Grand Challenges in Global Health: Ethical, Social, and Cultural Issues Based on Key Informant Perspectives

In 2005, we launched the Ethical, Social and Cultural (ESC) Program for the Grand Challenges in Global Health (GCGH) initiative, as described in the fi rst article in this series [1]. To identify key ESC issues, we conducted group discussions with investigators and program offi cers from the GCGH projects, as well as interviews with developing world experts. Our approach is shown in Box 1. This compilation of views from investigators and developing world experts is the fi rst description of ESC issues for the GCGH initiative. To our knowledge, it is also the fi rst analysis of ESC issues related to a large-scale science program in the developing world. In this article we outline the ESC issues identifi ed by these key informants.