Shaping a research agenda to solve health problems: Niviola Cabrera, MD, director of science and technology, ministry of public health, Cuba. Interview by Gail Reed.

Niviola Cabrera: I think it will be remembered for focusing on social as well as technological innovation and the importance of integrating the two for better and more equitably distributed health outcomes. We’re accustomed to hearing of research and innovation regarding tangible technologies—which receive more global funding—but historically, we haven’t heard as much about the intangibles of social and organizational innovation. Or about the need to combine the two.