Challenge

Non-communicable, chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, and chronic respiratory disease, cause 60% of all deaths globally, and that number is growing. Most of these deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries.

To help combat these diseases, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) and other groups support the Collaborating Centers of Excellence program, which promote international research on the prevention and management of chronic diseases in developing countries.

Solution

NHLBI selected Westat to manage the program’s administrative coordinating center.

We provided the following administrative support services:

• Communications, including report preparation
• Information collection and tracking, including on study enrollments, number of publications that result from the studies, media coverage, and more
• Cataloging materials the program may use, such as training materials or research papers
• Identifying and assessing outcome measures and program statistics

Results

Results from research being conducted by the program’s Collaborating Centers of Excellence around the world will help prevent and treat non-communicable, chronic diseases.

By providing doctoral and post-doctoral training for future investigators, the Collaborating Centers of Excellence help to ensure that research into this area continues for many years.