What we do

The challenge

Chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs) are on the rise worldwide, with the burden falling hardest on low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). In many of these settings, primary care should be the first and strongest line of defence. Yet too often, CRDs go undiagnosed and primary care providers lack the mandate, resources, and capacity to respond.

The evidence is there. Researchers are testing effective interventions — from simple screening tools to community-based management strategies. However, the gap between what works in research and what gets implemented in practice remains wide. Unless health systems invest in implementation research and ensure findings are translated into real-world action, millions will continue to live with undiagnosed and unmanaged disease.

A new global collaborative

This is why IPCRG, in close dialogue with the World Health Organization and with funding from the NIHR-RESPIRE, is launching the Global Primary Care Respiratory Collaborative. This initiative will bring together generators, users, and funders of research to close the evidence–practice gap. The Collaborative will:

  • Build an open-access repository of evidence on implementing chronic respiratory interventions in primary care in LMICs;
  • Identify critical gaps and actionable priorities for health systems in LMICs;
  • Recommend opportunities for translating evidence into practice.