Background: The Rationale for Focusing on Nutrition and Health
Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) have become the greatest threat to human health and well-being globally, constituting the leading cause of death worldwide. According to the most recent data from the World Health Organization (WHO), NCDs kill at least 43 million people annually, representing 75% of all non-pandemic-related deaths globally. Low- and middle-income countries bear a disproportionate burden, accounting for nearly three-quarters (73%) of all NCD fatalities and 82% of premature NCD deaths 1.
Cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases, and diabetes are among the most impactful NCDs. These conditions often have strong nutritional and metabolic underpinnings. Modifiable risk factors, particularly unhealthy diets—along with resulting metabolic changes such as raised blood glucose, blood lipids, and obesity—are major contributors to this global crisis. It is clear that advancing our understanding of adequate and balanced nutrition is a critical step toward reducing the risk of NCDs in general and metabolic diseases in particular.
The Sabri Ülker Foundation, through its various initiatives, aspires to contribute to reducing the global risk and burden of NCDs. Driven by a strong international vision, the Sabri Ülker Award for Future Science Leaders is specifically designed to recognize, encourage, and support exceptional young scientists from around the world. By empowering the next generation of independent research leaders, the Foundation aims to accelerate transformative and innovative discoveries in the scientific community.
Applications for the Sabri Ülker Award for Future Science Leaders should demonstrate how the candidate's work significantly contributes to our knowledge of the relationship between nutrition, metabolism, health, and disease, while highlighting its tangible impact on global public health.
1 World Health Organization, "Noncommunicable diseases," World Health Organization, September 25, 2025, https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/noncommunicable-diseases
