The UWI and CARPHA Strengthen Strategic Partnership to Advance Public Health Research and Innovation across the Region

The UWI Regional Headquarters, Jamaica, W.I., Monday, November 2, 2026—The University of the West Indies (The UWI) and the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) have reaffirmed their commitment to advancing public health across the Caribbean. During a commemorative signing ceremony held on October 22, 2026, the two institutions renewed their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), establishing an expanded framework for collaboration in research, education and innovation in the Region.

The five-year agreement builds upon a longstanding relationship between the two regional institutions and reinforces their shared commitment to strengthening the Region’s capacity to address existing and emerging public health challenges through evidence-based research, knowledge exchange and other areas of cooperation.

Speaking on the significance of the renewed partnership, Professor C. Justin Robinson, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Academic-Industry Partnerships and Planning, The UWI, who signed the MoU on behalf of Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, stated, “Our region carries one of the heaviest burdens of chronic non-communicable diseases in the world. No single institution can turn this around alone. This renewed agreement is about putting our own house in order, bringing together the region’s leading research university and its premier public health agency so that Caribbean solutions are designed by Caribbean minds, for Caribbean people.”

Dr. Lisa Indar, Executive Director, CARPHA, underscored the importance of strategic partnerships in strengthening regional health security and resilience. “The renewal of this Memorandum of Understanding reflects our shared commitment to regional integration, self-reliance and collective action. It demonstrates the determination of CARPHA and The University of the West Indies, two flagship regional institutions, to leverage their respective strengths in service of healthier, more resilient and more sustainable Caribbean societies.”

The MoU represents a continuation and expansion of the institutions’ previous agreement signed in February 2019, which facilitated collaboration in academic and technical training, health and environmental research, staff exchanges, student internships, among other areas of mutual interest. Under this renewed agreement, The UWI and CARPHA will pursue opportunities for enhanced cooperation across several strategic areas, including disease prevention and control, health surveillance, disaster preparedness and emergency response, climate change and environmental health, food safety and security, and medicines quality and pharmacovigilance.

The renewed agreement builds upon a longstanding and productive relationship between The UWI, and CARPHA which has facilitated collaboration across several areas of public health research, surveillance and capacity building. Notable achievements include the advanced training in Geographic Information for Vector Surveillance (GIVeS), hosted at The UWI St. Augustine Campus in August 2019, which equipped participants from 15 CARPHA Member States with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) skills to strengthen surveillance and response to vector-borne diseases, including Zika. The partnership has also supported regional health security through technical collaboration on SARS-CoV-2 genomic sequencing under the New Variant Assessment Platform. These collaborative efforts demonstrate the institutions’ shared commitment to advancing scientific research, strengthening regional public health capacity and promoting evidence-based approaches to addressing the Caribbean’s health priorities.

Moreover, the partnership embraces emerging areas of regional and global significance, including One Health, artificial intelligence education and digital competency, technological and scientific innovation, health economics, and public health governance and policy development. These areas reflect the evolving public health landscape and the growing need for multidisciplinary approaches to protecting the health and well-being of Caribbean populations.

Building on their longstanding partnership, the two entities will seek to deepen engagement among academia, public health practitioners, policymakers and communities, supporting the translation of scientific evidence into practical interventions and policies that address regional health priorities. To facilitate implementation, The UWI and CARPHA will establish a joint Overseeing Panel, comprising representatives from both institutions, to monitor progress, identify opportunities for expanded cooperation and guide the development of collaborative activities.

At The UWI, the Office of Global Affairs, led by Pro Vice-Chancellor Sandrea Maynard, will serve as a connector across the campuses and function as a centralised communication hub for the execution of this agreement, ensuring streamlined coordination and collaboration. At CARPHA, Ms. Cherril Sobers, Specialist, Resource Mobilisation and Partnerships, will serve as the primary point of contact, facilitating communication, coordination and collaboration in support of the implementation of this agreement.