The Lancet  
Mar 03, 2012  Volume 379  Number 9818  p777 – 866
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/issue/current

Comment
Offline: Is CDC a science-based organisation?
Richard Horton
Preview
When we published our first report describing discontent about the work of the Center for Global Health (CGH) at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC immediately contacted us to ask for an opportunity to reply. We agreed and await their response. Meanwhile, two further letters have arrived. They again signal severe concerns about the way in which CDC organises its global health work. Both correspondents are well informed about the details of the CDC’s work in global health. Their allegations are serious.

Editor’s Note 1:
The “first report” referenced above is not cited but appears to be a section of an Offline column by the same author published in the 11 February 2012 here: http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736%2812%2960201-3/fulltext

We present it here for convenience:
“…Anonymous letters sometimes get submitted to editors. Here is one, a single page, neatly typed and addressed personally, but with no signature. I don’t know whether the critical statements made about the centre under scrutiny are true. But the questions being asked are interesting and worthy of answers. Here is a short sample of its contents. “Two years ago a new global health center was created at the [US] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) with a lot of hope and promises. This new center was going to anchor the CDC commitment to global health. Unfortunately as 2012 begins it is unclear whether this new center will have the intended effect on global health, and it increasingly looks like a major missed opportunity…it is not too late to change the direction of this new and important global health center. An objective evaluation is urgently required to establish where to go from here with a clear strategic direction and key strategic priorities.” We would like to hear from the CDC about its Center for Global Health Leadership. What are its achievements? What is its strategy? What are its immediate priorities?…”

Editor’s Note 2 (8 March 2012):
The Lancet’s twitter feed included this reference to a letter by the CDC in response to the above published online at The Lancet on 7 March 2012 [see link]

TheLancet
Recently established @CDCGlobal plans to build on @CDCgov 60-year history of evidence-based global health programmes http://t.co/5zpArW5M