Gaps and Pathways to Success in Global Health Informatics Academic Collaborations: Reflecting on Current Practices

Academic global health informatics (GHI) projects are impactful collaborations between institutions in high-income and low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and play a crucial role in enhancing health care services and access in LMICs using eHealth practices. Researchers across all involved organizations bring unique expertise to these collaborations. However, these projects often face significant obstacles, including cultural and linguistic barriers, resource limitations, and sustainability issues. The lack of representation from LMIC researchers in knowledge generation and the high costs of open-access publications further complicate efforts to ensure inclusive, accessible, and collaborative scholarship. This viewpoint describes present gaps in the literature on academic GHI collaborations and describes a path forward for future research directions and successful research community development. Key recommendations include centering community-based participatory research, developing post-growth solutions, and creating sustainable funding models. Addressing these challenges is essential for fostering effective, scalable, and equitable GHI interventions that improve global health outcomes.