CRONICAS Centre of Excellence in Chronic Diseases
Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia
http://en.cronicas-upch.pe/
The Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia (UPCH) was established in 1961, UPCH is an autonomous non-for-profit academic institution and is considered the leading Peruvian institution for scientific research productivity. The CRONICAS Centre of Excellence in Chronic Diseases, within UPCH, is the first specialized research institution in Peru devoted to the research of chronic non-communicable diseases. Its ongoing projects encompass a diversity of fields including obesity, nutrition, hypertension, diabetes, mental health, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and co-morbidities. It was established as a Centre of Excellence with the support of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health (NHLBI-NIH) in the United States. Since its establishment in 2009, CRONICAS has been successfully involved in awards totalling approximately $16 million dollars for several national and international projects. Support comes from major funding agencies including the National Institutes of Health, the International Development Research Centre, the Wellcome Trust, and the World Health Organization. CRONICAS staff is constituted by an experienced, well-trained and highly motivated group of professionals from complementary disciplines—anthropology, economics, epidemiology, medicine, public health, and psychology.
Throughout its 54 years, UPCH has received wide recognition for its high standards of education and research. The UPCH central library is the main biomedical library in the country, as designated by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). In addition to its eight schools, the university has other components where specialized activities are carried out: the Laboratories for Research and Development in Science and Technology, the Institute of High Altitude Studies, and the Institute for Population Studies. Currently, there are 2,500 students enrolled at UPCH’s schools. As a member of the newly established Hemispheric University Consortium, the UPCH Faculty has committed to serving as international research training site for UMSONHS and Department of public Health students from underrepresented populations seeking global research experiences. They have identified 4 faculty mentors with solid research portfolios and strong track records of mentorships and publication who will meet with the UMSONHS and Department of Public Health students in advance of their arrival in Peru to plan their training as well as their cultural experience. UPCH faculty mentors will guide the students through their research projects at UPCH, and continue to work with them after they return to Miami on presentations and manuscripts that disseminate the results of their work. THE UPCH Faculty has committed its resources and infrastructure to implement the proposed training program.
