What is C-POND?

The Pacific Research Centre for the Prevention of Obesity and Non-Communicable Diseases, to be known as C-POND ,is a partnership between the Fiji School of Medicine (FSMed) and Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia. The partnership has a strong track record of research collaboration through the Pacific Obesity Prevention In Communities (OPIC) project and Translation Research for Obesity Prevention In Communities (TROPIC) project.

Who is involved?

The Fiji School of Medicine hosts C-POND on its Tamavua Campus in Suva, linking it closely with its teaching and training programs and supporting Post-Graduate students, research projects and training programs.

The Deakin University provides Support for C-POND through the WHO Collaborating Centre for Obesity Prevention and their staffs visit several times a year to work with FSMed staff and co-supervise Post-Graduate students.

C-POND is also guided by a reference group which include representatives from FSMed, Deakin University, SPC, WHO, Fiji, Samoa and the University of Auckland. 

What are the objectives?

•  To conduct solution-oriented research on obesity and NCDs
  The focus is on finding the solutions to reduce the very high prevalence and burden of obesity and NCDs in the Pacific
  

• To disseminate the research findings and translate them into policies and practice
  The usual process of research dissemination through publications and conference presentations is accompanied by strong knowledge exchange linkages with government agencies, NGOs, private sector organizations and communities to translate the research findings from C-POND and international studies into policies and practice in the Pacific
  
  
•  To build research capacity in obesity and NCD prevention
  This includes the supervision of Master students and Doctoral students as well as training for research staff.
  
  
•  To conduct other research-related activities which further the aims of C-POND
  Other activities related to the prevention of obesity and NCDs are conducted by C-POND and these include support for WHO and SPC’s research initiatives.  

 What are the aims and scope?

The aims of C-POND is to provide a Pacific Centre of excellence in research, research training program and policy evaluation, knowledge translation, and other research-related activities for the prevention of obesity and NCDs.

The geographic scope for C-POND is the Pacific region and the content scope is research activities on the determinants of obesity and NCDs in Pacific populations and in particular, solutions for their prevention

What are the benefits?

The Pacific region has the highest burden of Obesity and Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in the world. Diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and cancer are expensive for low-income countries such as those in the Pacific region; therefore, preventative efforts are a high priority. C-POND provides, for the first time in the Pacific, the platform to undertake ongoing prevention research and build the research capacity in this important area for the Pacific region. C-POND will respond to regional needs to work to ensure that relevant research is utilized within the region.

We have a number of research projects housed under C-POND, including OPIC and TROPIC. Additionally two PhD students are based in C-POND, and we provide supervisory support to other research students. C-POND has undertaken a number of relevant consultancies.

Contacts

FSMed Research Director – Dr. Graham Roberts
Phone: 679 3233 404
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C-POND Coordinator – Dr Wendy Snowdon
Phone: 679 3233 253
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