On 17 December 2025, WHO hosted the first webinar in a new series dedicated to putting the global research agenda on knowledge translation and evidence‑informed policy-making into action. The session gathered 120 participants from 38 countries, including researchers, policy-makers, funding representatives and knowledge brokers. Discussions focused on how the agenda can support better alignment of priorities, reinforce capacity, and enhance the systematic use of evidence in policy decisions.

Chaired by Ahmed Mandil and facilitated by Seilin Uhm, the webinar began with a presentation by WHO’s Bastien Kolt, who introduced the agenda and outlined its 19 priority research areas. These priorities span interventions, barriers and enabling factors, as well as methodological approaches and standards. Annette Boaz emphasized the importance of advancing research on knowledge translation to ensure that evidence is consistently and effectively integrated into policies and programmes.

Panelists Fréjus Thoto, Zhaleh Abdi and Ben Miyamoto shared concrete examples of how the global research agenda is being applied in practice. They described its influence on institutional planning, national priority-setting processes, and funding strategies. The session concluded with a presentation by WHO’s Tarang Sharma, who introduced a range of dissemination materials designed to promote use of the agenda. These include an upcoming WHO project report, a preprint manuscript, and practical tools such as a slide deck and infographic to assist countries and organizations in implementation.

As the inaugural event in the series, the webinar also invited participants to propose topics for future sessions. Their feedback will shape the next discussions, ensuring that the series remains responsive to country priorities and supports the practical application of the research agenda.

The webinar represented a significant transition from developing the global research agenda to actively operationalizing it, supporting countries and partners in strengthening evidence use and minimizing duplication in research efforts.

Contributors and speakers

• Ahmed Mandil, Professor, High Institute of Public Health, University of Alexandria, Egypt

• Annette Boaz, Professor of Health and Social Care, King’s College London, United Kingdom

• Bastien Kolt, Technical Officer, Science for Health Department, WHO, Geneva, Switzerland

• Ben Miyamoto, Manager, The Pew Charitable Trusts/Impact Funders Forum, United States

• Fréjus Thoto, Executive Director, African Center for Equitable Development (ACED), Benin

• Seilin Uhm, Senior Policy Associate, University of Southampton, United Kingdom

• Tarang Sharma, Technical Officer, WHO Regional Office for Europe, Copenhagen, Denmark

• Zhaleh Abdi, Director of Research and Education, National Institute of Health Research (NIHR), Iran