Cambridge Programme to Assist Bangladesh in Lifestyle and Environmental risk reduction (CAPABLE) aims to address this challenge by focusing on intertwined risk factors for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) related to social, environmental and behavioural factors not previously considered in an integrated framework. These factors tend to cluster in households, share determinants, exert additive and synergistic effects, involve co-dependencies, and are mediated by contextual variation – such as across rural, urban, and slum settings.

The programme will create new research platforms and use a multidisciplinary approach in Bangladesh to address Goal 3 of the Sustainable Development Goals: Good Health and Well-Being.

IEDCR is the capacity building partner of the CAPABLE program.

FUNDING

The CAPABLE initiative is supported by a £8M grant from the Research Councils-UK’s (now UK Research and Innovation) Global Challenges Research Fund programme.

Vision

To develop and evaluate practicable, scalable and effective interventions that can help control exposure to major environmental and lifestyle risk factors, protect against NCDs and promote health in Bangladesh (and beyond) in an acceptable, sustainable and cost-effective manner.

Objectives

To realise our vision, CAPABLE will pursue four inter-linked goals:

1. Extend (in scale and scope) a pre-existing cohort study in Bangladesh (BELIEVE) into a 100,000-participant NCD research resource in urban, urban-slum, and rural settings, that leaves a lasting legacy.

2. Conduct innovative cross-disciplinary research to understand the interplay between NCD risk factors, and to develop and evaluate practicable, feasible, and acceptable interventions to combat them.

3. Create a dynamic research platform to embed novel scientific hypotheses as they emerge (e.g. COVID-19)

4. Strengthen research capacity in Bangladesh.

5. Mobilise partnerships of Bangladesh and UK centres-of-excellence to achieve the goals above.

Advanced short courses

Cambridge Advanced Short Course on Chronic Non-Communicable Disease Epidemiology

Two short-courses have been completed in 2018 and 2020, with a total of 72 participants.

Course objectives

This comprehensive course aims to provide:

1. An up-to-date overview of epidemiology, biostatistics and public health concepts used in non-communicable disease (NCD) research

2. Lessons on behavioural, social and environmental drivers of NCDs and related interventions

3. Opportunities to be selected as longer-term CAPABLE Research Fellows in NCDs.

https://www.capable-bangladesh.org/capacity-development/advanced-short-courses/