The Caribbean Institute for Health Research (CAIHR) marked its 25th anniversary in 2025, commemorating a quarter-century of impactful regional and global health research. Throughout the year, the Institute hosted a series of events underscoring its achievements and future directions.

Celebrating The University of the West Indies' 75th Anniversary

A major highlight was the two-day symposium, “Impacting Health in the Caribbean and Beyond,” held at The UWI Regional Headquarters, which convened academics, policymakers, partners, and early-career researchers. Sessions reflected on CAIHR’s legacy, assessed its contributions to health and policy, and mapped strategies for future research amid evolving health trends. The opening of a Museum in the Tropical Metabolism Research Unit, housing historical artefacts and documents, further cemented CAIHR’s commitment to inspiring current and future generations of researchers. CAIHR’s influence was also celebrated at the Caribbean Public Health Agency’s 69th Annual Conference, where Institute Director Professor Marshall Tulloch-Reid presented on the organisation’s regional and global impact, especially in advancing research in non-campus territories. Notably, the Director of CARPHA received a historic publication by Professor John Waterlow, TMRU’s founding Director, linking CAIHR’s legacy to the broader Caribbean health research community.

RESEARCH AGILITY AND NEW FUNDING

CAIHR remained agile by securing significant local and international grant funding aligned with regional health needs. Notable new grants included:

• A UK National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) project on community-led digital support for cardiovascular disease prevention in families.
• The Jamaica Health and Lifestyle Survey IV, funded by the Ministry of Health and Wellness, aimed at tracking non-communicable disease (NCD) prevalence and trends.
• A Medical Research Council grant for the IMPACT programme, improving indigenous adolescent mental health in Brazil and Dominica.
• The Sustainability Healthy Active Living (SHAL) project, funded by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), focused on chronic disease prevention and environmental sustainability in Jamaica and Canada.

Additionally, CAIHR led the regional dissemination of the 2024 Lancet Countdown Report on Health and Climate Change in Small Island Developing States, highlighting unique health-climate interactions in vulnerable regions.

Strategic Partnerships and Capacity Building

Collaboration remained central to CAIHR’s mission. The Institute partnered with the Ministry of Health and Wellness in Jamaica to deliver training on Sickle Cell Disease management, implement early- childhood parenting programmes, and disseminate guidelines for managing chronic diseases, including hypertension, diabetes, and asthma. It strengthened hypertension management in primary care clinics and continued national training for preschool teachers and parents through the IRIE Classroom and IRIE Homes violence prevention programmes. Cross-university exchanges, particularly with the University of Glasgow and McGill University, further supported graduate student development and research collaboration.

Scholarly Output and Dissemination

CAIHR’s research output remained robust, with publications in high-impact journals and technical reports addressing a spectrum of health issues— chronic kidney disease, mental health, nutrition, climate change, NCDs, and more. The Institute’s contributions included books, peer-reviewed articles, technical reports, preprints, and conference presentations, affirming its leadership in health research for the Caribbean and beyond.

Conclusion

The 2024/2025 reporting period highlighted CAIHR’s enduring commitment to impactful research, strategic partnerships, and capacity building. By securing new funding, disseminating cutting-edge findings, and fostering regional and global collaborations, CAIHR continues to play a pivotal role in advancing health research and policy across the Caribbean.

By securing new funding, disseminating cutting-edge findings, and fostering regional and global collaborations, CAIHR continues to play a pivotal role in advancing health research and policy across the Caribbean.