RGHI’s inaugural meeting
21st October 2020, Parsippany, NJ, USA – Following the creation of The Reckitt Global Hygiene Institute (RGHI) in July, the RGHI’s Expert Panel convened virtually today for its inaugural quarterly meeting. The RGHI Expert Panel is comprised of several world-renowned academics:
- Professor Peter Piot, Professor Peter Piot, Director of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine,
- Dame Sally Davies, Master of Trinity College, Cambridge
- Professor Feng Cheng, Research Center for Public Health, Tsinghua University School of Medicine, Tsinghua
- Dr. Randeep Guleria, Director, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS)
- Professor Dr. Albert Ko, Department Chair and Professor of Epidemiology, Yale School of Medicine
- Professor Teo Yik-Ying, Dean, Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore
- Dr Muhammad Ali Pate, Global Director for Health, Nutrition and Population at the World Bank
On the agenda were the mission, vision of the Institute and the implementation of the next steps to generate practical, high-quality scientific research and behavioural insights. The expert panellists outlined their shared commitment to ensure the RGHI is driving towards the adoption of global sustainable hygienic practices and achieving enduring behaviour change.
The discussion focused on the top priorities for the coming weeks which are:
- launching the new RGHI Fellowship Programme; and
- finalising a roadmap for publishing cutting-edge research and advocacy.
Commenting on the first meeting, Professor Peter Piot, Chair of the RGHI Expert Panel, said: “It’s clear that we share a commitment to advancing hygiene science. Against the backdrop of COVID-19, we are all united in wanting to create evidence to drive lasting hygiene behaviour change. Given the current context, there is no better time to support emerging talent through the fellowship programme and publish cutting-edge research.”
Simon Sinclair, RGHI Executive Director, added: “Our aim is to drive evidence-based, lasting changes in hygiene behaviours as a foundation of global health. Working together with our partner institutions – London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Yale, Cambridge, National University of Singapore, Tsinghua and All India Institute of Medical Sciences – we can’t wait to turn the vision into reality.”
Laxman Narasimhan, CEO of RB, said: “When we first conceived of the idea of creating this pioneering Institute, I couldn’t have hoped for a more prominent and acclaimed group of experts to guide the Institute. I am delighted that the Institute will be in their capable hands as it embarks on its journey to fulfilling its ambitious mission…to generate practical, high-quality scientific research and behavioural insights that will lead to the adoption of global sustainable hygienic practices and achieve enduring behaviour change.”
