The Fiji Institute of Pacific Health Research received a $1.4m boost.

This will further boost the  work carried out by the institution.

The institute under FNU’s College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences received the funding from the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council.

The funding is for a 5-year implementation research project to strengthen policies that will tackle diabetes and hypertension.

FNU’s Associate Dean Research, Dr Donald Wilson says they will now will work with George Institute for Global Health and food policy experts from Deakin University and the University of Sydney, to implement the project.

This is to examine the best fiscal and regulatory policies to reduce sugar and salt consumption.

The Head of the Pacific Research Centre for the Prevention of Obesity and Non-Communicable Diseases, Dr Gade Waqa, is one of the chief investigators on the project.

Dr Waqa says that diet-related diseases are increasing in the region and the initiative will enable them to engage with the government to put better policies in place.