This paper analyzes the development of biotechnology clusters in North Carolina (NC) and Israel. In both NC and Israel, when the biotechnology was identified as a potential strategic priority, the framework conditions (i.e. the stage of development of the sector globally, and the relative strength and potential of the local sector) were optimal for successful policy-targeting. NC presents a cas...

Introduction The importance of evidence-informed health policy making is widely recognised and frameworks exist to help understand the roles of different types of evidence [1,2]. However, there is limited application of these frameworks in empirical studies, particularly to inform learning and improve evidence-informed health policy development in LMICs. The objective of this presentation is to...

BACKGROUND Previous evaluation showed insufficient use of a national guideline for integrated local health policy by Regional Health Services (RHS) in the Netherlands. The guideline focuses on five health topics and includes five checklists to support integrated municipal health policies. This study explores the determinants of guideline use by regional Dutch health professionals. METHODS A w...

OBJECTIVE Responding to an initiative advanced by the National Economic and Social Policy Council (CONPES, 3344/2005), this article presents the results of a research project concerned with environmental health in Colombian cities emphasising air pollution. METHOD The project was carried out between 2008 and 2009 for the Colombian Ministry of the Environment, Housing and Territorial Developme...

BACKGROUND The regulation of human cloning continues to be a significant national and international policy issue. Despite years of intense academic and public debate, there is little clarity as to the philosophical foundations for many of the emerging policy choices. The notion of "human dignity" is commonly used to justify cloning laws. The basis for this justification is that reproductive hum...