All WHO Collaborating Centers in the Region of the Americas are known as PAHO/WHO Collaborating Centers.
A WHO Collaborating Center is part of an inter-institutional collaborative network of centers established to provide technical cooperation by supporting the respective WHO Programs at the national, regional, and global levels. Such a Center is a department or laboratory within an academic or research institution which cooperates with a specified Technical Program(s) according to mutually agreed upon terms of reference. This agreement is usually for a period of four-years. Consideration for renewal is made after submission of annual reports outlining the mutual activities achieved and upon approval by the Regional and Global Program Officers of a proposed plan of work for an additional four years.
WHO Collaborating Centers form interactive networks corresponding to the various WHO Programs, for implementing research policies and strategies aimed at achieving "Health for All".