Research Center

About GHRC

Strive for Excellence and Reshape the Future

The Global Health Research Center (GHRC) was established in 2013 and co-founded by Duke Kunshan University and the Duke Global Health Institute. Our mission is to improve health and promote health equity in China and globally.

GHRC is built on the principles of scientific excellence and focuses on establishing interdisciplinary, mutually-beneficial collaborations with researchers from China. We aim to conduct high-quality research that leads to informed policy-making and innovative approaches to health challenges at local and global levels. Ultimately, we strive to make contributions to achieve the national goals identified in Healthy China 2030 and other Chinese policies as well as globally the health-related Sustainable Development Goals such as universal health coverage, health system strengthening, and infectious and NCD risk reduction.

Mission

To improve health in China and the world by conducting high-quality research that leads to informed policy making and innovative approaches to health challenges.

Vision

To promote health equity and improve health for all in China and worldwide.

Progress by Numbers

In 2024, the Center

received external funding support of

CNY 10,094,728

30%

From Government and International Organizations

55%

From Academic and Medical Institutions

15%

From Corporate Donations (via Duke Kunshan University Education Development Foundation)

published a total of

97 papers

61%

Published as first author or corresponding author

> 30%

Student-engaged papers

Journals include The Lancet
BMJ, Nature Communications, Environmental Science & Technology, JAMA Network Open
EClinicalMedicine

hosted

24 Symposiums and Workshops

11

Academic symposiums under the “This is Global Health!” Symposium Series

13

Academic workshops initiated by the Traditional Chinese Medicine Forum and ongoing research programs

Center News

First China–Korea Forum Charts a New Course for Global Health Collaboration in an Era of Declining Development Assistance

Seoul, Republic of Korea, June 29–30, 2026 — At a time when global health is facing one of its most challenging periods in decades—with declining official development assistance (ODA), growing geopolitical uncertainty, and increasing health threats ranging from infectious diseases and non-communicable diseases to climate-related risks and health workforce shortages—more than 30 government officials, policymakers, researchers, and global health leaders from China, the Republic of Korea, and international organizations gathered in Seoul to explore a new model of regional cooperation.

Read More »
July 29, 2026

DKU professor co-authors Lancet commentary calling for WHO reform

Shenglan Tang, co-director of the Global Health Research Center at Duke Kunshan University, has co-authored a new commentary in the Lancet with Michael Merson calling for more far-reaching reform of the World Health Organization.
The commentary, “Transforming WHO: incremental reform is no longer sufficient,” was published April 10.

Read More »
June 16, 2026

Global Health Seminar Series

Since 2014, the Global Health Research Center at Duke Kunshan University has organized a series of global health symposium events, inviting leaders, scientists, and industry experts in the global health field to exchange information on the latest research progress, international and domestic development trends, and global health education and practice. By the end of 2024, the center had successfully hosted 197 seminars. Starting in Fall 2024, the series has been renamed and restructured from the "Aegon-Industrial Global Health Seminar Series" to the "This is Global Health! Monthly Symposium Series," featuring a new format of panel talks and a vision for greater impact.

Events