Turning Evidence into Action: WHO Expert Speaks at BIPS Institute Seminar

In his talk “From Data to Impact: Fast-Tracking Progress on Noncommunicable Diseases”, Wickramasinghe argued that the central challenge today is no longer whether prevention works — but how evidence-based interventions can be scaled across diverse, real-world settings. He presented the WHO NCD “Best Buys”, a set of cost-effective measures that provide a practical, evidence-based framework for policymakers.

The presentation identified several priority areas: food and nutrition policy monitoring, the growing influence of ultra-processed foods and obesogenic environments, commercial and digital marketing targeting children, and early life determinants of health such as breastfeeding. Wickramasinghe also emphasised the need to harmonise large-scale surveillance datasets and integrate novel data sources to advance implementation science and accelerate the translation of quantitative evidence into policy-relevant impact.

Wickramasinghe leads nutrition, physical activity and obesity work at the WHO Regional Office for Europe, where he also served as Acting Head of the European Office for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases. Prior to joining WHO, he conducted research at the University of Oxford on the epidemiology of cardiovascular disease and sustainable diets; from 2013 to 2017, he co-directed the WHO Collaborating Centre on Population Approaches for NCD Prevention. He holds a medical degree (MBBS) from the University of Colombo, an MSc in Global Health and a PhD in Public Health, both from the University of Oxford.

Watch the full talk.