Kofi Annan, the former Secretary-General of the United Nations, observed that knowledge is power and information is liberating. Indeed, the collection, analysis and dissemination of data and information should not be seen only as an instrument of scientific inquiry but more importantly, as a critical tool for guiding the formulation and implementation of policies to address complex problems in society.

Last week at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., we had the opportunity to participate in the presentation of the findings of the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation’s (IHME) Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2015 (GBD). Published as part of a dedicated issue of The Lancet, the GBD provides a picture of population health dynamics across the world over the last 25 years. The evidence generated by the GBD on the basis of comparable health estimates by year, age, and sex for 249 causes from 195 countries and territories, represents an important “global public good” as it informs current and future health policy discussions around the world.

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