Professor Lijing Yan Gets a Prestigious Grant From The National Natural Science Foundation of China

Non-communicable Chronic diseases (NCDs) are a significant threat to public health in China. According to the most recent estimate in 2016, 86.7% of all deaths were attributable to NCDs. Thus, there is an urgent need for prevention and control of NCDs to improve public health.

In August 2017, Professor Lijing Yan was awarded a grant by the National Natural Science Foundation of China to launch a research project entitled “Mechanisms and Path Analyses for Health Management among Chronic Diseases Patients in Urban China: A Community Empowerment-Based Approach.” Starting in January 2018, Professor Yan will lead researchers from Duke Kunshan University, Fudan University, and Duke University to conduct prospective studies in Shanghai and Jiangsu.

The research team aims to explore innovative mechanisms of NCDs prevention and control by increasing community capacity and cooperating with stakeholders across the “patient-community health centers, government, and external organizations” scheme.

Findings of this 4-year research project are expected to ultimately contribute to the achievement of “Healthy China 2030” goals. The total amount of funding committed was half a million yuan — the highest funded investigator-initiated project in Healthcare Management awarded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China.

Prof Lijing Yan

“The theory and practices of community empowerment has the potential to provide an approach to fill the gaps and overcome barriers in current health management for NCD patients at the community level,” said Prof. Yan.