International bodies are offering true research opportunities, but African funding is needed to prepare the ground, writes Linda Nordling.

Funding for programmes that target major diseases should be matched by investment in the health systems that underpin them, says Ghana's Irene Akua Agyepong.

Research is needed into how women and girls could use mobile phones to get help after sexual violence, says Henrietta Miers.

The murder of health workers in Pakistan means the last leg of efforts to eradicate the disease can't be business as usual, says Heidi Larson.

S&T advances should safeguard health, equity and the rights of vulnerable populations, says rural development professional Bhavani R. V.

Looking through a 'human rights lens' can improve S&T programmes, while S&T can help strengthen human rights work, says lawyer Jessica Wyndham.

The latest round of challenges to India's drug patent laws is a fight that must be won for the world's poor, says Priya Shetty.

The developing world needs support for low-tech health innovations that do not compromise on effectiveness, says Priya Shetty.

Countries in South-East Asia must learn from successful family planning programmes if living standards are to improve, says Crispin Maslog.

Integrating human rights thinking into policies for combating HIV/AIDS is essential, says Navi Pillay.

Implementation is the primary challenge for renewed family planning efforts, says demography and population specialist John May.

Neighbouring countries need incentives to coordinate disease control, say health policy experts Ramanan Laxminarayan and colleagues.

Online clinical trials hold promise for research but scientists should think hard before using them in poorer countries, says Priya Shetty.

We need to revive the rights-based agenda and realign research priorities for women's health, says Priya Shetty.

A binding international convention would facilitate a move towards more equitable access to R&D in health, according to Suerie Moon and colleagues.

Emerging resistance to artemisinin means efforts to track genetic markers and regulate the drug's use must step up, says Priya Shetty.

Trade deals are threatening generic drugs — we need new ways to incentivise affordable drug development, says health expert Daniele Dionisio.

India urgently needs a permanent dengue surveillance system, say N. Sivagnaname and colleagues.

There is a pressing need for Africa to bolster its pharmaceuticals industry, and that requires the right policy framework, argues Priya Shetty.