Special Topic Issue: Gynecologic and Obstetric Investigation 2012, Vol. 74, No. 3 This volume is a must read' resource on 40 years of research to develop and guide interventions for improving sexual and reproductive health by HRP, the Special Programme for Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction hosted by WHO and co-sponsored by UNDP, UNFPA, WHO and The World Bank. Insights are provided on how HRP was established to conduct research to address evolving needs in human reproduction. Over the years, HRP has been a global leader in the generation and synthesis of evidence on new methodologies in the field. It contributed to defining the concept of reproductive health and assists countries in their efforts to attain the Millennium Development Goals and targets, especially that for achieving universal access to reproductive health. This special issue provides a chronicle of its achievements and includes significant references on its pioneering work. Tracing the history of HRP through informative articles, this work will provide valuable reading for all those interested in the areas of family planning, obstetrics, fertility, gynecology, AIDS research, andrology and epidemiology.