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The GACD brings together six of the world's foremost health agencies, collectively managing an estimated 80% of all public health research funding worldwide, to collaborate in the critical battle against chronic, non-communicable (not infectious) diseases.

These diseases cause the greatest share of death and disability worldwide, accounting for over 60% of deaths - with nearly four-fifths of those fatalities being citizens of low and middle income countries. Unless action is taken, 388 million people worldwide will die of one or more such diseases within the next decade, as NCD deaths are projected to increase by 15% globally between 2010 and 2020.

It is also estimated that China, India and the U.K. will lose an estimated $558 billion, $237 billion and $33 billion respectively in foregone national income over the next decade due to heart disease, stroke and diabetes - unless serious action is urgently taken.

The Alliance coordinates research activities that will address on a global scale the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases. ¹û¶³Ó°Ôº was chosen to host the secretariat and awarded $640,000 following an international competition, due to its stature in global health issues and the strength of its proposal.

The Secretariat will be led by an Executive Director - this position will be advertised shortly -who will play a key role in GACD as it expands its membership and extends its research priorities. The Secretariat's staff will be managed by the joint directors of ¹û¶³Ó°Ôº's Institute for Global Health, Professors Anthony Costello and Anne Johnson, working in collaboration with the Alliance members and chair, Professor Abdallah S Daar.

Professor Sir John Tooke, ¹û¶³Ó°Ôº Vice Provost (Health), said:"Hosting the Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases is of great importance for ¹û¶³Ó°Ôº. When one considers the burden of disease globally it is staggering the lack of attention that many chronic diseases have received. ¹û¶³Ó°Ôº is committed to bringing its expertise to bear on the challenges of global health, and we hope that working with the Alliance we can help to focus worldwide attention, resources and research on chronic diseases, guiding priorities for the future."

Abdallah Daar, McLaughlin-Rotman Centre for Global Health, based at the University of Toronto and the University Health Network: "The Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases is delighted that our secretariat is based at such a prestigious institution as the Institute for Global Health at ¹û¶³Ó°Ôº. I look forward to working closely with colleagues at ¹û¶³Ó°Ôº to implement the mission of GACD, to enlarge its membership, and to reduce the scourge of chronic non-communicable diseases worldwide."

Image: Clockwise from back left - Sarah Ball (¹û¶³Ó°Ôº Institute for Global Health), Professor David Price (¹û¶³Ó°Ôº Vice Provost - Research), Professor Malcolm Grant (¹û¶³Ó°Ôº President and Provost), Professor Anne Johnson (¹û¶³Ó°Ôº Institute for Global Health), Professor Michael Worton (¹û¶³Ó°Ôº Vice Provost - Academic & International), Professor Abdallah Daar (GACD Chair), Professor Anthony Costello (¹û¶³Ó°Ôº Institute for Global Health).

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