Bridging the divide: non-communicable and infectious diseases in a changing global health landscape

Monday, September 22, 2025, 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm (ET)

Weill Cornell Medicine, Belfer Research Building, 3rd floor conference rooms, 413 East 69th Street, New York, NY 10021

Cocktails and networking to follow event

At the 2025 UN General Assembly, where non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and mental health will be key topics, the Mérieux Foundation, in partnership with Weill Cornell Medical College, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), New York University, and the GHESKIO Centers, is pleased to invite you to this special event.

Join us to explore how infectious diseases contribute to the growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and mental health challenges worldwide, with the participation of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), George Washington University, New York University, Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), Resolve to Save Lives, WITS RHI, Hepatitis B Foundation and Global Health Strategies.

This timely discussion will focus on:

• Cancer: the role of HPV and hepatitis viruses in cervical and liver cancers
• Cardiovascular disease: links with HIV, TB, SARS-CoV-2, and other infections

Keynote address

• Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, Director, PAHO

Speakers

• Dr. Kevin De Cock, Mérieux Foundation USA
• Dr. Dan Fitzgerald, Weill Cornell Medical College
• Dr. Tom Frieden, Resolve to Save Live
• Ulrika Årehed Kågström, Union for International Cancer Control
• Dr. Margaret McNairy, Weill Cornell Medical College
• Dr. Jean William Pape, GHESKIO and Cornell University
• Dr. Helen Rees, Wits RHI, University of the Witwatersrand
• Dr. Robert Sebagg, Mérieux Foundation & Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris
• Stewart Simonson, Global Health Strategies
• Dr. Su Wang, Hepatitis B Foundation

Bringing together leading scientists, global health advocates, and policymakers, this event will:

• Raise awareness of this pressing global health challenge
• Advance scientific and policy dialogue
• Advocate for integrated strategies in the post-2030 global health agenda

We hope to see you there and count on your voice to help bridge the divide between infectious and non-communicable diseases in global health.