World Health Day 2026: Together for health. Stand with science
Published in Sustainability and Public Health
World Health Day is celebrated annually to draw attention to a health topic of concern to people worldwide. This year, the campaign “Together for health. Stand with science” raises awareness about how the power of scientific collaboration protects the health of people, animals, plants, and the planet.
Highlights from Springer Nature Journals
The highlights collection begins with research looking at the ethics of data mining in healthcare, specifically key challenges, existing frameworks, and future directions for the responsible use of health data. Complementing this is a systematic review that maps trends and patterns in human viral pathogens from 1900 to 2024; this offers valuable insights into how digital surveillance and long‑term datasets can strengthen global preparedness.
Vaccines, confidence, and infectious disease
Several articles explore public attitudes toward vaccines and hesitancy. A mixed-methods study combining machine learning and thematic analysis investigates modifiable risk factors of vaccine hesitancy during the COVID‑19 pandemic. Another article considers vaccine confidence, focusing on how public perceptions may shape the introduction of new tuberculosis vaccines.
Regulation, policy, and sex‑informed researchEvidence‑based regulation is highlighted in work from the Organization for the Study of Sex Differences and the Society for Women’s Health Research, which supports FDA action on menopausal hormone therapy and encourages more comprehensive sex‑informed updates to drug labels. This is important for integrating sex and gender considerations into regulatory decision‑making.
Child and adolescent healthSeveral studies address health needs across early life stages. An umbrella review assesses the effectiveness of school‑based oral health education interventions on oral health status and hygiene behaviours among schoolchildren. Another investigation evaluates the potential risks and benefits of prenatal selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor medications, examining implications for both maternal mental health and child development.
Equity, inclusion, and global collaborationA narrative review explores how Global Collaborative Evidence Networks can strengthen global health equity through improved governance, power sharing, and participation. Alongside this, research on co‑produced interventions shows how collaborative approaches can help increase clinical trial participation among people from ethnically diverse communities and support more inclusive research designs.
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Conclusion
If you want to get involved in World Health Day this year, you can visit the WHO World Health Day Call to Action for tools and guidance on supporting science-led health for people, animals, and the planet every day, not just on World Health Day.
Follow the Topic
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BMC Global and Public Health
An open access, transparent peer review journal publishing outstanding and influential research and opinion of broad interest to all professional communities involved in global and public health research, policy-making, implementation and delivery worldwide.
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BMC Infectious Diseases
This journal is an open access, peer-reviewed journal that considers articles on all aspects of the prevention, diagnosis and management of infectious and sexually transmitted diseases in humans, as well as related molecular genetics, pathophysiology, and epidemiology.
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BMC Medicine
This journal publishes outstanding and influential research in all areas of clinical practice, translational medicine, medical and health advances, public health, global health, policy, and general topics of interest to the biomedical and sociomedical professional communities.
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Nature Communications
An open access, multidisciplinary journal dedicated to publishing high-quality research in all areas of the biological, health, physical, chemical and Earth sciences.
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Scientific Reports
An open access journal publishing original research from across all areas of the natural sciences, psychology, medicine and engineering.
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Nature Mental Health
This journal takes an expansive view of the relationship between mental health and human health. It brings together innovative investigation of the neurobiological and psychological factors that underpin psychiatric disorders to contemporary work examining the effects of public health crises.
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ISRCTN: The UK’s Clinical Study Registry
A primary clinical trial registry recognised by WHO and ICMJE that accepts studies involving human subjects or populations with outcome measures assessing effects on human health and well-being, including studies in healthcare, social care, education, workplace safety and economic development.
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Globalization and Health
This is a pioneering transdisciplinary journal that situates public health and well-being within the dynamic forces of global development.
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Health Research Policy and Systems
This journal covers all aspects of the organisation and use of health research – including agenda setting, building health research capacity, and how research as a whole benefits decision makers, practitioners in health and related fields, and society at large.
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Evidence-Based Dentistry
Evidence-Based Dentistry (EBD) aims to create a dialogue between dental practitioners and dental researchers, in order to drive new research and promote the use of the best available evidence to inform clinical decision making.
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Biology of Sex Differences
This journal is unlike any other scientific journal: articles focus on sex differences in all aspects of an individual or organism. Everything from molecules to behavior and from studies of cellular function to clinical research studies are reported in this journal.
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Communications Earth & Environment
An open access journal from Nature Portfolio that publishes high-quality research, reviews and commentary in the Earth, environmental and planetary sciences.
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BioData Mining
This is an open access, open peer-reviewed, informatics journal encompassing research on all aspects of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning, and Visual Analytics, applied to high-dimensional biological and biomedical data.
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Communications Sustainability
An open-access journal publishing high-quality, editorially selected and peer-reviewed advances in all sustainability-related areas of science, including the natural and social sciences as well as engineering.
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Communications Health
This is an open access journal from Nature Portfolio publishing high-quality research, reviews and commentary in all population health-related areas of research.
Related Collections
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Advanced data-driven analytical frameworks to support and improve policy decisions
BMC Global and Public Health is calling for submissions to our Collection on how the integration of advanced data-driven methods in public health policy is rapidly transforming how we understand and respond to global health challenges. This Collection focuses on the application of innovative statistical modelling, machine learning, and geographic information systems (GIS) to inform health policy decisions. By integrating data from surveys and health records with information on social and environmental determinants, researchers can uncover actionable insights that enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of health interventions across diverse populations.
The relevance of these advanced methodologies is underscored by recent advancements in methods for data collection and analysis, which have enabled researchers to create more precise models for predicting disease outbreaks, evaluating health interventions, and addressing health disparities. As public health continues to confront complex issues such as pandemics and non-communicable diseases, the ability to leverage data-driven strategies becomes increasingly vital for crafting evidence-based policies that are responsive to real-world challenges.
Continued research in this area could lead to groundbreaking methodologies that enhance our understanding of health dynamics and improve public health responses. Future advancements may include the development of real-time data analytics for tracking disease spread, enhanced spatial epidemiological models that account for environmental variables, and improved collaboration between data scientists and public health professionals. By further integrating data science with public health, we can pave the way for more effective interventions and ultimately improve health outcomes globally.
We encourage submissions in the following areas, with a particular interest in studies relevant to low- and middle-income countries (LMICs); however, contributions from all settings are welcome, including:
- Applications of Machine Learning in Public Health
- Spatial Epidemiology and Disease Mapping
- Statistical Modeling for Health Policy Decisions
- GIS in Public Health Decision Making
- Evidence-Based Approaches to Infectious and Non-communicable Diseases
This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being.
All manuscripts submitted to this journal, including those submitted to collections and special issues, are assessed in line with our editorial policies and the journal’s peer-review process. Reviewers and editors are required to declare competing interests and can be excluded from the peer review process if a competing interest exists.
Publishing Model: Open Access
Deadline: Aug 14, 2026
EBD Systematic Reviews
Publishing Model: Hybrid
Deadline: Ongoing
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