Science Development week April 8 2013

Improbable partnerships in health: catalysts for change  Informal dialogues can help build partnerships to drive health policy, along with a more nuanced understanding of local communities. Editorials Informal dialogues can help drive global health policy  With the global community gearing up for World Health Day, informal dialogues can build partnerships to drive health policy.  EN | ES More EDITORIALS  News Indian court's Novartis ruling keeps door to cheap drugs open  After a lengthy court battle, India has rejected a major cancer drug patent bid — meaning lifesaving drugs will remain cheap and accessible.  EN  Famine forecasting systems still failing to spur action  A report examines why early warning systems are good at predicting crises but bad at triggering preventive action.  EN  Caribbean enterprise project struggles to involve diaspora  The initiative may be a one-off due to the difficulty of finding experts with Caribbean ties to work with local firms on innovative projects.  EN | ES  Developing-world sessions purged from WCSJ2013 programme  Six sessions have been dropped from the World Conference on Science Journalism programme due to a lack of money to help speakers attend.  EN | ES  Scientists upbeat about their role in development goals  After an expert meeting, scientists are increasingly positive that policymakers will involve science in the Sustainable Development Goals process.  EN | ES  Satellite-based earthquake detection mooted  Scientists who used a satellite to detect sound waves from the 2011 earthquake in Japan say space-based earthquake detection is possible, albeit some way off.  EN Other News Uganda steps closer to creating science ministry  EN  Biomedical research fellowship aims to build capacity in Africa  EN  R&D can help clear development hurdles, say academics  EN  Crop thrives on urine-compost mix  EN  Mekong region facing six degree-warming, climate extremes  EN  Parasite genomes open up new therapeutic targets  ES More NEWS  Opinions Invest in health systems for a balanced approach  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.  EN  Africa Analysis: Continent must back TB research drive  International bodies are offering true research opportunities, but African funding is needed to prepare the ground, writes Linda Nordling.  EN More OPINIONS  Features What will the new pope mean for the development sector?  There are high hopes that Pope Francis I will usher in an era of health reform and social activism, but doubts remain, finds Imogen Mathers.  EN | ES  More FEATURES  Will the scholarly pope deliver? Francis I aims to push poverty alleviation to the fore but will his stated allegiance to the world's poorest be blocked by Vatican bureaucracy?