Columbia University's Global Health Research Center of Central Asia brings together multidisciplinary expertise from Columbia, Central Asia and the surrounding region to address a range of global health challenges: HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), hepatitis C, substance abuse, malnutrition, mental health and other threats to health. The Center is also committed to the promotion of health reform and improvement of access to care.

Partnerships with representatives from government, NGOs, the research community, and academic institutions are a key component of the Center and to the development of solutions and advancement of scientific capacity in the region. Such partnerships are well positioned to train researchers and develop culturally congruent, scientifically based solutions that are also practical. The Center employs science and research to improve the quality of life of people in Central Asia and the surrounding region.