The Global network project, funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) of USA in early 2000s forged a collaborative partnership between renowned physicians and public health researchers from various academic institutions of the United States of America and their eminent counterparts in India. It allowed clinicians, basic scientists, field workers and collaborating sites to conduct large-scale surveillance of neonatal infections and engage in cutting-edge research to prevent infections, the biggest killer of neonates in India. During this period, many astute minds felt the need for a public health institution in the region for addressing the gap in the availability of appropriately trained public health professionals. Thus Asian Institute of Public Health (AIPH) came into being in 2008 expanding its contribution to a larger audience in the rest of country and in the neighboring Asian countries sharing population health problems of similar nature and magnitude.