The Center for Biomedical Research (CBR) is a cornerstone of the Population Council’s comprehensive investment in research and development for health, well-being, and choice.
CBR uses an end-to-end approach to take sexual and reproductive health products from the lab to the hands of users. This approach has led to the successful development of eight approved technologies for contraception and HIV prevention, in addition to other scientific learnings that have supported advances in the field.
Our end-to-end approach:
- Identify unmet global sexual and reproductive health needs: Assess epidemiologic trends and acceptability data and consult in-country partners and government stakeholders on global health priorities.
- Develop target product profiles: Define our minimally acceptable versus ideal product attributes to help steer product formulation, preclinical, and clinical development.
- Formulate products: Work with active pharmaceutical ingredients to design vaginal rings, topical gels, oral pills, fast-dissolving inserts, and other novel delivery systems.
- Pre-clinical and clinical research: Rigorously test products for safety and efficacy. Once pre-clinical models confirm the product is safe and effective, collaborate with academic and commercial partners to conduct trials in humans.
- Secure regulatory approvals: Cooperate with a range of global, national, and local stakeholders to chart the most efficient regulatory pathways to product approvals with stringent regulatory authorities and additional national authorities.
- Product access: Engage with local government, research, and advocacy partners to develop clinical guidance, educational tools, and streamlined supply chain processes.
- Product out-licensing: Seek capable partners to manufacture and distribute our products and negotiate pricing terms to support access in low- and middle-income countries and public sector markets.
We engage various stakeholders, including ministries of health, healthcare providers, end-users, community leaders, and advocacy groups early and often to build excitement and demand for new products, and ensure the products we are developing meet the needs of people worldwide. As a result of this comprehensive approach, 170 million women today are using technologies developed by the Population Council or based on Council technology.
