USC Institute on Inequalities in Global Health

What USC Institute on Inequalities in Global Health does

The USC Institute on Inequalities in Global Health (IIGH) is a non-profit academic research and policy institute embedded within the University of Southern California's Keck School of Medicine. Founded in 2009 and operating with approximately 22 employees from its base in Los Angeles, California, IIGH focuses on addressing structural health inequities globally through research, training, advocacy, and convening. Its stated priority areas are sexual and reproductive health rights, climate and sustainability, and healthy longevity.

IIGH's core products and programs include the Breman Fellowship, the Sexual Rights for Social Change Academy, a Youth Ambassador Program, a Student Advisory Council, a Case Competition, and a Global Health Symposium. Its outputs are scholarly publications, policy briefs, training cohorts, and convening events rather than commercial software or technology products. The institute maintains partnerships with multilateral agencies including WHO, UNDP, and UNAIDS, as well as academic networks such as APRU and CUGH, and a notable multi-year corporate partnership with Reckitt (Durex) launched in 2023.

IIGH's business model is that of an academic non-profit: funding is derived from research grants, institutional support from USC, corporate sponsorships, and philanthropic donations. It does not sell products or charge tuition-equivalent fees at scale; the Breman Fellowship distributes small grants up to approximately $6,000. Revenue predictability depends on continued USC backing and renewal of a limited number of large external sponsors, making the institute structurally dependent on a small number of institutional relationships.

Name

USC Institute on Inequalities in Global Health

Legal name

USC Institute on Inequalities in Global Health

Website

https://globalhealth.usc.edu

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The USC Institute on Inequalities in Global Health is a non-profit academic institute within USC's Keck School of Medicine that conducts research, training, and advocacy on global health inequities, focusing on sexual/reproductive health rights, climate, and healthy longevity, funded primarily through grants, corporate partnerships, and institutional support.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Global Health Research and Education Institute

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (541720), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Global Health Institutes & Programs (EDAHAGAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Social Sciences & Public Policy Research Universities (EDAHABAD), Public Health & Health Equity Organizations (BPAGACAL), Health Equity, SDOH & Disparities Measurement (HLAJANAJ), Health Systems Strengthening & Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Partnerships (HLAJAOAL)

Keywords

• Global health research
• Public health education
• Health policy advocacy
• Sexual reproductive health
• Academic research institute

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Research Grants and Contracts: IIGH operates as an academic institute within USC, funded through research grants, institutional partnerships, and donor contributions. The institute collaborates with faculty across USC schools and partners globally to conduct research and policy engagement.
2. Fellowship Funding: The Breman Global Health Immersion Fellowship provides individual grants up to $6,000 to support student research in low- and middle-income countries, funded through a generous donation from the Breman family.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

USC IIGH is an academic research institute within the University of Southern California's Keck School of Medicine that conducts interdisciplinary research on global health inequalities, delivers degree programs, fellowships, and trainings to develop the next generation of global health leaders, and engages in policy advocacy with civil society, government, and UN partners. Its work is organized around three strategic focus areas (sexuality/sexual and reproductive health and rights, climate and sustainability, and healthy longevity) and operates across three pillars: research, education, and policy engagement.

Product overview

The USC Institute on Inequalities in Global Health (IIGH) is an academic institute offering a portfolio of interconnected programs rather than a unified software product. Core offerings include educational programs (degrees, courses, fellowships like the Breman Global Health Immersion Fellowship, Sexual Rights for Social Change Academy, and Youth Ambassador Program), research projects and publications, policy engagement initiatives, and the flagship Durex Global Initiative on Young People's Sexual Rights and Health. These programs integrate across three pillars—research, education, and policy—addressing focus areas of sexuality/sexual and reproductive health, climate and sustainability, and healthy longevity, guided by principles of local and global engagement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Global Initiative on Young People's Sexual Rights and Health: A partnership between USC IIGH and Reckitt's Durex brand focused on advancing sexual health and rights for young people globally
• Sexual Rights for Social Change Academy
• Breman Global Health Immersion Fellowship
• USC Africa Hub
• USC Global Health Case Competition

Products and services

• Breman Global Health Immersion Fellowship

Quantifiable outcome

• Hundreds of students trained annually through various programs including fellowships, case competitions, and the Student Advisory Council
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and secondary.

