Seventh Annual Research Meeting of the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research: Non-Communicable Diseases

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) result from lifestyle and genetic factors and are not infectious. They include cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, obesity, cancers, mental illnesses, and chronic respiratory, liver, and kidney diseases. NCDs account for 74% of global deaths, predominantly in low- and middle-income countries, with a significant rise in sub-Saharan Africa, including Ghana. The interplay between infectious diseases and NCDs, which can alter disease outcomes, requires urgent attention. At the seventh Annual Research Meeting (ARM) of the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR), presentations highlighted the impact of infectious diseases on NCDs, underscoring the need for integrated approaches to manage NCDs and infectious diseases. The presentations also emphasised early detection, treatment, and the need for novel therapeutic strategies.