Empowering Patients & Improving Public Health Through Essential Diagnostics.
The Foundation for Advancement of Essential Diagnostics (FAED) is a global nonprofit organization committed to pioneering research and development across clinical laboratory management, pathology, laboratory medicine, and diagnostics on a global scale. In an era where medical practice relies on evidence-based approaches and utilization of complex technology-based diagnostics, FAED recognizes the intrinsic connection between proper diagnosis (“Dx”) and effective treatment (“Rx”). The foundation’s core mission extends beyond borders, aiming to curate and further augment the World Health Organization recommended Essential Diagnostics List (EDL) on a global scale by assessing disease dynamics at county and country levels worldwide. This involves extensive analysis of existing practices within clinical laboratory systems, disease mapping, diagnostic access mapping and study of health frameworks at every country level. FAED aims to identify gaps and propose scientific solutions to elevate healthcare delivery and improve population health universally
What is Essential Diagnostics List?
Report of the 21st WHO Expert Committee (2017) on the Selection and Use of Essential Medicines proposed need of Essential Diagnostics. The Committee acknowledged that specific tests are essential to diagnose the disease or identify the subpopulation for which certain medicines may be indicated, and to monitor the effectiveness or toxicity of medications. Moreover, diagnosis often has important implications for prognosis. The WHO for the first time officially introduced the idea of ‘Essential Diagnostic List’ (in May 2018) in the line of ‘Essential Medicine List’ that was published in 1977. The first Essential Diagnostics List (2018) is 41 years behind the first Essential Medicine List (1977) of WHO. The field of diagnostics or laboratory medicine is lagging behind by four decades. To bring the laboratory medicine to the forefront of healthcare delivery and public health, a lot of work yet be done.
Our Story
The Foundation for Advancement of Essential Diagnostics (FAED) emerged from a shared recognition of healthcare disparities, particularly in under-served communities and lack of access to the Essential Diagnostic List for global population. Motivated by the transformative impact of the role of accurate and timely diagnostics in healthcare delivery, FAED embarked on a mission to bridge the global gap in healthcare access focusing on diagnostics. Through initiatives like identifying and closing diagnostic access gaps, building skills, and promoting continuous learning, FAED envisions improved patient outcomes through accurate and timely diagnosis of diseases. Our work also revolves around empowering underserved regions by providing the latest continuous medical education on diagnostic laboratory test interpretation and advocating for best practices in laboratory medicine globally. The impact of the EDL will primarily be realized when there is adoption at the country-level through the creation of national and regional EDLs based on disease burden and clinical needs of the population of a region or a country. Collaborative research, partnerships with governments, professional organizations, philanthropic supports and volunteering are instrumental in contributing to FAED’s global cause. FAED is not just an organization; it is a movement shaping a world where every life thrives through the influence of essential diagnostics by eliminating delayed diagnosis, wrong diagnosis and missed diagnosis.
Founder and Director
Dr. Mustafa Barbhuiya is currently the Medical Director of Clinical Chemistry and Point of Care Testing at the Department of Pathology, Baystate Medical Center, Springfield, MA. He is Assistant Professor of Pathology; Healthcare Delivery and Population Sciences, UMass Chan Medical School- Baystate Regional Campus. His basic and translational research interests are focused on liver and biliary tract cancer mechanisms and biomarkers. He also conducts research on the role of essential diagnostics list in health care delivery and population health. His professional mission is bringing pathology and laboratory medicine to the forefront of healthcare delivery and population health. He is a firm believer of serving leadership.
Dr. Mustafa Barbhuiya completed the Clinical Chemistry Fellowship (2018-2020) at the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey. He earned a Doctorate in Biochemistry (2013) from Jiwaji University, Gwalior, India and subsequently completed postdoctoral studies (2013-2018) from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA. He is broadly trained in clinical biochemistry, clinical laboratory management, medical laboratory sciences, cancer epidemiology, cancer biomarkers, next generation sequencing and mass spectrometry. He is board certified as a clinical chemist and CMS approved high complexity clinical laboratory director. He is also American Society of Clinical Pathology board certified in Molecular Biology and Medical Laboratory Sciences. He was selected as one of the American Society for Clinical Pathologists’ (ASCP’s) 40 Under Forty 2019. The ‘ASCP 40 under forty’ program recognizes members under the age of 40 for their achievements and leadership qualities that are making an impact on pathology and laboratory medicine. He won several other national awards, serves in the committees of professional bodies like Association of Clinical Scientists, American Association of Clinical Chemistry (AACC) and Clinical Laboratory Standard Institute. He was elected Fellow of Association of Clinical Scientists and Associate Fellow of AACC Academy (formerly National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry).
Dr. Barbhuiya set up the Foundation for Advancement of Essential Diagnostics (FAED) in India (www.faed.in) (2018) and subsequently in USA (2020). The overall goal of this foundation is to promote and further augment the ‘essential diagnostics list’ published by World Health Organization in context to global public health.
Mustafa A. Barbhuiya, PhD
Mission
To bridge the global gap in access to accurate and timely diagnoses. Augment and create EDLs based on disease burden and clinical needs of the population of a region or a country.
Vision
To catalyze positive change in healthcare delivery globally, we envision a world where every life, irrespective of location or circumstances has access to the essential diagnostic tests for timely and accurate diagnosis.
Core Values
Equity
We believe in equitable access to healthcare as a basic human right and strive to bridge the diagnostic gap for underserved communities.
Innovation
We embrace innovative approaches to optimize laboratory medicine practices and adapt to diverse settings.
Empowerment
We equip healthcare workers with the knowledge, skills, and resources they need to excel and deliver quality diagnostic care.
Collaboration
We believe in partnerships and collective action to drive systemic change and maximize impact.
Quality and Excellence
Uphold the highest standards of quality in essential diagnostics, setting a gold standard for laboratory medicine practices globally.
Board of Directors
Our board is committed to helping achieve the sustainable development goal (STG-3 Universal Health Coverage) through equitable diagnostic access around the world towards good health and well-being.
Timothy Amukele, MD, PhD
Member, Board of Directors, FAED
Vice President & Global Medical Director at ICON plc, Farmingdale, New York, United States
Mustafa A. Barbhuiya, PhD
President, Board of Directors, FAED
Department of Pathology, UMass Chan Medical School- Baystate Regional Campus, Springfield, MA 01199
Vandita Johari, MD
Member, Board of Directors, FAED
Consultant in Hematopathology and Transfusion Medicine, Hartford Hospital, Hartford, CT 06102
Rinki Kumar, PhD
Member, Board of Directors, FAED
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033
Jason Newmark, BS, MHA
Member, Board of Directors
Executive Director, The Association for Medical Imaging Management (AHRA)
Lokinendi V. Rao, PhD
Member, Board of Directors, FAED
Chief Scientific Officer, Quest Diagnostics-UMass Medical Joint Venture
Professor of Pathology, UMass Chan Medical School
Lee F. Schroeder, MD, PhD
Member, Board of Directors
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5602