CCDC Celebrates 25 Years Advancing Public Health

CNN Central News & Network–ITDC India Epress/ITDC News Bhopal: The Centre for Chronic Disease Control (CCDC) marked its 25th anniversary with a two-day Scientific Symposium held on September 18-19, 2025, at the Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi. The event brought together over 400 leading public health experts, policymakers, researchers, and practitioners from India and around the globe to discuss on advancing chronic disease prevention and care.

The Scientific Symposium highlighted CCDC’s role in shaping India’s response to major Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) like diabetes, cancer, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and environmental health. The event deliberated on evidence-based research which can be translated into policy and practice through a combination of keynote addresses, scientific sessions, panel discussions, fireside chats, poster walks, and exhibition areas.

Opening the event, Prof. D Prabhakaran, Executive Director, CCDC, traced the institution’s journey since its inception, noting, “What began as a vision to bridge the gap between clinical care and public health research has grown into a collaborative effort that has changed how India and low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) approach chronic diseases. Our work has only just begun; the next 25 years will be even more critical as we move towards a healthier, more equitable India.”

Notable speakers included Prof. K Srinath Reddy, Founder Director, CCDC; Ex-Head, Dept. of Cardiology, AIIMS, New Delhi; Dr Rajiv Bahl, Director General, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Secretary, GoI – Dept. of Health Research; Prof. Nikhil Tandon, Prof. and Head, Dept. of Endocrinology & Metabolism, AIIMS, New Delhi; Prof. Venkat Narayan, Executive Director, Emory Global Diabetes Research Centre, Emory University; and Prof. Neil Poulter from Imperial College, London, among others.

The inaugural keynote address was delivered by Prof. K Srinath Reddy, who said, “Public health must always remain rooted in the service of people and society. Institutions like CCDC show how collaborative, multidisciplinary action can advance Universal Health Coverage and build systems that endure. The principles that have guided this journey must now be carried forward to strengthen healthcare for future generations.”

Over two days, discussions spanned urgent and emerging issues, including digital health for Universal Health Coverage, reimagining health systems for NCD care, food systems and nutrition, cancer research in India, women’s health, mental health and a session on Exposomics featuring the environmental determinants of chronic conditions.