• Reckitt (Durex)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Landmark partnership between USC IIGH and Reckitt's global brand Durex launched in early 2023. The Global Initiative on Young People's Sexual Rights and Health operates to protect, advance, and champion sexual health and rights. IIGH brings its trifold approach integrating research, education, and policy engagement to address global health challenges with young people at the center.
• Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIIGH partners with APRU Global Health Program's Working Group on Aging. Collaboration includes events such as 'Aging on the Urban Margins' webinar exploring urban design, public policy, and social space for healthy longevity among marginalized populations.
• University of São Paulo (USP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIIGH works closely with USP's Youth Ambassador program modeled after the US program. Youth Ambassadors from USP and USC interact throughout the year, with ambition to grow towards a multi-country, multi-lingual cohort of young sexual health advocates globally.
• USC Annenberg Center on Communication Leadership and PolicycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-host the Africa-U.S. Global Health Communication Leadership Initiative, hosting Senior Fellows from Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, and South Africa. The initiative advances understanding of how locally-grounded journalism and strategic communication efforts can advance health equity and justice.
• UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine Global Health ProgramsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerIIGH co-sponsors the annual Los Angeles Global Health Conference with UCLA. Conference brings together professionals from both institutions and the broader LA global health community.
• World Health Organization (WHO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIIGH engages with WHO through participation in World Health Assembly, Geneva meetings, and policy engagement activities. Students on PM 589 course attend WHA and engage with WHO officials.
• United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIIGH Director Sofia Gruskin collaborates with UNDP, including on the evaluation of the Global Commission on HIV and the Law. UNDP Hub on LGBTI+ and Key Populations led by IIGH external affiliate Jeffrey O'Malley.
• Kenya Legal & Ethical Issues Network on HIV and AIDS (KELIN)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth Ambassadors collaborated with KELIN to create issue briefs covering new health legislation in Kenya, supporting community understanding of laws and policies affecting health.
• The Lancet - World Health Summit Academic AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIIGH Director Sofia Gruskin participated in the kickoff meeting of The Lancet-World Health Summit Academic Alliance Commission on Academic Responsibility in Dubai.
• Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health (PMNCH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIIGH engages with PMNCH including participation in Accountability Breakfast and joint events. Youth Ambassadors track presence of sexual rights and health topics in PMNCH processes.
• UNAIDScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIIGH partnered with UNAIDS Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean to host virtual events on ending inequalities and AIDS prevention.
• Amref Health AfricasecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerIIGH Research Director Laura Ferguson participated in Amref's Africa Health Agenda International Conference in Kigali, Rwanda, and AI for Health webinar series.
• Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters (SRHM)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerIIGH external affiliate Eszter Kismödi is Chief Executive of SRHM. Collaboration includes reception hosting and journal activities.
• Consortium of Universities for Global Health (CUGH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIIGH served as co-host of CUGH's 15th annual conference in March 2024. Directors regularly participate in CUGH conferences and panels.
• Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Applied Studies (IDEAS) InitiativesecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerIIGH co-hosts virtual seminars with IDEAS Initiative featuring expert speakers on topics such as TB prevention and global health conversations.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• Amref Health Africa: Africa-based global health NGO that IIGH Research Director Laura Ferguson has partnered with on conferences and webinars — peer in the global health community but with a regional/operational orientation rather than an academic-institute model.

Direct peers

• Stanford Center for Innovation in Global Health: Stanford-based global health center that integrates research, education, and policy with strong partnerships in global health innovation — comparable in function and university-embedded model.
• Duke Global Health Institute: University-based global health institute conducting interdisciplinary research, training students, and engaging in policy across multiple global health priorities — closely comparable academic structure and three-pillar model.
• Emory Global Health Institute: University institute within Emory focused on global health research, training, and partnerships; co-hosts the global health case competition that USC IIGH's winning teams advance to — comparable scale and academic institute model.
• Georgetown Center for Global Health Science and Security: Academic center at Georgetown that conducts global health research, policy engagement, and training on health security and equity — analogous in academic-institute structure and policy focus.
• Harvard FXB Center for Health and Human Rights: Academic center within Harvard that integrates public health, human rights, and policy advocacy to address health inequalities globally — directly comparable in mission, interdisciplinary approach, and global health equity focus to USC IIGH.
• Johns Hopkins Center for Human Rights and Health: Academic center applying human rights frameworks to public health research, education, and policy at a major U.S. research university — analogous model and mission to USC IIGH.

Broad incumbents

• London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM): Major global academic institution focused on public and global health research and postgraduate training worldwide — comparable thematic focus and educational mission at a much larger scale.
• Columbia Mailman School of Public Health: Major public health school at Columbia with global health programs, policy engagement, and research, including on health equity and human rights — comparable educational mission and broader institutional scope.
• University of Washington Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME): Much larger global health research institute at a U.S. university producing widely cited health metrics and policy data — comparable domain but significantly greater scale and a predominantly data-driven operating model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCiN-NoWqpzFFLf7zEl8vMyA
• Instagraminstagram.com/uscglobalhealth
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/usc-institute-for-global-health

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about USC Institute on Inequalities in Global Health