A partnership between COHRED, WHO Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office and the Gulf Cooperation Council, was started in 2005 to strengthen the capacities of health research systems in the Eastern Mediterranean region. To inform these efforts a National Health Research System (NHRS) Mapping study was done with partners from ten countries in the region. The study identified gaps in NHRS governance and management in a number of participating countries. The results will be published in the Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal in May 2008.