Faculty wins funds for international development

The School of Public Health has received funding for two projects in the latest round of the International Program Development Fund.

The Cambodian National Institute of Public Health, Research and Teaching Capacity Building Project aims to build strong links between the National Institute of Public Health in Phnom Penh and the School of Public Health at the University of Sydney.

Under the direction of Professor Bob Cumming and Dr John Hall from the School of Public Health, the program will help develop a Master of Public Health program in Phnom Penh and will bring Cambodians to Sydney for advanced training in public health research methods.

Cambodians suffer from some of the worst health statistics in Asia. With life expectancy at 54 years, infant mortality at 9.5% and 45% of children under the age of 5 underweight, public health programs like this one are desperately needed.

For further information contact:
Professor Bob Cummings


Dr John Hall

Professor Bob Cumming and Dr John Hall from the School of Public Health at the University of Sydney with participants at an ethics workshop in Phnom Penh.

The Inter–University Chronic Disease Knowledge Network aims to establish a ‘Knowledge Network’ linking selected universities in the Asia-Pacific Region with the University of Sydney.

Leaders of the project, Ruth Colagiuri and Stephen Leeder from the Australian Health Policy Institute (AHPI), hope to increase the capacity of developing countries in the region to gather and apply evidence and insights to build a compelling economic and political case to persuade governments and international aid agencies to address chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases and certain cancers.

The idea is for the AHPI to host attachments for regional health professionals and researchers to enhance their skills in evidence and advocacy methods. The Network will look beyond biomedical evidence to social, behavioural, political, legal, organisational and environmental design perspectives and will seek to draw on the expertise of local colleagues from these disciplines. The involvement of relevant industry groups such as food companies and organisations will also be actively sought.

The Asia-Pacific Inter-University Chronic Disease Knowledge Network is part of a broader plan for a global chronic disease Knowledge Network which is currently being negotiated between the AHPI and the Oxford Health Alliance.

For further information:
Ruth Colagiuri


Stephen Leeder

Professor Steve Leeder, Her Excellency Marie Bashir and Justice Kim Santow at the University of Sydney and Oxford Health Alliance launch in November 2005.