Investigating heat stress and health risks in vulnerable populations in Bangladesh
Official title: Understanding heat stress and adverse health outcomes in vulnerable populations in Bangladesh: Can we move the needle by designing low-cost, feasible and culturally acceptable interventions?
Funded at University of California Berkeley · NIH-11064893 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how heat affects people living in low-income areas of Bangladesh, especially those without air conditioning, and it will test affordable ways to keep homes cooler to help protect their health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Berkeley NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Berkeley, United States) |
| Project start | April 2, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $510,190 |
| NIH project number | 5R01ES035910-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11064893 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are low-income individuals living in informal settlements in Dhaka, Bangladesh, particularly those without access to cooling systems.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who live in well-ventilated homes or have access to air conditioning may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding how heat stress affects low-income individuals in Bangladesh, particularly those living in informal settlements without access to air conditioning. The study aims to evaluate the effectiveness and acceptability of low-cost cooling strategies to reduce indoor heat stress and its associated health risks, such as cardiovascular disease and respiratory issues. By assessing personal heat stress and the impact of home modifications on heart rate, the research seeks to identify feasible interventions that can improve health outcomes for these vulnerable populations.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to effective interventions that significantly reduce heat-related health issues in low-income communities.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that community-based cooling interventions can effectively reduce heat stress and improve health outcomes in similar populations.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Berkeley
Berkeley, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kwong, Laura Hsi — University of California Berkeley
- Study coordinator: Kwong, Laura Hsi
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Keeping low-income homes in Dhaka cooler and safer
This project will try low-cost, culturally acceptable ways to cool indoor spaces for adults living in Dhaka's informal settlements to reduce heat stress and heart strain.
-
Reducing harmful indoor heat in low-income homes in Dhaka
This project tests low-cost, culturally acceptable cooling changes in homes to lower heat stress and heart strain for adults living in informal settlements in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
-
Children's heart health and the effects of heat and wildfire smoke
This work looks at how heat waves and wildfire smoke during pregnancy and childhood may affect children's heart health.
-
Heat stress and firefighter motor performance
This project tests how rapid heat buildup from PPE affects how firefighters walk and perform fine motor tasks.
-
Investigating how heat stress affects kidney health and the role of niacinamide in prevention.
This study is looking at how working in the heat affects kidney health, especially for sugarcane workers who might be at risk for kidney problems, and it will also test if a vitamin called niacinamide can help protect their kidneys from damage.
-
How the brain regulates body temperature during extreme heat
This study is looking at how our brains help us cool down when we get too hot, focusing on certain brain cells that kick in during high temperatures, and it’s designed for anyone interested in how our bodies handle heat stress.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.