The Connaught Global Challenge Project Award: Advancing Anti-Corruption, Transparency and Accountability Mechanisms to Tackle Corruption in the Pharmaceutical System
This project is advanced by a multidisciplinary global network of experts who harness their knowledge to focus on what anti-corruption, transparency, and accountability (ACTA) mechanisms can reduce corruption in the pharmaceutical sector globally. The pharmaceutical sector is particularly prone to corruption given that it is a complex system with multiple decision points and stakeholders, and it is characterized by many market and government failures. Tackling corruption in the pharmaceutical sector is essential for the global community to make gains toward reaching ensuring access of the global population to essential medicines, particularly relevant in view of the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The project has three main areas of focus:
- Optimal ACTA Mechanisms for the Pharmaceutical System;
- Examination of the Regulation of the Global Pharmaceutical Industry; and,
- Harnessing of Technology to Curb Corruption in the Pharmaceutical Procurement.
Project Members
Jillian Clare Kohler, Ph.D
Dr. Jillian Clare Kohler is a Professor at the Leslie Dan School of Pharmacy, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, and the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy. She has dedicated her research efforts to focusing on global access to essential medicines, specifically issues that are linked to anti-corruption, transparency, and accountability in the pharmaceutical sector.
As the principal investigator of the Connaught Global Challenge Project, Dr. Kohler is involved in all aspects of this project, and her work will reflect this wide involvement.
Dr. Kohler will collaborate on the development of the agenda for the Connaught Global Challenge Project. Most importantly, she will liaise with her team and other researchers in the field to create student engagement and training opportunities.
Paul Grootendorst, Ph.D
Dr. Paul Grootendorst is an Associate Professor in the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto and an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Economics, McMaster University in Hamilton, Canada. His research interests include economic aspects of the pharmaceutical industry.
Dr. Grootendorst will be completing work for the Connaught Project that addresses Objective 2 (examination of the regulation of the global pharmaceutical industry).
In fulfillment of this objective, Dr. Grootendorst is interested in providing student training and mentorship as well as developing a report on the global pandemic preparedness and the effectiveness of existing initiatives to promote the timely development of vaccines and diagnostics for emerging viral threats.
Kathy Moscou, Ph.D
Dr. Kathy Moscou is an Assistant Professor at OCAD University, Faculty of Design and Fellow at the WHO Collaborating Centre for Governance, Accountability and Transparency in the Pharmaceutical Sector at the University of Toronto. Dr. Moscou’s work focuses on health policy research aimed at pharmacovigilance with application to governance and medicines safety.
Dr. Kathy Moscou will be completing work for the Connaught Project that addresses Objective 1 (Optimal Anti-Corruption, Transparency and Accountability (ACTA) Mechanisms for the Pharmaceutical System).
Regarding Objective 1, Dr. Moscou will focus on research production as it relates to her study titled, Racism, Governance and Access to Medicines in HICs: A Case Study Canada and the United States.
Nav Persaud, MD
Dr. Nav Persaud is the Canada Research Chair in Health Justice and Associate Professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Toronto. His areas of interest include essential medicines lists and health equity.
Dr. Persaud will be completing work for the Connaught Project that addresses Objective 1 (Optimal Anti-Corruption, Transparency and Accountability (ACTA) Mechanisms for the Pharmaceutical System). He will produce research on the topic of ACTA in relation to international essential medicine lists.
Marc-Andre Gagnon, Ph.D
Dr. Gagnon is an Associate Professor with the School of Public Policy and Administration at Carleton University. His empirical research focuses on the political economy of the pharmaceutical sector: business models, innovation policies, corporate influence over medical practices, and health and drug insurance regimes.
Dr. Gagnon will contribute to the project by his analysis of different forms of corruption in the pharmaceutical sector. In particular, his research will support Objective 2 (Examination of the Regulation of the Global Pharmaceutical Industry) by exploring the topic of pharmaceutical regulation and corporate strategies used to maximize earnings.
Tim K. Mackey, MAS, Ph.D
Tim Ken Mackey is an Associate Professor at the University of California, San Diego; the Director of Healthcare Research and Policy at UC San Diego—Extension, and the Director of the Global Health Policy and Data Institute (www.ghpolicy.org). His cross-cutting research focuses on a broad array of multidisciplinary topics in the areas of domestic and global public health (i.e., public health, data science, international relations, public policy, and innovation).
Dr. Mackey will be completing work for the Connaught Project that addresses Objective 3 (Harnessing of Technology to Curb Corruption in the Pharmaceutical Procurement).
In fulfillment of this objective, Dr. Mackey will engage in knowledge dissemination and research production in the area of technology assessment of actual systems deployed for pharmaceutical procurement.
Joel Lexchin, MD
Dr. Joel Lexchin is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto and a Professor Emeritus at York University.
Dr. Lexchin will be completing work for the Connaught Project that addresses Objective 2 (Examination of the Regulation of the Global Pharmaceutical Industry).
In relation to Objective 2, Dr. Lexchin’s work will focus on knowledge dissemination and research production with a focus on how to reduce the influence of commercial incentive in clinical research.
Quinn Grundy, Ph.D, RN
Dr. Quinn Grundy is a registered nurse and an Assistant Professor at the Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing. Her area of research explores the commercial determinants of health and their impact on the delivery of health services, health evidence, and consumer health information.
