Call for experts: Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on In Vitro Diagnostics (SAGE IVD)

1. To serve as a principal advisory group to the WHO Director-General on all aspects of IVDs. (Except where policy and technical recommendations on IVDs are provided through WHO established advisory mechanisms, such as for HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria. For these, SAGE IVD would accept such recommendations without further review and incorporate such advice in its consideration of organization-wide policies.)
2. For priority, essential and neglected IVDs, where no established advisory mechanisms exist the SAGE IVD will:

a) provide technical advice on global policies and strategies, ranging from development, assessment, use of IVDs and their linkages with other health interventions;

b) advise on the adequacy of progress towards the achievement of IVDs-related goals set in the World Health Assembly resolutions;

c) recommend policies for long-term and integrated diagnostic capabilities as indispensable elements for Universal Health Coverage and Global Public Health Security;

d) suggest guiding principles for how, when and where to use particular IVDs in national, regional and global settings;

e) review the pipeline of existing and innovative IVDs for non-communicable diseases, rare diseases and infectious diseases, including for emerging pathogens and existing public health conditions of international concern, and identify major gaps;

f) provide high-level advice on the development and maintenance of appropriate standards for IVDs, including methodologies for evidence review;

g) provide advice to the WHO EDL Secretariat for the development of the WHO Model List of Essential In Vitro Diagnostics (EDL) in line with the work of the Expert Committee on Selection and Use of Essential Medicines.

h) provide advice on WHO activities in the area of IVDs, including engagement of WHO in partnerships in the development, access and use of needed IVDs.

Operations of the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on In Vitro Diagnostics

• IVDs in the clinical laboratory (clinical pathology, anatomical pathology);
• IVDs in the public health laboratory;
• Access to IVDs  in low and middle-income countries;
• Access and use of IVDs in humanitarian and conflict settings;
• Cost-effectiveness analysis of IVDs;
• Pricing, procurement, needs estimation and/or regulation of IVD tests and laboratory equipment;
• IVDs policy, strategy and programmes at national and/or international level;
• Development and implementation of national lists of essential IVDs;
• Coverage and reimbursement of IVD tests in the context of UHC;
• Assessment, validation, and clinical trials of IVDs;
• Ethics, equity, human rights and gender in laboratory medicine and public health.

In addition to the areas of expertise listed above, candidates must be able to demonstrate that they meet the criteria described below:

• Proficient in English (spoken and written); 
• Familiarity with the WHO model list of essential in vitro diagnostics (EDL);
• An understanding of the IVD issues covered by the SAGE IVD;
• Ability to evaluate complex issues and weigh up conflicting opinions;
• Experience working in resource-limited settings.

Experience operating at strategic levels within the public sector and/or Ministries of Health is highly desired. 

Submitting your expression of interest

To register your interest in being considered for the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on In Vitro Diagnostics, please submit the following documents by 11 May 2025, 23:00 CEST to EDLsecretariat@who.int using the subject line “Expression of interest for the SAGE IVD”: 

• A cover letter indicating your motivation to apply and how you satisfy the selection criteria. Please note that, if selected, membership will be in a personal capacity. Therefore, do not use the letterhead or other identification of your employer;
• Your curriculum vitae; and
• A signed and completed Declaration of Interests (DOI) form for WHO Experts, available at https://www.who.int/about/ethics/declarations-of-interest.

After submission, your expression of interest will be reviewed by WHO.  Due to an expected high volume of interest, only selected individuals will be informed. 

Important information about the selection processes and conditions of appointment

Members of WHO advisory groups (AGs) must be free of any real, potential or apparent conflicts of interest. To this end, applicants are required to complete the WHO Declaration of Interests for WHO Experts, and the selection as a member of a AG is, amongst other things, dependent on WHO determining that there is no conflict of interest or that any identified conflicts could be appropriately managed (in addition to WHO’s evaluation of an applicant’s experience, expertise and motivation and other criteria). 

All AG members will serve in their individual expert capacity and shall not represent any governments, commercial industries or entities, research, academic or civil society organizations, or any other bodies, entities, institutions or organizations. They are expected to fully comply with the Code of Conduct for WHO Experts (https://www.who.int/about/ethics/declarations-of-interest). AG members will be expected to sign and return a completed confidentiality undertaking before the beginning of the first meeting.

At any point during the selection process, remote interviews may be scheduled between an applicant and the WHO Secretariat to enable the WHO to ask questions relating to the applicant’s experience and expertise and/or to assess whether the applicant meets the criteria for membership in the relevant AG.

The selection of members of the AGs will be made by the WHO in its sole discretion, taking into account the following (non-exclusive) criteria: relevant technical expertise, experience in international and country policy work, communication skills, and ability to work constructively with people from different cultural backgrounds and orientations. The selection of AG members will also take into account the need for diverse perspectives from different regions, especially from low- and middle-income countries, as well as gender balance.

If selected by the WHO, proposed members will be sent an invitation letter and a Memorandum of Agreement. Appointment as a member of an AG will be subject to the proposed member returning to the WHO the countersigned copy of these two documents.

WHO reserves the right to accept or reject any expression of interest, to annul the open call process and reject all expressions of interest at any time without incurring any liability to the affected applicant or applicants and without any obligation to inform the affected applicant or applicants of the grounds for the WHO's action. WHO may also decide, at any time, not to proceed with the establishment of the AG, disband an existing TAG or modify the work of the AG. 

WHO shall not in any way be obliged to reveal, or discuss with any applicant, how an expression of interest was assessed, or to provide any other information relating to the evaluation/selection process or to state the reasons for not choosing a member.

WHO may publish the names and a short biography of the selected individuals on the WHO internet.

AG members will not be remunerated for their services in relation to the AG or otherwise. Travel and accommodation expenses of AG members to participate in AG in-person meetings will be covered by WHO in accordance with its applicable policies, rules and procedures. 

The appointment will be limited in time, as indicated in the letter of appointment.

If you have any questions about this “Call for experts”, please write to EDLsecretariat@who.int  well before the applicable deadline.