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Job opportunity: Research Assistant [deadline 24 July 2017]

The GACD Secretariat are advertising a 12 month contract (part-time) to join the team as a Research Assistant to work on developing the GACD Hypertension End of Programme Report. The report will detail the experiences of various GACD stakeholders, results of the 15 hypertension studies funded through the GACD, additional relevant studies on hypertension in low- and middle-income countries, and the GACD contribution to the field of implementation science.

Publication date: 7 July 2017

GACD Welcomes New Zealand

New Zealand's Health Research Council has been welcomed as the Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases' fourteenth member, at the GACD's biannual board meeting at the Wellcome Trust in London.

Publication date: 7 June 2017

GACD Lung Diseases Research Programme Co-chairs 

Congratulations to Kamran Siddiqi (United Kingdom) and Muralidhar Kulkarni (India) on their election as Co-chairs of the GACD Lung Diseases Research Programme. 

Publication date: 10 April 2017

GACD welcomes new Chair for 2017

The Board of the Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases (GACD) has welcomed its new Chair, Professor Glenda Gray, CEO and President of the South African Medical Research Council. Professor Gray is succeeding Dr Alain Beaudet from the Canadian Institutes for Health Research, and will officially become GACD Chair on 1 April 2017.

Publication date: 31 March 2017

GACD mental health call open

The Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases (GACD) has opened its fourth research call. The alliance will be funding research into mental health. The call is ambitious in scale and size and will be supported by the majority of GACD member funding agencies. For the first time, many of them will be accepting applications through a common submissions portal, which will be a first for the GACD.

Publication date: 19 December 2016

Spotlight on Professor Nancy Edwards

The GACD’s Management Committee plays a critical role in developing the nuts and bolts of the Alliance’s output. The thirteen members from each agency across the globe meet monthly by teleconference and shape the output of our work. From humble beginnings in 2012 of just four members to its current group of thirteen strong, Nancy Edwards has played a critical role in its development. From volunteer nurse in Sierra Leone to Scientific Director of the Institutes of Public and Population Health at Canada’s Institutes for Health Research (CIHR), Nancy shares her personal reflections and influences in conversation with the GACD’s Rosie Bartlett.

Publication date: 14 December 2016

GACD Lung Diseases Programme Launch 2016


The Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases has announced its successful grantees, at a reception hosted by the Canadian Embassy in London. Members will be funding over thirteen international research projects in more than 30 countries, representing over USD 55 million of international funding.  

Publication date: 27 September 2016

Brazil joins the GACD

Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases welcomes Brazil as new member

Publication date: 24 August 2016

GACD: A look to the future

Five years on from its birth, the GACD has become an established organisation with an international reach and a global voice. As the GACD grows and matures, we sought the views of past, present and future Chairs, to reflect on what has been achieved to date, assess the challenges of the future, and give their vision for GACD’s long term direction.

Publication date: 22 August 2016

GACD welcomes Japan

The Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases welcomes Japan’s Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED) as its newest member.

Publication date: 29 June 2016

GACD to fund mental health research

The Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases (GACD) has announced today its intention to fund research into the prevention and management of mental disorders. The announcement was made at the World Bank Meeting “Out of the Shadows: Making Mental Health a Global Development Priority”.

Publication date: 14 April 2016

World Health Day 2016: beat diabetes

Today, 350 million people have diabetes. By 2036, this number will be more than 700 million. This disease, which occurs when there is either a deficiency of insulin or a resistance to insulin, is beginning to be seen at higher rates in children, and unequally impacts low- and middle-income countries. Today, diabetes is responsible for the death of more than 1.5 million people each year and, by 2030, diabetes will be the seventh leading cause of death, and more than 50% of individuals with the disease will die prematurely. This terrible disease requires life long treatment that is difficult for many individuals to obtain and thus leads to pain, suffering, and death the world over.Because of the widespread impact of diabetes, we at the GACD are thrilled that the WHO has chosen to make diabetes the focus of its World Health Day campaign this year, on 7 April. World Health Day is a yearly awareness campaign that focuses on a crucial area of global public health. This year, the WHO is campaigning to BEAT DIABETES, and wants to inform the global community of the costs affiliated with diabetes, including economic loss to individual families, and astronomical costs to national economies in lost productivity, health care, and benefits.

Publication date: 7 April 2016

GACD Programme Co-Chairs elected

Both the GACD Diabetes and Hypertension Programmes have recently elected new Co-Chairs, who will lead their respective programmes over the next few years and represent their peers in matters relating to the development of the GACD Research Network. Many congratulations to Rajesh, Praveen, Elsa and Meena!

