Dr. Madeleine Thomson has built an extensive international network of collaborators and has been instrumental in developing capacity for climate-health research and intervention across multiple countries and continents. Her role as Director of the WHO Collaborating Centre positioned her as a hub for international cooperation, facilitating knowledge exchange and capacity building among researchers and practitioners worldwide.
Thomson’s collaborative approach emphasizes the importance of South-South cooperation and knowledge sharing among countries facing similar climate-health challenges. Her work supports research teams across 12 countries in developing culturally appropriate and locally relevant solutions to climate-sensitive disease challenges. This approach recognizes that effective climate-health interventions must be adapted to local contexts and implemented through local partnerships.
Her capacity building efforts focus on strengthening institutional capabilities for climate-health research and response. Thomson’s work includes training programs, technical assistance, and collaborative research projects that build long-term capacity rather than providing only short-term support. Her approach emphasizes sustainable partnerships that can continue to generate benefits long after initial funding periods end.
The international networks developed through Thomson’s leadership continue to facilitate ongoing collaboration and knowledge sharing. Her work demonstrates that effective responses to global climate-health challenges require sustained international cooperation and mutual support. Her research collaborations span multiple continents, while her insights are shared through platforms like Science Friday and documented on her personal website.