Reducing harmful indoor heat in low-income homes in Dhaka
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?
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.
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 ID | NIH-11321199 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you live in an informal neighborhood in Dhaka without air conditioning, researchers will measure how hot your home gets and how your body responds using simple wearable sensors. They will try low-cost home changes aimed at keeping your living space cooler and see whether those changes lower heart rate and heat exposure. The team will also ask residents if the changes are easy to use and acceptable in daily life. If the changes work, they will consider whether they could be scaled up to help more vulnerable households.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults (21+) living in informal settlements of Dhaka, especially those in homes with corrugated iron roofs or without access to air conditioning, are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People who already have reliable air conditioning, live outside Dhaka informal settlements, are younger than 21, or are not willing to have simple home modifications are unlikely to benefit or be eligible.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the interventions could lower indoor heat exposure and reduce heat-related strain on the heart and other heat-linked health problems for low-income adults.
How similar studies have performed: Some prior small studies show that building-level cooling and shading can lower indoor temperatures, but testing low-cost, culturally tailored home changes and measuring heart-rate effects in Dhaka's informal settlements is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Berkeley, United States
- University of California Berkeley — Berkeley, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kwong, Laura Hsi — University of California Berkeley
- Study coordinator: Kwong, Laura Hsi
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 below.