Publication date: 11 March 2016

World Cancer Day: spreading awareness

Cancer is responsible for more than eight million annual deaths worldwide and for more than 161,000 deaths in the UK alone.  Even more startling, 14.1 million people are diagnosed with cancer each year, and recent studies suggest that almost half of all individuals born after 1960 will be diagnosed with some form of cancer during their lifetime. Such a high prevalence leads researchers to believe that cancer could someday be responsible for more than 47 trillion in economic costs worldwide—a sum equivalent to more than 75% of the world’s GDP.  

Publication date: 4 February 2016

Global symposium on health systems research, Vancouver, Canada

In spite of massive strides in global health, we live in a world that continues to face considerable challenges related to emerging and persisting epidemics, environmental degradation, economic recession and the threat to public values, armed conflict, and pernicious social inequalities. The era of one-size-fits-all solutions and disease control siloes has finally given way to a broader understanding of health as inseparable from social development, with a central and critical role for stronger, more resilient and responsive health systems.

Publication date: 13 January 2016

Argentina joins GACD as a new member

Argentina’s Ministry of Science, Technology and Productive Innovation has joined the Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases (GACD) as its newest member. 

Publication date: 6 January 2016

Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases welcomes new Chair and Chair Elect

The Board of the Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases (GACD) has welcomed its new Chair, Dr Alain Beaudet from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, who is succeeding Dr Xuetao Cao from the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. The Board also confirmed its new Chair Elect as Professor Glenda Gray from the South African Medical Research Council, who will take over the chairmanship in two years’ time. All three now constitute the alliance’s Executive Committee. Dr Cao highlighted that he is delighted to hand over the chairmanship of the GACD into very capable hands and thanked all members for their support in firmly establishing the GACD as an important player in the research funding landscape over the course of the last few years.

Publication date: 6 January 2016

Dialogue on strengthening internationalcooperation on NCDs

Under the umbrella of the Global Coordination Mechanism (GCM) on Noncommunicable Diseases participants from 90 countries came together in Geneva in early December to discuss how international cooperation can help countries achieve their targets with regard to NCD reduction. 

Publication date: 11 December 2015

NCDs on the international development agenda


How do you coordinate non-communicable diseases at a global level?  A recent meeting of the World Health Organization has been discussing this in Geneva, with representatives from the GACD present.

Publication date: 27 April 2015

Children could play a key role in changing family salt intake: China Edu-salt project results published 

The GACD's first published research project as part of its Hypertension programme has been published in the BMJ.  The study was funded by MRC-UK under the GACD's Hypertension programme.  The study, the first of its kind,  found that children in Chinese families can play a big role in reducing the amount of salt consumed at home, by influencing their grandparents and then their parents, in turn.  

Publication date: 19 March 2015

GACD Lancet comment

The news headlines are filled with mentions of infectious diseases — e.g., Ebola, influenza, malaria, and tuberculosis, but the reality is that the global burden of disease is shifting from infectious diseases to non-communicable diseases (NCDs). A 2014 report by WHO about NCDs in 194 countries stated that 85% of deaths from NCDs occur in low-income and middle-income countries, which suggests that substantial global collaborative action is necessary. The global political priority has shifted from infectious to non-infectious diseases, which is evident from the UN high-level meeting on NCDs in July, 2013. Yet funding for NCD research has not followed this trajectory.

Publication date: 9 February 2015

Innovating research in China

As the most populated country in the world, China carries an immense disease burden. Thanks to the rising life expectancy of its citizens, urbanisation and lifestyle changes, that have accompanied economic growth, the disease spectrum in China has expanded. The country is undergoing a massive overhaul of its national health care system, with universal care now available for more than 95% of the population. Now, such a sea-change is needed in China's biomedical research environment.

Publication date: 1 December 2014

Thailand becomes GACD’s latest member

The GACD has extended its membership to the ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) country of Thailand. At a recent signing ceremony in Bangkok (6 November), GACD chair elect & President of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), Dr Alain Beaudet welcomed the alliance’s new research partner.

Publication date: 26 November 2014

NIH supports GACD's diabetes call

 The United State's National Institutes of Health have announced their intention to fund the GACD's global diabetes research call.

Publication date: 30 October 2014

The debate on the ‘pre-diabetes’ label

Many countries around the world are experiencing what can be described as a diabetes ‘epidemic’, with around 347 million people worldwide suffering from type 2 diabetes.

Publication date: 28 July 2014

GACD Board meet in Shanghai to discuss proposals for next research call

The GACD have visited Shanghai, China to discuss the rapidly growing problem of non-communicable diseases. The Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences hosted the GACD’s 9 leaders of international funding agencies (US, Canada, South Africa, India, Mexico, UK, Australia, Canada, European Commission). 

Publication date: 9 July 2014

Download resources from our NCD Season events

UCL’s Grand Challenge of Global Health has been holding an in-depth season of seminars, talks, multi media and public engagement events to highlight the economic, social and branding effects of non communicable diseases.

