Published in News
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.
Dr Cao will begin his chairmanship at a pivotal time for the GACD, 2014 will see the launch of the second research programme on diabetes and the expansion of the Joint Technical Steering Committee (a network of researchers that enhance the cumulative learning across the individual projects and work towards understanding how research findings can be adapted and applied in different settings and scenarios).
“I am honoured to succeed Dr Susan Shurin as GACD Board Chair. We are very grateful to her dedication and leadership and looking forward to working with GACD board members, staff and funding agencies to further advance the exciting research initiatives and to make significant contributions to the global control of Chronic Diseases.” Dr Xuetao Cao, GACD Chair, President of the Chinese Academy for Medical Sciences.
During the meeting, Board members also discussed the research priorities for the GACD and the launch of future research programmes. Potential research issues of interest mentioned included pulmonary diseases and mental health.
After a voting process, the GACD’s eight funding agency Board members elected Dr Alain Beaudet (President of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research) as the GACD’s new Chair Elect.
“Many thanks to Dr Alain Beaudet for his willingness to serve, and for expressing clear and inspiring visions for the directions of theGACD. TheGACDwill benefit from the ideas he has brought forward.’’ – Dr Susan Shurin, PastGACDChair, Deputy Director, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
“I am honoured to have been chosen Chair Elect for the GACD. This organization has developed considerably under Susan Shurin’s capable leadership and I look forward to working with her and professor Cao in the coming year to help move GACD’s agenda forward. One of my first priorities remains reaching out to other countries, specifically low- and middle-income countries allowing the GACD to increase support for the global research capacity needed for the successful implementation of our collective vision.” Dr Alain Beaudet, Chair Elect, President of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Dr Alain Beaudet will take up the GACD chairmanship in 2015.