The Applied Health Economics and Development (AHEAD) Lab at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee invites researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and scholars to participate in the AHEAD'26 Annual International Conference, to be held from 14–16 December 2026 at IIT Roorkee, India. The conference theme, "Health, Technology, and Development in Uncertain Times: Building Agency, Resilience, and Equitable Futures", aims to explore innovative approaches to strengthening health systems in an increasingly complex and rapidly evolving world.
Health systems across the globe continue to face unprecedented challenges, including climate-induced health risks, persistent inequalities, emerging public health threats, and the opportunities and challenges associated with digital transformation. Addressing these issues requires interdisciplinary collaboration that integrates health economics, technology, policy, and development practice to build resilient, inclusive, and sustainable healthcare systems for diverse populations.
The conference welcomes high-quality contributions including empirical research, systematic reviews, health technology assessments, economic evaluations, program and policy evaluations, and methodological innovations. Special emphasis is placed on research that advances equitable healthcare access, resilient health systems, digital health innovations, climate-responsive healthcare strategies, sustainable financing mechanisms, and community-driven solutions. We particularly encourage submissions from low- and middle-income countries, interdisciplinary research teams, and early-career researchers. Outstanding papers will be recognized through conference awards, with selected contributions considered for publication in partner journals.