Publication date: 9 July 2014

Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases welcomes Mexico

The Global Alliance for Chronic Disease welcomes Mexico The National Institute of Medical Sciences and Nutrition Salvador Zubirán have joined the GACD as board members. “We are delighted to welcome Mexico, our first Latin American partners to the GACD. Their involvement in joint funding activities and research will bring key strategic and localised knowledge to the table and enhance the diversity and outcomes of our global health research projects enormously. ”  Dr Xuetao Cao. Chair, GACD. 

Publication date: 7 May 2014

Reflections on a Global Alliance

In 2007 Professors Abdallah Daar and David Matthews co-authored a ground-breaking article in Nature Magazine. This article outlined the case for greater joint international funding to tackle the rising epidemic of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Since the story sewed the seed, the GACD was formed and has since launched its second joint international funding call into diabetes, with members to the organisation increasing year on year. In recognition of this early vision, Abdallah Daar and David Matthews got together by telephone, to discuss their personal reflections and hopes for the GACD and its future. 

Publication date: 24 March 2014

New GACD Chair announced

The Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases’ (GACD) Board members have been meeting at UCL (University College London). This year’s Board Meeting also encompassed the official handover of GACD chairmanship from Dr. Susan Shurin to Dr Cao, President of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. December 2013 marks the end of Dr Susan Shurin’s three year term as GACD Board Chair and with the New Year, the president of GACD member agency the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Dr Xuetao Cao will take up the reign.

Publication date: 18 December 2013

Fighting cultural perceptions to prevent NCDs – the CHIPs programme, Cape Town

On a steely storm filled Friday afternoon, an energetic dance troupe from the Tshinga Township Primary School welcomed the GACD to the Sports Science Institute of South Africa. The children are all part of a programme called Healthnutz, which uses a high-energy traditional dance choreographed by the school’s physical education teacher to introduce fitness at an early level. The programme is being run in a number of primary schools in the Cape Town area.

Publication date: 2 December 2013

Smart blood pressure testing for hypertension control in Cape Town, South Africa

As part of the GACD ‘s Annual JTSC Meeting on 13 – 15 November 2013 in Cape Town, South Africa, the members of the Hypertension Programme took part in a unique site visit to the Vanguard Community Health Centre. The centre provides healthcare services to the Bonteheuwel and Langa's mainly black African and coloured residents including HIV testing, and the care and monitoring of hypertensive and diabetic patients.

Publication date: 2 December 2013

2nd Annual Meeting: capitalising on the GACD potential one year on

This year marked the 2nd Annual Joint Technical Steering Committee (JTSC) Meeting for the GACD (Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases). The meeting, hosted by GACD member agency, the South African Medical Research Council, provided an opportunity for the 15 research teams that make up the Hypertension Programme to further explore collaborative links, review and assess the activities of the Working Groups and to develop a deeper understanding of policymaker engagement and implementation sciences. 

Publication date: 2 December 2013

Diabetes learning from hypertension

Fifteen investigator teams from Rwanda to Fiji are meeting in Cape Town (13-15 November) to learn lessons from their respective studies based across all four continents. The teams are funded by the Global Alliance for Chronic diseases, (GACD) an alliance of 8 of the world’s largest public health research funders. Hosted by the South African Medical Research Council, the groups are sharing experiences on working in developing settings on Hypertension research projects, including Mhealth, behaviour change and salt reduction.

Publication date: 21 November 2013

Why are GACD Member Agencies going to fund diabetes research?

On 30 August 2013 the GACD launched a call for diabetes research proposals. In these videos GACD Board Members Dr Xuetao Cao, President of the Chineses Academy of Medical Sciences, and Dr Susan Shurin, Deputy Director of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, talk about the decision for GACD member agencies to fund research into the prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes.

Publication date: 30 August 2013

GACD Beijing round table

Members of the Global Alliance for Chronic diseases from India to China have been meeting in Beijing to frame the agenda for the next GACD joint research call into type 2 diabetes.

Publication date: 31 July 2013

GACD on Capitol Hill

Global critical mass needed to fight Chronic Disease

Publication date: 26 June 2013

The link between mental health and NCDs

The burden of mental illness has been underestimated, in part, because the links between mental health and other health conditions are not well understood. As the population grows and ages, more individuals live longer with physical NCDs (non-communicable diseases such as cardio vascular, diabetes, lifestyle related cancers, diabetes) and mental illness. These chronic conditions are related in complex ways. Major modifiable risk factors for NCD, such as poor diet, physical inactivity, tobacco use, and harmful alcohol use, are exacerbated by poor mental health. Mental illness is a risk factor for NCDs; its presence increases the chance that an individual will also suffer from one or more chronic illnesses. In addition, individuals with mental health conditions are less likely to seek help for NCDs and symptoms may affect adherence to treatment as well as prognosis

Publication date: 5 June 2013

Non-communicable diseases high on the 2013 World Health Assembly (WHA) agenda

The WHA is the world’s primal decision making body on global health that convenes every year in Geneva, Switzerland. Last year we saw the following highlights:Delegates from a total of 194 World Health Organisation (WHO) member states will meet this month for the 66th time on 20-28 May 2013. This year will see delegates review the draft action plan for the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases, assess the progression of the Millennium development goals (MDGs) and address counterfeit medicines amongst other items.

