Background
The World Health Organization (WHO) is seeking experts to contribute to the development of the WHO Guideline on the prevention, diagnosis and management of delirium in older adults, including medication safety and deprescribing.
Delirium is a common, serious, and often preventable condition among older adults, associated with increased morbidity, mortality, functional decline, and health-care costs. Despite its clinical importance, delirium remains under-recognized, underdiagnosed, and suboptimally managed across settings, including acute care, intensive care, long-term care, and community settings.
Medication-related factors, including polypharmacy and inappropriate prescribing, are major contributors to delirium risk. Delirium may also be precipitated by infections, dehydration, environmental stressors such as extreme heat, and other acute physiological disturbances, highlighting the need for an integrated, person-centred approach that includes prevention, timely diagnosis, appropriate management, and safe deprescribing practices.
To support Member States, health system planners, and health-care providers, WHO is developing an evidence-based guideline in accordance with the WHO standard guideline development procedures.
As part of this process, WHO is establishing:
- a Guideline Development Group (GDG); and
- an External Review Group (ERG)
to support the development of this guideline.
Role of the Guideline Development Group (GDG)
The GDG will serve as the primary expert body responsible for developing the recommendations. In their individual expert capacity, GDG members will:
- advise on the scope and key questions (PICO questions);
- contribute to prioritization of outcomes;
- review and interpret systematic review evidence;
- formulate recommendations using WHO GRADE and Evidence-to-Decision (EtD) frameworks;
- advise on implementation considerations, including feasibility, equity, acceptability, and resource implications;
- review and contribute to drafting of the guideline document;
- participate in technical meetings (virtual and/or in person);
- contribute to the finalization of the guideline.
Role of the External Review Group (ERG)
Members of the ERG will:
- review draft guideline documents;
- provide technical and methodological feedback;
- ensure clarity, completeness, and relevance of recommendations;
- comment on feasibility and applicability across different settings.
Time commitment
Participation requirements will vary depending on the role:
- GDG members are expected to participate in approximately 2-3 virtual meetings and up to one in-person meeting, in addition to reviewing evidence summaries and draft documents throughout the process.
- ERG members will primarily contribute through document review at key stages, with an estimated 2–3 review rounds and limited virtual interaction as needed.
Overall, ERG participation is expected to be less time-intensive than GDG membership.
Who can express interest?
WHO is seeking a multidisciplinary and geographically diverse pool of experts, ensuring representation across all WHO regions and gender balance.
Approximately:
- 15-20 experts will be selected for the GDG, and
- an additional group will be selected for the ERG.
Eligible profiles include experts with demonstrated experience in one or more of the following areas:
- geriatrics and gerontology;
- delirium (clinical care, research, or implementation);
- neurology, psychiatry, internal medicine, critical care;
- nursing and allied health professions involved in the care of older adults;
- pharmacology, clinical pharmacology, medication safety;
- polypharmacy and deprescribing;
- primary health care and integrated care for older people;
- long-term care and community-based services;
- health systems, service delivery, and policy;
- guideline development and evidence synthesis (e.g. GRADE methodology);
- patient safety and quality of care.
Experience in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is highly desirable.
WHO also welcomes applications from experts with experience in implementation, programme management, and health policy relevant to older populations.
Submitting your expression of interest
To apply, please submit a complete application package by
26 July 2026, 23:59 (UTC+2) to: mncah@who.int
Subject line: Expression of interest – WHO Delirium Guideline (GDG/ERG)
Required documents:
- Cover letter
- Indicating motivation and relevant expertise
- Specifying whether you are applying for GDG, ERG, or both
- Note: participation is in a personal capacity (no institutional letterhead)
- Curriculum vitae (CV)
- Completed WHO Declaration of Interest (DOI) form
- Must be printed, signed, and scanned (electronic signatures not accepted)
Selection process and important information
All experts will serve in their individual capacity, not as representatives of any organization.
Selection will be based on:
- technical expertise and relevance to the topic;
- experience in research, clinical care, or policy work;
- knowledge of guideline development methodologies (for GDG);
- communication skills in English;
- ability to work collaboratively in an international, multidisciplinary context.
WHO will also consider:
- geographic diversity (with particular attention to LMICs);
- gender balance;
- diversity of professional backgrounds and perspectives.
Applicants must be free of real, potential, or perceived conflicts of interest. Completion of the WHO DOI form is mandatory, and any identified conflicts will be assessed and managed in accordance with WHO procedures.
Shortlisted candidates may be contacted for interviews. Due to the high volume of applications, only shortlisted candidates will be notified.
Conditions of appointment
- participation is not remunerated;
- experts will be required to sign a confidentiality undertaking;
- experts must comply with the WHO Code of Conduct for Experts, which outlines expectations regarding integrity, independence, and professional conduct;
- the guideline development process is expected to run from mid-2026 to approximately the end of 2027, with varying levels of engagement depending on role (GDG vs ERG).
WHO reserves the right to accept or reject any expression of interest, to annul the open call process and reject all expressions of interest at any time without incurring any liability to the affected applicant or applicants and without any obligation to inform the affected applicant or applicants of the grounds for WHO's action. WHO may also decide, at any time, not to proceed with the establishment of the groups, or disband an existing group. WHO shall not in any way be obliged to reveal, or discuss with any applicant, how an expression of interest was assessed, or to provide any other information relating to the evaluation/selection process or to state the reasons for not choosing a Member.
Contact
For questions regarding this call, please contact Matteo Cesari: mcesari@who.int