Addressing the growing burden of chronic diseases globally has become a priority for the National Institutes of Health Fogarty International Center, according to its new strategic plan (), released in May.

Noncommunicable chronic diseases like heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and mental illness have gained an increasingly prominent place on the global public health agenda as international efforts have helped contain many infectious disease threats. Now, the Fogarty center would like to reduce chronic illnesses by leveraging the global platforms it has built to deal with diseases such as HIV/AIDS.

The strategic plan calls for renewed efforts to train scientists in developing countries and to recruit scientists with expertise in cardiology, oncology, bioengineering, neurology, mental health, and other areas. Other priorities for the center are better integration of new technology and faster translation of science into practice.