UCL Centre for Global Non-Communicable Diseases and Mental Health

About the Centre

Driven by broad social, environmental and biological factors, mental health conditions and non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as diabetes and cancer, which are the leading cause of death and disability globally. Both categories of health challenges disproportionately affect people in low- and middle-income contexts. Crucially, mental health conditions and NCDs share a huge degree of comorbidity and interact with many other health areas (such as infectious disease). This complexity demands robust person-centred and transdisciplinary efforts to meet the urgent need for description and intervention responses to the burden of mental health and NCDs in health systems and communities globally. 

The UCL Centre for Global NCDs and Mental Health is dedicated to advancing research and capacity for the prevention and treatment of NCDs and mental health conditions across high, middle, and low resource settings. The Centre brings together a strong, multidisciplinary network of researchers from across UCL, global academic institutions, and clinical and community partners in diverse contexts. Together, we are advancing a dynamic portfolio of research and education initiatives aimed at addressing the global burden of NCDs and poor mental health.

Strategic Priorities 

• Coordinate Institute and UCL wide responses to relevant funding calls through our multidisciplinary network, aiming to secure successful research grants.
• Develop IGH’s teaching on global NCDs and mental health drawing on the range of expertise represented in the Centre’s membership.
• Advance innovative community-oriented approaches to addressing global NCD and mental health burden, through partnerships with grassroots, industry and policy actors