Program Science Initiative
Updates, Goals and Directions
James Blanchard, MD, MPH, PhD
Professor and Director,
Centre for Global Public Health
University of Manitoba
Harkening back to Rome… (April 2010)
• Objectives of the first “Program Science”
meeting in Rome
1. To advance the field of Program Science both
conceptually and methodologically
2. To establish mechanisms to facilitate and support
collaborations that will nurture and evolve this field
3. To launch 2-3 concrete, empirical Program Science
initiatives or projects
To advance the field of Program Science
both conceptually and methodologically
• Several follow-up meetings / discussions:
– Within the CDC
– Within the NIH
– With country programs
• Considerable interest in bridging the gap
between programs and science in meaningful
ways
• We’ll know more in a few days….
To establish mechanisms to facilitate and support
collaborations that will nurture and evolve this field
• A “work in progress”:
• We need to further define the purpose and
meaning of collaboration
• We need to have practical initiatives that benefit
from collaborative efforts
To launch 2-3 concrete, empirical
Program Science initiatives or projects
• Some progress at the country level:
• CDC (USA)…
• India
– Concept Note developed with NACO
– Next steps outlined
• Kenya
– Initial discussions with NASCOP and NACC and
general agreement to develop an initiative
• Nigeria
– Initial planning and discussions for integrating PS into
the World Bank’s technical assistance
But what are the Goals?
• Develop the field(s) of Program Science?
• Improved program design and delivery and
evaluation? (where?)
• Building models for integrating “Program” with
“Science”?
• Building capacity?
• Enhancing the academic mission in global
health?
My view…
Program Science Initiative(s)
Epidemiology
Strategic
Planning
Transmission
Dynamics
Population
Focus
Program and
Policy
Constituencies
Prevention
Objectives
Dissemination
Program
Management
Program
-Science
Group
Coverage
Quality
Impact
Scale-up
Operations
Research
Health Services
Evaluation
Science
Constituencies
Intervention
Design & Mix
Implementation
Planning
Efficacy
Effectiveness
Directions…
• Develop program “exemplars” that can be
learning grounds for how to operationalize the
concepts
– Strategic Planning
– Implementation (“getting research out of practice”)
– Program Management (including impact evaluation)
• We need space / time / impetus to fill the gaps
in science
– Better ways of appraising epidemics
– The science of complexity