This central platform and resource repository is maintained by the Academy of Medical Sciences, in conjunction with the Medical Research Council (MRC), National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), and Wellcome.
In wealthy countries, multimorbidity is the norm not the exception. It is also increasingly a problem in low- and middle-income countries where ‘clusters’ of chronic conditions may more frequently involve long-term infectious diseases. Multimorbidity is a true global health challenge, requiring research across all settings and communities to better understand the problem.
The Academy’s international working group on 'Multimorbidity: a priority for global health research' , developed a definition, standardised reporting system and key research priorities for multimorbidity. Later, the Academy, MRC, NIHR, and Wellcome hosted a joint workshop in June 2018 on 'Advancing research to tackle multimorbidity: the UK and LMIC perspectives'.
Following this work, the MRC, NIHR, and Wellcome have agreed to come together to coordinate a 'multimorbidity funders group'. Working alongside numerous other charities, this group will aim to overcome the structural and cultural barriers facing multimorbidity research, and support the research needed to better understand the trends, clusters, mechanisms and causes, burden, prevention and management of multimorbidity.
To realise this ambition, efforts are needed to bring together researchers, clinicians, health professionals across disciplines, patients, healthcare providers and non-government organisations (NGOs). By acting as a platform to share multimorbidity funding calls, initiatives, and events, we hope that this page can help foster such a community, and encourage the cross-disciplinary collaborations that are vital to tackling multimorbidity.
Supporting organisations
We are grateful to the following organisations for their commitment to the ‘multimorbidity funders group’:
If you would like anything added to this webpage, please contact Dr Sarah Ritchie at sarah.ritchie@acmedsci.ac.uk.
2019: GCRF Global Multimorbidity – Seed-funding 2019
https://mrc.ukri.org/funding/browse/gcrf-gmsf/gcrf-global-multimorbidity-seed-funding-2019/
Issuing funder(s): MRC
Status: Open
Updates: None
Key dates: Mandatory expression of interest to be submitted prior to 10 September 2019
Key contacts: international@mrc.ukri.org
The GCRF global multimorbidity seed-funding call is an MRC initiative that has been developed in collaboration with Wellcome, NIHR, and AMS. The call will support seed-funding projects that develop and test innovative ideas, foster interdisciplinary collaboration, build capacity, and lay the groundwork for future large-scale activity aimed at understanding and tackling multimorbidity in LMICs. Applications are particularly encouraged from Principal Investigators (PIs) based at organisations in LMICs, as well as from eligible research organisations based in the UK working in equitable partnership with LMIC colleagues. It is expected that a total of £2.5 million will be made available to support research grants up to 18 months in duration and up to a maximum of £200,000.
2018: Multimorbidity in the UK population: understanding disease clustering
https://mrc.ukri.org/funding/browse/multimorbidity/multimorbidity-in-the-uk-population-understanding-disease-clustering/
Issuing funder(s): MRC and NIHR
Status: Closed
Updates: None
Key contacts: multimorbidity@headoffice.mrc.ac.uk
The Medical Research Council (MRC) and the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) are issuing a joint call for research projects into disease clustering in multimorbidity. Awards of up to £600,000 (funders' contribution) are available for up to 36 months. Funding is available for exploratory or hypothesis-driven research that will systematically identify or explore common disease clusters, their distributions in diverse groups, multimorbidity trajectories and/or the underpinning mechanisms across the life course. We encourage applications from cross-disciplinary and cross-institutional teams to develop research in this important field.
Ongoing initiatives
Below, we summarise current projects, working groups, plans and processes that focus on multimorbidity.
The Richmond Group of Charities Taskforce on Multiple Conditions
https://richmondgroupofcharities.org.uk/taskforce-multiple-conditions
A cross-sector partnership between the Richmond Group of Charities, The Royal College of General Practitioners and Guy's and St Thomas' Charity.
Published reports
These reports are available to download from the right-hand side of this page or by clicking on the links provided below.
2019
The Royal College of General Practitioners, Multimorbidity toolkit July 2019
2018
Global Alliance for Chronic Disease, GACD researchers' statement on multimorbidity
The Academy of Medical Sciences, Multimorbitiy: a priority for glabal health research
The Richmond Group of Charities, Multimorbidity: Understanding the challenge
The Richmond Group of Charities, Just one thing after another: Living with multiple conditions
Academic resources
During the course of our work on multimorbidity, a number of academic resources and relevant journals about the issue were brought to our attention. While this list should not be considered fully exhaustive, we hope that it will nonetheless act as a helpful contributor to this space. If you would like anything added to this page, please contact Dr Sarah Ritchie.
Journals, editorials and special issues
Coming soon.
Other useful resources
The International Research Community on Multimorbidity
http://crmcspl-blog.recherche.usherbrooke.ca/?page_id=248
The International Research Community on Multimorbidity (IRCMo) is a virtual community bringing together researchers and health care professionals that are directing leading contributions to new understandings and approaches to multimorbidity in primary care.
Videos and media
The Richmond Group of Charities short films on living with multiple conditions, https://richmondgroupofcharities.org.uk/sites/default/files/final_just_one_thing_after_another_report_-_singles.pdf
News
Taking multimorbidity out of the 'too difficult' box, 30th July 2019
https://acmedsci.ac.uk/more/news/taking-multimorbidity-out-of-the-too-difficult-box
Upcoming events
11th European Congress on Tropical Medicine and International Health 2019 (ECTMIH)
https://www.ectmih2019.org/about
On 16 - 20 September 2019, the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (RSTMH) will host the ECTMIH 2019 in Liverpool, UK on behalf of the Federation of European Societies for Tropical Medicine and International Health (FESTMIH).
As part of this event, the Academy of Medical Sciences, MRC, NIHR, Wellcome will be jointly hosting a panel session to explore ‘Research challenges and opportunities at the interface of infectious and non-communicable diseases in low- and middle-income countries’.
Past events
Conferences
July 2019: Cardiovascular, metabolic and kidney disease: crosscutting science and best practice
https://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/events/cardiovascular-metabolic-and-kidney-disease-crosscutting-science-and-best-practice
This one-day conference aimed to stimulate discussion and ideas and help set the foundation for establishing strategic partnerships to ultimately improve the health of patients with multimorbidity.
Workshops
June 2018: Advancing research to tackle multimorbidity: the UK and LMIC perspectives
https://acmedsci.ac.uk/more/news/advancing-research-to-tackle-multimorbidity
In June 2018, the Academy held a two-day joint workshop bringing together participants from funding agencies, researchers from high-, low- and middle-income countries (HICs and LMICs, respectively), and policymakers.
This workshop provided a platform to discuss and determine how best to support multimorbidity research, in both the UK and LMICs, in order address key priorities outlined in the Academy’s 2018 international policy report,
Multimorbidity: a priority for global health research - Full report