Dr. Grundy will be completing work for the Connaught Project that addresses Objective 1 (Optimal Anti-Corruption, Transparency and Accountability (ACTA) Mechanisms for the Pharmaceutical System).
In support of Objective 1, Dr. Grundy will produce research on the topic of conflict of interest policies in the South East Asian pharmaceutical sector.
Suzanne M. Cadarette, Ph.D
Dr. Suzanne M. Cadarette is an Associate Professor at the Leslie Dan School of Pharmacy and Dalla Lana School of Public Health. Dr. Cadarette is working with international leaders towards the development of guidance documents for the application and reporting of different methods to study drug safety and effectiveness in the real world.
Dr. Cadarette will be completing work for the Connaught Project that addresses Objective 1 (Optimal Anti-Corruption, Transparency and Accountability (ACTA) Mechanisms for the Pharmaceutical System).
In carrying out this objective, Dr. Cadarette will produce research on the topic of transparency in pharmacoepidemiologic research methods. She is also very interested in student training and mentorship.
Avram Denburg, MD, Ph.D
Dr. Avram Denburg is a staff oncologist and clinician-scientist in the Division of Hematology/Oncology at the Hospital for Sick Children. Dr. Denburg’s research centres on the analysis and strengthening of childhood cancer care systems, with specific focus on issues related to pharmaceutical policy and drug access.
Dr. Denburg will be completing work for the Connaught Project that addresses Objective 2 (Examination of the Regulation of the Global Pharmaceutical Industry), specifically as it relates to student training and mentorship.
Dr. Denburg’s planned output for Objective 2 is a manuscript with a focus on the areas of childhood cancer, pharmaceutical regulation, and substandard/falsified cancer medicines in low- and middle-income countries.
Erica Di Ruggiero, Ph.D
Dr. Di Ruggiero is an Associate Professor of Global Health at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, within the Social and Behavioural Health Sciences Division, with a cross-appointment to the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation. Her primary interests are the study of population health interventions (policies and programs), their health and health equity impacts, and the implementation of research and global policy agenda-setting.
Dr. Di Ruggiero will be completing work for the Connaught Project that addresses Objective 1 (Optimal Anti-Corruption, Transparency and Accountability (ACTA) Mechanisms for the Pharmaceutical System). This work will concern the area of student training and mentorship.
In support of Objective 1, Dr. Di Ruggiero plans to deliver a scoping review on the relationship between governance mechanisms and corruption within universal health coverage.
Lisa Forman, SJD
Dr. Forman is an Associate Professor at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health. Her research focuses on the right to health in international human rights law; sustainable development goals; universal health coverage; trade-related intellectual property rights and access to medicines globally; HIV/AIDS treatment, and South African constitutional law related to health.
Dr. Forman will be completing work for the Connaught Project that addresses Objective 1 (Optimal Anti-Corruption, Transparency and Accountability (ACTA) Mechanisms for the Pharmaceutical System).
Dr. Forman is currently researching COVID-19 vaccines access and human rights. In carrying-out Objective 1, for the project, Dr. Forman will be working on a manuscript.
Trudo Lemmens, Lic, Jur, LLM (spec. Bioethics, D.C.L
Dr. Trudo Lemmens is a Professor and Scholl Chair in Health Law and Policy at the Faculty of Law of the University of Toronto, with cross-appointments at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health and the Joint Centre for Bioethics. His research focuses on the complex interaction between law, governance tools, and ethical norms and values within the context of health care.
Dr. Lemmens will be completing work for the Connaught Project that addresses Objective 2 (Examination of the Regulation of the Global Pharmaceutical Industry). Dr. Lemmens’ planned output for Objective 2 includes a research paper on the topic of data transparency issues and on whistle blower protection. He also leads a research project on promoting equitable access to high-priced pharmaceuticals.
Anita McGahan, Ph.D
Dr. Anita M. McGahan is a University Professor and George E. Connell Chair in Organizations and Society at the University of Toronto.
Dr. McGahan will be completing work for the Connaught Project that addresses Objectives 1 (Optimal Anti-Corruption, Transparency and Accountability (ACTA) Mechanisms for the Pharmaceutical System) and 2 (Examination of the Regulation of the Global Pharmaceutical Industry).
Dr. McGahan’s planned output for Objective 1 and 2 is the production of an academic journal articles(s) on the development of new medicines that primarily benefit the poor.
Alison Thompson, Ph.D
Alison Thompson is an Associate Professor at the University of Toronto’s Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, Dalla Lana School of Public Health and a member of the University of Toronto Joint Centre for Bioethics. Her interdisciplinary research is located at the intersection of philosophy and critical sociology, within the field of public health ethics.
Taryn Vian, Ph.D
Dr. Taryn Vian is a Professor and Statewide MPH Director at the University of San Francisco. She has conducted health sector corruption risk assessments in nine countries working with WHO, UNDP, USAID and the Council of Europe.
Dr. Vian will be completing work for the Connaught Project that addresses Objectives 1 (Optimal Anti-Corruption, Transparency and Accountability (ACTA) Mechanisms for the Pharmaceutical System).
To support this objective, Dr. Vian will engage in knowledge dissemination and, in particular, a literature review on whistleblowing