What is the PRA?
The Policy Research Accelerator (PRA) is an initiative of the JHIPH Policy Program, established to translate Planetary Health research across Johns Hopkins to influence and impact policy, from the local to the global.
From climate change to biodiversity loss to pollution, Planetary Health challenges demand not only rigorous science but clear actionable policy responses. Yet the pathway from research to policy remains fragmented. Researchers may lack visibility or pathways into policy processes, while policymakers seek the most relevant and up to date evidence on crucial issues.
The PRA aims to bridge this divide. Operating as a research-to-policy accelerator, the PRA facilitates the translation of Planetary Health research into policy across scales. It serves as a visible entry point for JHU researchers seeking policy engagement and a hub for interdisciplinary collaboration.
Our Goal
From laboratory to legislation, bridging Planetary Health research and real-world policy impact across Johns Hopkins, the nation, and the globe.
Active Workstreams
The PRA currently operates through two integrated workstreams, each designed to accelerate the impact of Planetary Health research at different stages of the research-to-policy pipeline.
Showcasing Planetary Health Policy Impact
Case Study Database and Submission
The PRA is developing a curated, searchable database of Planetary Health policy case studies — documenting how law, governance, and policy approaches address Planetary Health issues and examples of how research has been translated into impact across sectors. Case studies serve as learning tools, models, and a platform to showcase successes for researchers, students, advocates, and policymakers.
Facilitating Policy Impact Opportunities
Newsletter
Subscribe to Policy Program updates and receive a curated newsletter that connects the Planetary Health community through policy news, research publications, events, funding opportunities, and other resources relevant to Planetary Health policy and practice.
Consultations
Through the PRA, the JHIPH Policy Program team seeks to connect Johns Hopkins subject-matter experts with opportunities to contribute their expertise to policy processes, consultations, and decision-making initiatives. The team helps JHIPH affiliates and JHU researchers identify policy opportunities for their work, translate findings into policy briefs, or explore how to embed policy components into future research proposals.
- For example:
- November 2025: Alexandra Phelan from BSPH/EHE participated in expert consultations with Astrid Puentes Riaño, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, to inform development of her Report to Human Rights Council on Clean Air (2026): https://docs.un.org/en/A/HRC/61/47
Interested researchers should:
- Sign up for the policy newsletter to track broad opportunities disseminated there
- Become a JHIPH affiliate, if not already, indicating your areas of specific expertise when you join, so that the PRA team is aware of your research for more targeted engagement on relevant topics
- Attend PRA open-house sessions to talk with the team about opportunities for policy translation, support for embedding policy components in research proposals, and more (coming soon)
Share your research-to-policy story
The PRA is actively seeking case study submissions from JHU researchers, JHIPH affiliates, Planetary Health Alliance partners, and collaborators. If your work has shaped or has the potential to shape policy at any scale, we want to hear from you.
Interested in learning more?
For more information about the PRA or for any other questions, please contact Maria Esposito.