Currently, IMEK Research Center in Marketing & Development is collaborating with the Center for Global Research on Noncommunicable diseases at the Faculty of Medicine -University of Geneva (UNIGE), focused on Global Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD). The objective of the group is to facilitate the exchange of experiences between people from different sectors and with different backgrounds and training, to identify how collaborative research can address issues such as access to medicines, human resources, health systems, NCDs in humanitarian settings, methodological approaches, and the experience of individuals with an NCD.
Worldwide, Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) represent a major challenge especially to low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where most of the mortality occurs [WHO, 2022]. Health systems and populations in these contexts often face more challenges to address and manage these diseases (WHO, 2022). The NCD Lab emerges as a response to these needs, its purpose is to present several strategies/solutions for improving the health systems (WHO, 2021).
IMEK contributes to the Center for Global Research on Noncommunicable diseases using social marketing and communication perspectives. The founder of IMEK presented the research approach of the Foundation at the first meeting of the collaborative group in October 2021. Later, she presented how social marketing can be used in interventions and programs focused on NCDs.
The NCD Lab research group:
The center is composed of people from the University of Geneva, Geneva University Hospitals, FIND, CRONICAS Center of Excellence in Chronic Diseases at the Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, different non-governmental and humanitarian organizations based in Geneva and IMEK Research Center in Marketing & Development. All have in common experience in health matters, but these are from different disciplines, senior and early-career researchers with different levels of expertise and different cultural experiences, participate in this group, which enriches mutual learning and collaboration.
About UNIGE:
The University of Geneva enjoys worldwide recognition and ranks amongst the top 100 best universities in the world. This institution gives spaces for inter- and multidisciplinary in both research and teaching. It has links with international Geneva, and contributes to the cultural, social, and economic development of the region, through the promotion of research and its expertise (Université de Geneve, 2021).
Written by: Caicedo, MJ; López Sánchez, MC
References:
Université de Geneve. (2021). About the University. https://www.unige.ch/en/university/presentation/
World Health Organization (WHO). (February 24th, 2021). WHO NCD Lab – First Call for Innovative Cross-Cutting Initiatives. https://www.who.int/news-room/articles-detail/ncd-lab-first-call
World Health Organization (WHO). (2022). Noncommunicable diseases. https://www.who.int/health-topics/noncommunicable-diseases#tab=tab_1
