Population Council

Population Council The Population Council conducts research to address critical health and development issues. Learn more at www.popcouncil.org
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The Population Council confronts critical health and development issues—from stopping the spread of HIV to improving reproductive health and ensuring that young people lead full and productive lives. Through biomedical, social science, and public health research in 50 countries, we work with our partners to deliver solutions that lead to more effective policies, programs, and technologies that imp

rove lives around the world. Established in 1952 and headquartered in New York, the Council is a nongovernmental, nonprofit organization governed by an international board of trustees.

To close the evidence gap on the impact of community-based organizations in ending child marriage, Girls First Fund (GFF...
08/18/2026

To close the evidence gap on the impact of community-based organizations in ending child marriage, Girls First Fund (GFF) commissioned a study with the central question:

“Do girls in communities taking part in GFF partners’ interventions experience better outcomes than girls in communities that are not participating?”

The Population Council’s GIRL Center led an evaluation of programs funded by GFF in the Dominican Republic (DR), India, and Niger to answer this question.

Across the three countries, the strongest and most consistent finding is that community-based programs significantly strengthen girls’ agency, social networks, and gender-equitable attitudes, which are central drivers of long-term reductions in child marriage.

Read the report here: https://bit.ly/4gDSJU3

Comment promouvoir efficacement le bien-être des adolescentes en Afrique de l’Ouest et du Centre?En Afrique de l’Ouest e...
08/12/2026

Comment promouvoir efficacement le bien-être des adolescentes en Afrique de l’Ouest et du Centre?

En Afrique de l’Ouest et du Centre (AOC), le passage à l’âge adulte des adolescentes est marqué par de nombreux changements et par des événements souvent irréversibles. Décrochage scolaire, mariage précoce, maternité et autres transitions surviennent dans un contexte caractérisé par de multiples facteurs de stress.

Élaborée par le GIRL Center, notre nouvelle série de notes de synthèse présente les données probantes sur les adolescentes en AOC. Elle propose des stratégies fondées sur les données et adaptées aux réalités de la région afin de soutenir leur bien-être. Les huit notes thématiques abordent des enjeux prioritaires:

➡️ Le pouvoir transformateur de l’éducation
➡️ La précarité économique et le mariage précoce
➡️ La santé et les droits sexuels et reproductifs
➡️ La migration, les risques climatiques et les pressions environnementales
➡️ Les troubles de santé mentale, l’exclusion numérique et les violences sexuelles et basées sur le genre

L’avenir des filles en point de mire offre un nouvel éclairage sur la vie des adolescentes en Afrique de l’Ouest et du Centre. À l’occasion de la Journée internationale de la jeunesse, découvrez les leviers de changement qui peuvent infléchir leurs trajectoires et transformer leur avenir: https://bit.ly/4qcRG0B

What works to promote adolescent girls’ well-being in West and Central Africa? In West and Central Africa (WCA), adole...
08/12/2026

What works to promote adolescent girls’ well-being in West and Central Africa?

In West and Central Africa (WCA), adolescent girls experience many changes, often irreversible events, during their transition to adulthood. From school dropout, early marriage, motherhood, and more, these events are against a backdrop of stressors.

Developed by the GIRL Center, our latest brief series summarizes the evidence on adolescent girls in WCA to provide evidence-based and context-specific strategies that support their wellbeing. The eight thematic briefs cover pressing topics:

➡️ The transformative power of education
➡️ Economic precarity and early marriage
➡️ Sexual and reproductive health
➡️ Migration, climate risk, and environmental stressors
➡️ Mental health disorders, digital exclusion, and sexual and gender-based violence

Girls’ Futures in Focus offers a new look into the lives of girls across WCA. This International Youth Day, explore the levers for change that can shift trajectories for adolescent girls' futures: https://bit.ly/4z5KPKm

Globally, 1 out of 10 babies are born preterm. Preterm birth is the leading cause of death for children under 5. Publis...
08/10/2026

Globally, 1 out of 10 babies are born preterm. Preterm birth is the leading cause of death for children under 5.

Published today in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, the Population Council's preclinical study comparing the anti-inflammatory effects of Nestorone® and progesterone in preventing preterm birth. Our study showed Nestorone prevented inflammation-induced preterm birth in mice at a dose approximately 100-fold lower than progesterone.

There are no FDA-approved preventive treatment options for preterm birth despite its very high global burden. While still in early stages of research, our research shows the potential of Nestorone to prevent preterm birth and reduce infant mortality and morbidity.

Read the study in AJOG today: https://bit.ly/4g1zxhI

This research is funded by the UK government’s FCDO through its Global Research and Technology Development portfolio.

Globally, millions of people with disabilities live in extreme poverty, increasing vulnerability to exploitation, includ...
08/07/2026

Globally, millions of people with disabilities live in extreme poverty, increasing vulnerability to exploitation, including forced begging.

Despite its prevalence in cities around the world, forced begging among people with disabilities often goes unrecognized — leaving victims trapped in inhumane conditions and policymakers without the evidence to respond.

