New appointments for TGI China researchers

Researchers from The George Institute for Global Health, China, have received major new appointments in international professional organizations as acknowledgement for their contributions to combating the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) globally. 

In January 2016, Professor Zhi-Jie Zheng, Executive Director of The George Institute for Global Health, China, was selected as the Councillor of Western Pacific Region, one of the six Regional Councils for the World NCD Federation (WNF).

WNF, started in Chandigarh India in March, 2015, is a professional association working to build capacity, advocacy and universal health care for NCDs which will be accessible and acceptable to all, and at a cost developing countries can afford to maintain and sustain population-wide and individual clinic NCD interventions.

As a Regional Councillor, Professor Zheng will coordinate the activities of WNF in Western Pacific countries, promote membership drives and initiate capacity-building activities to advance the vision and mission of the World NCD Federation. 

In November 2015, Professor Linong Ji, Chief Scientist of The George Institute for Global Health, China, and former President of Chinese Diabetes Society, was selected with high votes as Chair Elect of the International Diabetes Federation-Western Pacific Region (IDF-WPR). This was the first time a scholar from mainland China has undertaken this key position in the history of IDF-WPR. 

The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) is an umbrella organization of over 230 national diabetes associations in 170 countries and territories. It represents the interests of the growing number of people with diabetes and those at risk. The Federation has been leading the global diabetes community since 1950 with the mission of promoting diabetes care, prevention and a cure worldwide. The IDF Western Pacific Region (WPR) represents 26 Members in 21 countries and territories and is the largest of the IDF Regions in terms of population. It is also the most diverse economically, politically and culturally.