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.
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.
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.
Professor Rob Van Dam
National University of Singapore
Professor Colin Palmer
Dundee University
Prof Dr AHM Enayet Hussain
Directorate General
of Health Services
Professor Janaka de Silva
Faculty of Medicine
University of Kelaniya
Shifalika Goenka
Centre for Chronic
Disease Control (CCDC)
T2D and CVD in South Asia
(Click on hubs for info)
Pakistan
Sri Lanka
Bangladesh
India
India
Our Team
