Global Alliance for Chronic Disease Secretariat

Objective

The Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases (GACD), launched in 2009 is an alliance of international health research funders, galvanised by concern at the stark statistics on the ever-increasing burden of chronic, noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) particularly in poorly resourced settings. These diseases and conditions include both major contributors to mortality such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, respiratory diseases, cancer and mental health conditions, but also to a broader range of chronic conditions causing significant morbidity and cause a huge inequitable health burden. Within the the alliance the funders have agreed a common mission to reduce the burden of chronic NCDs in underserved populations within low and middle income countries and within high income countries (HIC) amongst populations where health disparities exist, for example Indigenous Populations. GACD’s strategic intent is to provide research outcomes that readily inform practices and policies for prevention and management of NCDs and to minimise the systematic and avoidable differences in the health status of different underserved population groups within and between countries. The GACD Secretariat supports its member agencies by coordinating and facilitating :- the strategic prioritisation and management of joint research funding calls; capacity and capability strengthening for implementation research; and in promoting the likelihood of impact, by fostering collaborative working across the GACD Research Network, communicating and disseminating collated outputs and outcomes and partnering with external advocacy and policy influencing partners.