NHMRC is investing $4.8 million into Australian health and medical research to generate new evidence to help people experiencing multiple long-term health conditions across the globe.
Four Australian research teams will receive funding under the NHMRC's international collaboration with the Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases (GACD) 9th funding call: Implementation research for management of multiple long-term conditions 2024.
This grant opportunity funds implementation research that will generate evidence about when, for who and under what circumstances, patient-centred approaches can improve integrated care for patients with multiple long-term conditions (MLTCs) including non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
NHMRC-funded researchers, in collaboration with other GACD member agencies, will collectively aim to improve the availability of care for people living with MLTCs in low- and middle-income countries, and in disadvantaged populations in high-income countries.
Dr Uday Yadav from the Australian National University aims to use a co-designed community health worker model of care to improve the health and wellbeing of people with multimorbidity from disadvantaged communities in Nepal.
The model will enhance the capacity of healthcare workers to improve patient and family health literacy and confidence for self-management practices, and assist with coordination, and referral within primary healthcare.
Burnet Institute researcher, Dr Philipp du Cros will lead a study across 2 provinces in Papua New Guinea (PNG) to assess whether integrating care for diabetes, heart disease and chronic lung disease into HIV and tuberculosis programs improves overall care.
This undertaking will build capacity for NCD care and research in PNG while also assessing whether the intervention provides value for money.
The GACD is an international network of health and medical research funding agencies that supports joint research activities on chronic NCD in low- and middle-income countries and in disadvantaged and Indigenous communities in high-income countries.
All funding details can be downloaded on NHMRC's outcomes of funding rounds webpage.
Quotes attributable to NHMRC CEO Professor Steve Wesselingh:
"NHMRC's collaboration with GACD helps us to support joint funding calls and research capacity building activities that address the global impact of chronic non-communicable diseases."
"We know the level of innovation that Australian health and medical researchers possess, and to be able to bring that to the global stage is incredible to witness."
"Congratulations to those receiving funding under today's announcement - this research is a critical step towards improving the management of multiple long-term health conditions."
