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Our programme

Heart disease and stroke and diabetes are the world’s leading health problems. Approximately 18 million people die from cardiovascular diseases every year and another 420 million people live with diabetes. The burden of cardiovascular disease and diabetes are especially high in South Asia, one of the most densely populated regions in the world.

The ambition of the Global Health Research Unit on Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease in South Asians is to create an inter-disciplinary environment that fosters development and implementation of acceptable, equitable, scalable and sustainable approaches to reduce the burden of type-2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Tweets by GhrT2d

million people

die from cardiovascular diseases worldwide

million people

live with diabetes worldwide

Central Management Team

The Unit is supported by a central management team which consists of the Director, Professor John Chambers, and the Programme Manager, Ninha Silva.

The central management team is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Unit, for taking decision on operation issues and for ensuring all resources are in place for effective implementation of the programme.

Professor John Chambers

Unit Director
Imperial College London
UK

Ninha Silva

Programme Manager
Imperial College London
UK

Overseas Partners

The Unit has eight overseas partners from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Each institution has an active role in the implementation of the Unit’s work and ambition. We have established a network of >200 Health Observatories in the four countries, which are coordinated by the local Principal Investigators.

Professor Saira Afzal

Principal Investigator
King Edward Medical University
Pakistan

Dr. Sujeet Jha

Principal Investigator
Max Healthcare
India North

Dr. Malay Mridha

Principal Investigator
BRAC University
Bangladesh

Professor Sajjad Ahmad

Principal Investigator
Punjab Institute of Cardiology
Pakistan

Dr. Anuradhani Kasturiratne

Principal Investigator
University of Kelaniya
Sri Lanka

Dr. R.M.Anjana

Principal Investigator
Madras Diabetes Research Foundation
India South

Professor Khadija Irfan

Principal investigator
Services Institute of Medical Sciences
Pakistan

Dr. Prasad Katulanda

Principal Investigator
University of Colombo
Sri Lanka

Professor Malabika Sarker

Principal Investigator
BRAC University
Bangladesh

Scientific Advisory Board

The Unit receives advise from the International Scientific Advisory Board, constituted by Professor Rob Van Dam, Professor Colin Palmer and Dr Shanti Mendis.