At the Population Council, our researchers are working to close this critical knowledge gap.

We recently released findings from the first-ever study focused on forced begging of people with disabilities in Ethiopia. This research reveals how people with disabilities — who are often trafficked into begging as children — are exploited, and why this abuse is so often overlooked. The insights are guiding efforts to prevent trafficking, support survivors, and bring perpetrators to justice.

This is just one example of how the Population Council’s independent research leads to real world change.

Your support helps to make this work possible. Consider making a gift today: https://bit.ly/4bnbhFk

08/06/2026

Preterm birth is the leading cause of death for children under five worldwide — and there is still no effective way to prevent it.

While most preterm babies born in high-income settings survive with proper care, fewer than 10 percent of babies born extremely preterm in low-income settings survive beyond infancy.

At the Population Council, our scientists are investigating whether Nestorone®, a potent progestin, could prevent or delay preterm birth. Early pre-clinical results are promising. A safe, effective prevention option could save lives — especially where the consequences of being born too soon are most severe.

This is just one example of how independent, evidence driven research leads to real world impact.

Consider making a gift today to help sustain this critical work. https://bit.ly/4bnbhFk

We're back from Rio de Janeiro! Last week, our researchers gathered with experts around the world at to share our late...
08/05/2026

We're back from Rio de Janeiro! Last week, our researchers gathered with experts around the world at to share our latest findings. The Council presented a range of topics including the one-month dapivirine vaginal ring, AI-assisted tools for HIV data monitoring, and more!

Some highlights from Council researchers:
➡️ Kyle Kleinbeck, Senior Scientist at the Council's Center for Biomedical Research, presented phase 1b study results on the dapivirine-levonorgestrel vaginal ring for and contraception. A user-controlled, long-acting dual prevention option, this ring is the multipurpose prevention product that is farthest along in the development pathway.

➡️ IPM South Africa NPC, an affiliate of the Population Council, led a satellite on Thursday evening to explore multipurpose prevention technologies (MPTs) and longer-acting delivery systems for HIV prevention. The event brought together a panel of diverse perspectives. Panelists spoke on the importance of choice and centering users in care decisions.

➡️ Sinazo Pato, Access and Partnership Development Manager at IPM South Africa NPC, received the Zena Stein Community Innovation Award at the IAC 2026 FIERCE Awards. Sinazo received the award in recognition for her leadership in community engagement, women-centered HIV prevention, and advocacy for adolescent girls and young women.

➡️ Sanyukta Mathur and Chantalle Okondo were at the South-to-South Learning Network (SSLN) speaking with experts on HIV prevention products and programs and sharing experiences to accelerate country-led HIV prevention.

Annabel Erulkar, Senior Associate, currently leads research and intervention development on trafficking of vulnerable po...
07/30/2026

Annabel Erulkar, Senior Associate, currently leads research and intervention development on trafficking of vulnerable populations for begging in Ethiopia.

For World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, Annabel spoke with us about how this type of human trafficking occurs and shared updates on the Council's research to combat forced begging.

Read our Q&A with Annabel: https://bit.ly/4wvzeT4

At , Sinazo Pato was the recipient of the Zena Stein Community Innovation Award at the IAC 2026 FIERCE Awards, hosted b...
07/29/2026

At , Sinazo Pato was the recipient of the Zena Stein Community Innovation Award at the IAC 2026 FIERCE Awards, hosted by the International Community of Women living with HIV Eastern Africa - ICWEA and Advocates for the Prevention of HIV in Africa (APHA)!

The FIERCE Awards celebrate the power and resilience of women leading the HIV response. This year, Sinazo was recognized for her leadership in community engagement, women-centered HIV prevention, and advocacy for adolescent girls and young women.

Sinazo is the Access and Partnership Development Manager for IPM South Africa, and affiliate of the Population Council. She oversees the implementation of a program focused on outreach, education, and advocacy around the Dapivirine ring in eastern and southern Africa for adolescent girls and young women.

Mmesoma Somto Mgboko, Research Fellow at our Center for Biomedical Research, shared her fellowship journey during her ti...
07/24/2026

Mmesoma Somto Mgboko, Research Fellow at our Center for Biomedical Research, shared her fellowship journey during her time in the Natasha Teleshova Laboratory.

During this presentation, Mmesoma shared insights on in vitro assessment of APIs targeting STIs and unintended pregnancy. She also highlighted the training, research experiences, skills acquired, and professional growth achieved during her time at the Population Council.

Mmesoma is a pharmacist and early-career pharmaceutical researcher with interests in women's health, pharmaceutical formulations, drug delivery systems, translational research, and sustainable technologies.

She is currently pursuing a PhD in Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology at the University of Lagos, Nigeria. This fellowship is in collaboration between the University of Lagos and the Center for Biomedical Research, under the mentorship of Prof. Margaret Ilomuanya, Dr. Mutiat Ibrahim, and Prof. C. P. Azubuike.

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