Professor Brian Oldenburg of Monash University Australia YBhg Dr Lokman Hakim Sulaiman and Prof Dato Dr Anuar Zaini Md Zain taking questions from the media.

Monash University and partners in Sri Lanka, India and the United States have received over USD1 million from the US’ National Institutes of Health (NIH) to establish the first regional research network on non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

The Asian Collaboration for Excellence in Non-Communicable Disease (ASCEND) Research Network was launched today by Deputy Director-General of Health (Public Health) YBhg Dr Lokman Hakim Sulaiman.

The ASCEND Research Network aims to build a regional network of researchers and research institutions who will be at the forefront of research in the area of non-communicable disease prevention and management in Asia.

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

In his address, Dr Lokman said that ignoring NCDs may compromise national or regional health care systems that were already weak and contribute to increased health disparities.

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

“Failure is not an option. Success in averting this crisis is essential to ensuring the present generation of children, as well as the next, have the chance to live long and healthy lives,” he said.

Non-communicable diseases threaten the wellbeing and quality of life of millions around the world. Chronic non-communicable diseases including cardiovascular, cancer, respiratory and diabetes are among the fastest growing diseases on the planet.

With the grant, the Sunway and Melbourne campuses of Monash University, together with partners Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences & Technology (India), the University of Colombo (Sri Lanka) and the University of North Carolina (US), are working together to provide high quality research training to over 40 researchers in Asia over five years.

Today, the launch of the ASCEND Research Network commenced with the first cohort of 25 trainees from India, Sri Lanka, China and Malaysia participating in a three-week intensive program in non-communicable diseases, hosted by the Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences at Monash.

Dr Lokman Hakim Sulaiman with assistance from Prof Dato Dr Anuar Zaini Md Zain marking the launch of the ASCEND Regional Network .

Following this, they will continue to develop their own research projects targeting non-communicable disease prevention and management in their own country.

Monash University Australia’s Professor Brian Oldenburg, who is also ASCEND Regional Network Program Director said that program saw a dynamic mix of trainees.

ASCEND trainees are made up of researchers from India (nine) Sri Lanka (seven) Malaysia (eight) and China (one).

“ASCEND is just a beginning. Over the next three weeks, you will discuss chronic conditions such as important health conditions for all our countries,” he told the trainees, adding the program would also foster effective exchange and interaction.

“If we fail in this endeavour, there would be dire consequences for our health systems, and our lives.”

Head of the Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences Prof Dato’ Dr Anuar Zaini Md Zain said he hoped more researchers from local public and private universities and the Ministry of Health would take part in the program.

“The epidemic in the Asia Pacific region will have untold consequences and place an economic burden regionally and globally if we do not address it now,” he said.

The projects will be supervised and mentored by global experts in the field. Trainees will be supported over 18 months of the program through online web-based learning, peer support and mentoring.

The contemporary approach to global learning will allow trainees to participate in interactive tutorials, discussions and learning from anywhere in the world.