Publication date: 20 May 2013

Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases annual report 2012 released 

The Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases (GACD) in partnership with our member agencies published our first Annual Report.  Learn about the research projects that make up the worldwide GACD Hypertension Programme in the featured interactive map and how, the Programme strives to improve health whilst reducing health disparities in developing countries.

Publication date: 9 April 2013

Reverse innovation- rich learning from poor?

The developed world should learn from success stories in developing countries. That's according to a recent report in Globalisation and Health magazine.The series highlights key projects from Colombia to Ghana where innovative health development could change the way high income countries carry out their Global Health projects.  

Publication date: 5 February 2013

GACD intent to fund type 2 diabetes research

At a recent board meeting (4-5 December 2012) the GACD (Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases) announced its intention to fund research projects for the second round of studies under the GACD.

Publication date: 9 January 2013

NCDs are the largest global burden of diseases

The Lancet has published the largest ever study of the global burden of diseases. The publication's original report in the mid 1990s acted as a manifest for global health.

Publication date: 20 December 2012

GACD Debate at Parliament: NCDs Whose Problem is it?

The GACD (Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases), the APPG-GH (All Party Parliamentary Group on Global Health), UCL's Institute of Global Health and UCL Grand Challenges present a question time debate.

Publication date: 5 November 2012

Socioeconomic inequalities in the prevalence of risk factors in low- and middle-income countries

A new study in the BMC Public Health explores the prevalence of certain disease risk factors among socioeconomic groups in fifty low- and middle-income countries. Daily smoking, low fruit and vegetable consumption, physical inactivity, and heavy episodic alcohol drinking are compared across varying wealth and education levels in order to characterise patterns of NCD risk factor distribution. The study concludes that poverty reduction and education-based campaigns will help to improve conditions that enable better health outcomes and that health promotion efforts should target the population groups with the highest risks. 

Publication date: 30 October 2012

The challenge of agenda setting in global health research

In a recent paper in PLOS Medicine, Dr Devi Sridhar from the University of Oxford argues that since the priorities of funding bodies largely dictate what health issues and diseases are studied, a major challenge in the governance of global health research funding is agenda-setting, and this in turn is a consequence of a larger phenomenon called “multi-bi financing”. He points to the emergence of new multistakeholder initiatives that include non-state actors and that will have a major influence on funding decisions.

Publication date: 23 October 2012

Obesity and under-nutrition prevalent in long-term refugees

A study published in the journal PLOS Medicine on 2 October 2012 highlights the 'double burden' of malnutrition - under-nutrition and obesity - among Western Sahara (Sahrawi) refugees living in a prolonged emergency situation, who rely mostly on humanitarian food assistance for survival.

Publication date: 5 October 2012

Learning from AIDS: Responding to non-communicable diseases

Former Executive Director of UNAIDS, Peter Piot, has published an article in the Huffington Post about the need to find appropriate responses to the 'time bomb' of non-communicable diseases. He argues that much can be learned from AIDS that can help leaders design effective and sustainable responses to NCDs. For example, health systems that have been set up to deal with HIV/AIDS care and treatment could be strengthened to help address the growing problem of chronic diseases in developing countries. 

Publication date: 2 October 2012

Chronic kidney disease is a strong risk even without the presence of hypertension or diabetes

Two new studies from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the Chronic Kidney Disease Prognosis Consortium have found that chronic kidney disease is a strong risk factor for premature death in itself and not only in combination with other risk factors such as hypertension or diabetes. Chronic kidney disease affects 10 to 16 percent of all adults in Asia, Europe, Australia and the United States. Understanding the disease and its linkages with other chronic diseases is therefore crucial. 

Publication date: 2 October 2012

Double burden of noncommunicable and infectious diseases in developing countries

Science Magazine has published an article on the often neglected link between chronic diseases and infectious diseases in developing countries. The author argues that on top of the unfinished agenda of infectious diseases in low- and middle-income countries, development, industrialisation, urbanisation, investment, and ageing are drivers of an epidemic of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). Malnutrition and infection in early life increase the risk of chronic NCDs in later life, and in adult life, combinations of major NCDs and infections, such as diabetes and tuberculosis, can interact adversely. Because intervention against either health problem will affect the other, intervening jointly against noncommunicable and infectious diseases, rather than competing for limited funds, is an important policy consideration requiring new thinking and approaches.

Publication date: 1 October 2012

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