Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases (GACD)
The Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases is an international alliance that supports implementation research to address the growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) globally, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. The consortium brings together major health research funding agencies to support collaborative research focused on prevention, management, and health system strengthening for chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, and mental health conditions. GACD-funded projects emphasize implementation science, equity, and sustainable interventions that can improve health outcomes across diverse settings. (Ongoing consortium)
Website: Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases (GACD)
EMPOWER
The EMPOWER project focuses on strengthening community engagement, health promotion, and empowerment approaches to improve health outcomes and reduce the burden of chronic diseases. The project brings together multidisciplinary partners to co-create innovative strategies that support healthier lifestyles, community participation, and equitable healthcare delivery. The initiative is supported by researchers including Clémence Bafei from the Luxembourg Institute of Health and Louise-Amélie Hantzsche from the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute.
HIVE
The HIVE project aims to foster innovation, collaboration, and community-driven approaches to address public health and social challenges. The project supports knowledge exchange and the development of innovative interventions that strengthen resilience, entrepreneurship, and sustainable health initiatives within communities. The initiative includes contributions from Annita Poupazi of the Institute of Entrepreneurship Development.
PEN-CONNECT
The PEN-CONNECT project focuses on strengthening integrated care for non-communicable diseases through the implementation and adaptation of the WHO Package of Essential Noncommunicable Disease Interventions (WHO PEN). The project aims to improve continuity of care, enhance collaboration between healthcare providers, and strengthen primary healthcare systems for better NCD prevention and management. The initiative includes contributions from Kerstin
MULTIPULM
The MULTIPULM project focuses on improving the management of patients with multimorbidity through innovative digital health solutions and integrated healthcare approaches. The project seeks to support healthcare systems in delivering coordinated and patient-centred care, particularly for individuals living with multiple chronic conditions. The initiative includes contributions from Konstantinos Vaianos of Uni Systems.
Stop NCD
STOP-NCD is a five-year NIHR Global Health Research Centre, which aims to improve health and wellbeing of populations in West Africa, through comprehensive and sustainable capacity strengthening for high-quality applied NCD research. The aim is to improve health and wellbeing of populations in West Africa by developing capacity for high-quality research to inform improved prevention, diagnosis and treatment of inter-connected NCDs (hypertension, diabetes and co-existing stress, anxiety and depression). (Currently ongoing)
Website: https://www.lshtm.ac.uk/research/centres-projects-groups/stop-ncd
The Human Heredity and Health in Africa (H3Africa) Consortium
H3Africa empowers African researchers to be competitive in genomic sciences, establishes and nurtures effective collaborations among African researchers on the African continent, and generates unique data that could be used to improve both African and global health.
There is currently a global effort to apply genomic science and associated technologies to further the understanding of health and disease in diverse populations. These efforts work to identify individuals and populations who are at risk for developing specific diseases, and to better understand underlying genetic and environmental contributions to that risk. Given the large amount of genetic diversity on the African continent, there exists an enormous opportunity to utilize such approaches to benefit African populations and to inform global health.
The Human Heredity and Health in Africa (H3Africa) consortium facilitates fundamental research into diseases on the African continent while also developing infrastructure, resources, training, and ethical guidelines to support a sustainable African research enterprise – led by African scientists, for the African people. The initiative consists of 51 African projects that include population-based genomic studies of common, non-communicable disorders such as heart and renal disease, as well as communicable diseases such as tuberculosis. These studies are led by African scientists and use genetic, clinical, and epidemiologic methods to identify hereditary and environmental contributions to health and disease. To establish a foundation for African scientists to continue this essential work into the future work, the consortium also supports many crucial capacity building elements, such as: ethical, legal, and social implications research; training and capacity building for bioinformatics; capacity for biobanking; and coordination and networking. Consortium has drawn attention to the need to accelerate NCDs research on the continent: Enabling the genomic revolution in Africa – PMC (nih.gov). (Ongoing consortium)
Website: https://h3africa.org/