PROJECT SUMMARY
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) represent an unprecedented global crisis
where cardiovascular diseases, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes are
now responsible for 70% of all deaths, not only in developed countries, but also
worldwide. Seventy five percent of all NCD related deaths and 82% of premature NCD-
related deaths, occur in low-middle income countries (LMIC) where the economic costs
of this epidemiological transition are catastrophic. High quality, region specific data
regarding NCDs and their management are scarce and most densely populated LMICs,
like Pakistan, are not equipped to prevent or manage this epidemic. A critical gap in the
response of low-middle income countries to the global non-communicable disease
epidemic is the paucity of trained researchers who can contribute to the understanding
of prevalence and risk factors, and development and testing of safe, effective, low-cost
diagnostic and care pathways.
In order to achieve the goal of Universal Health Coverage (UHC), there is an
urgent need for a range of health care professionals engaging in high quality research in
the NCD space, as emphasized in two of six objectives of the WHO NCD action plan
2013-2020: 1) To promote and support national capacity for high quality research and
development for the prevention and control of NCDs, and 2) To monitor the trends and
determinants of NCDs and evaluate progress in their prevention and control. To build
capacity in this area, a comprehensive, integrated, locally relevant, research training
program targeting multiple priority NCDs, is urgently needed.
The overarching goal of this planning grant is to develop a robust
multidisciplinary research-training program targeting NCDs by leveraging Aga Khan
University's (AKU) extensive development network platform and infrastructure at its
flagship site in Pakistan. The specific objectives of this proposal are to: (1)
Systematically assess capacity “assets” and “needs” for NCD research at AKU, (2)
Organize a planning committee to develop an NCD research training program, (3)
Curate a pool of potential trainees for the eventual NCD research-training pathway, and,
(4) Prepare a robust NCD research training D43 grant application based on needs
identified at the Aga Khan University.
!