Dr Garry Aslanyan

Manager, Partnerships and Global Engagement; Head of Secretariat of the ESSENCE on Health Research initiative

Biography

As Manager of Partnerships and Global Engagement at TDR, Dr Garry Aslanyan steers the programme’s most strategic alliances and global health collaborations, mobilizing resources, building high‑trust partnerships, and leading engagement with TDR’s governing bodies. From July 2025 to March 2026, he also served as Director ad interim, guiding TDR through a pivotal transition period and overseeing its strategic direction and operations until the arrival of the new Director.

Working closely with the Director, Dr Aslanyan plays a central role in sustaining TDR’s unique co‑sponsorship by UNICEF, the World Bank, UNDP and WHO, a complex partnership that demands diplomacy, credibility, and sustained coordination across institutions. He leads TDR’s efforts to translate research evidence into the global health programming of the co‑sponsors, while driving collaboration with all six WHO regional offices, including oversight of the widely recognized TDR Impact Grants, which catalyze locally led solutions to priority public health challenges across regions.

He also heads the Secretariat of ESSENCE on Health Research, supporting its Steering Committee and member funding agencies to strengthen coordination and increase the impact of investments in research capacity. In parallel, he has contributed to global public health standards and stewardship through service on the WHO Guidelines Review Committee and by acting as an external reviewer for global health research programmes.

Dr Aslanyan is the founder, Executive Producer and Host of the TDR’s acclaimed Global Health Matters podcast which is recognized as a platform that brings bold ideas and diverse voices to the forefront of global health dialogue.

A Canadian with training in dentistry, public health, research and innovation management, health policy and systems, and global health diplomacy, Dr Aslanyan is recognized for driving organizational and technical innovation across sectors and geographies, bringing over 25 years of experience to his work. Before joining TDR, he held senior executive roles within Canada’s federal government and served as President of the Ontario Public Health Association. He has also helped shape public health discourse through editorial leadership, including serving as Editor‑in‑Chief of newSpecial magazein and as an Editorial Advisor to the Bulletin of the World Health Organization.

Learn more about TDR projects and activities where Garry is involved: