22 November 2007

Grand challenges in diseases

In a free-access article in today's Nature, "Grand challenges in chronic non-communicable diseases" a group of the great and the good in medical and clinical sphere (the Grand Challenges Global Partnership) outline their top 20 policy and research priorities for conditions such as diabetes, stroke and heart disease, that account for about 60 per cent of deaths worldwide, and affect people of all ages, nationalities and social classes. The authors write that the challenges they describe are "intended to reduce the global epidemic of these diseases by making the case for worldwide debate, support and funding, and by guiding policy and research in an evidence-based manner" to galvanize the health, science and public-policy communities into action.

The 20 challenges themselves are outlined in this table, grouped into ways in which to raise public awareness; to strengthen legislation and policies; to modify risk factors; to engage businesses and communities; to reduce health impacts of poverty and urbanization; and to "reorientate" health systems.

22 Nov 2007 15:41:22 | Science

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