Global Health Equity Initiative: Addressing Real-World Challenges The UC Berkeley School of Public Health and Gilead Sciences have launched a joint initiative to tackle pressing public health challenges. With funding of $4.5 million for three years (with an optional extension), the Gilead-Berkeley Global Health Equity Initiative aims to address health disparities and promote equitable outcomes. The program focuses on three main areas: Applied Research Collaboration: * PhD students and junior faculty from the Center for Global Health will collaborate with Gilead researchers on research addressing infectious diseases, noncommunicable diseases, and pandemic preparedness. Biostatistics and Data Management: * The Center for Targeted Machine Learning and Causal Inference will support data management and analysis for the research projects, using advanced statistical techniques to draw meaningful insights. Leadership Training: * Executive education courses will be offered to Gilead employees to enhance their understanding of epidemiology and biostatistics in decision-making, empowering them to utilize observational data effectively in their research. The initiative builds on Gilead’s previous $1.4 million grant, which supported global health training fellowships, research projects, and co-mentorships. The new program further expands the partnership, allowing for more in-depth joint research and leadership development. By leveraging the expertise of both academia and the private sector, the Gilead-Berkeley Global Health Equity Initiative aims to translate research into real-world solutions that improve health outcomes for communities worldwide.
The UC Berkeley School of Public Health and Gilead Sciences this month launched the Gilead-Berkeley Global Health Equity Initiative, a joint program to address real-world public health challenges through private-sector, university-based partnerships. This new program is part of Berkeley Public Health’s renewed emphasis on societal impact and real solutions.
Gilead has funded the program with $4.5 million for three years, with an option to extend for two more years. Gilead and Berkeley Public Health researchers will focus on public health challenges facing the United States as well as low- and middle-income countries. They will target infectious diseases such as the HIV epidemic; noncommunicable diseases such as cancer, heart disease and diabetes; and lay the groundwork to combat the next global pandemic.
“We look forward to collaborating with Berkeley to identify research questions of interest to both Berkeley and Gilead, and to supporting faculty and students in conducting that research,” said Dr. Anand Chokkalingam, executive director and head of real world evidence virology for the biopharmaceutical giant.
The initiative has three components: applied research collaboration involving PhD students and junior faculty from the Center for Global Health; biostatistics and data management collaboration under the Center for Targeted Machine Learning and Causal Inference; and leadership training.
Gilead’s donation builds on its 2021 grant of $1.4 million, which funded global health training fellowships, collaborative research projects, university-industry co-mentorships, and paid summer internships.
“It was a very successful program,” said Morry Rao Hermón, senior director of corporate and foundation relations. “We supported students from low- and middle-income countries to earn a Master of Public Health (MPH) at UC Berkeley through our online program and residential MPH students from underrepresented backgrounds focused on advancing health equity here at home.”
The previous Gilead program took BPH students on field trips to Gilead’s headquarters in Foster City, California, for lab tours and interviews with researchers.
“One thing we talked about then was the desire to do more joint research projects together,” Hermón said. “We wanted to take it to the next level. There are a number of people working at Gilead who are actually our alumni, and that also makes it interesting, because now we can collaborate with them on issues of common interest.”
Deborah Barnett, director of curriculum and instruction for UC Berkeley Public Health, said the executive education component is modeled after the school’s training program for the California Department of Public Health. It will be about nine units, equivalent to three graduate courses, focused on the use of epidemiology and biostatistics in decision-making. The emphasis will be on real-world evidence in health care.
“It’s a great area for us to expand our educational mission,” Barnett said.
Chokkalingam said the certification will ensure Gilead employees are better able to appreciate and use observational data in their research.
“We’re seeing much greater use of observational data to drive insights and direction for the company and for stakeholders outside the company,” he said. “This is a development opportunity for employees to do a more thorough job at Gilead.”
