MONASH UNIVERSITY LAUNCHES FIRST REGIONAL NCDS RESEARCH NETWORK

KUALA LUMPUR, June 14 (Bernama) -- The Monash University today launched the first regional research network on non-communicable diseases (NCDs) - the Asian Collaboration for Excellence in Non-Communicable Disease (ASCEND) Research Network, at its Sunway campus in Petaling Jaya, here.

Launched by the Deputy Director-General of Health (Public Health), Dr Lokman Hakim Sulaiman, ASCEND aims to build a regional network of researchers and research institutions who will be at the forefront of research in the area on non-communicable disease prevention and management in Asia.

"Ignoring NCDs may compromise national or regional health care systems that were already weak and contribute to increased health disparities.

"This was of particular concern as the risk factor of NCDs tended to occur among poorer populations in low and medium income countries," he said in his speech.

Monash University received over US$1 million from the US National Institutes of Health to establish the research network.

The funding was awarded by the Fogarty International Centre of the NIH through its Millennium Promise Award.
-- BERNAMA