We are an international health research institute based in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Our research is addressing some of the world’s most pressing health challenges.
We aim to ensure that our evidence and experience is widely shared.
Stay up to date with our research and activities.
Browse our press releases to find out the latest about icddr,b’s work.
To see our older press releases, please visit this page.
Showing 1 - 20 of 26
Today, the Honourable Mayor of Chattogram Freedom Fighter Md Rezaul Karim Chowdhury inaugurated the oral cholera vaccination campaign for Bandar Tila & South Halishahar for the first time at the City’s Theater Institute. Professor Dr Mohammad Nazmul Islam, Director of Disease Control and Line Director of the Communicable Disease Control Program (CDC), Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS); Dr Firdausi Qadri, Acting Senior Director of the Infectious Diseases Division of icddr,b, and representatives from CDC, DGHS; development partners, and icddr,b were also present at the inauguration event. The Chief Health Officer of the Chittagong City Corporation, Dr Salim Akter Chowdhury, presided over the inaugural programme, while the Deputy Programme Manager of the Communicable Disease Control Programme from the DGHS, Dr Anindya Rahman, moderated it.
Please click to view Bangla version
The Oral Cholera Vaccination (OCV) programme will begin for residents of ward nos. 38 and 39 (Bandar Tila and South Halishahar) under Bandar Thana of the Chattogram City Corporation on Sunday, 17 September 2023.
icddr,b, in collaboration with the Small Vulnerable Newborn Consortium, hosted the Regional Launch of The Lancet Series on Small Vulnerable Newborns (SVN) at Sasakawa Auditorium, Mohakhali, Dhaka. Against the backdrop that one in every four babies worldwide is either 'born too small' or 'born too soon'—and is thus highly susceptible to death—the Lancet Series on SVN explores the scope and interventions needed to reverse the current trend and save the lives of hundreds of thousands of babies each year.
Ahead of the Regional Launch of The Lancet Series on Small Vulnerable Newborns (SVN) on 30 August 2023, highlights were presented today at a press meet. The event was held in the Sasakawa Seminar Room at icddr,b, in Mohakhali, Dhaka.
Dhaka, Bangladesh, 27 August 2023 -Today, icddr,b-led initiative ‘Strengthening TB Public-Private Mix (PPM) Policy Advocacy in Bangladesh’ has organised a Stakeholders' Consultative Meeting in a concerted effort to unite key tuberculosis stakeholders from both public and private sectors, aiming to advance TB control and prevention efforts in Bangladesh. The meeting was held at icddr,b’s Sasakawa Auditorium in Mohakhali, Dhaka and was supported by the Stop TB Partnership under the guidance of the National TB Control Programme (NTP).
icddr,b, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University and HKG Epitherapeutics Ltd., arranged a dissemination seminar on “Early Detection of Liver Cancer Patient through Simple Blood Test” today. The dissemination seminar is based on the article published in the high-impact peer-reviewed international journal Nature Communications. (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-39055-7) The test identifies liver cancer through distinctive DNA methylation signatures and has the potential to revolutionise liver cancer detection in high-risk populations (that includes people with liver diseases, type 2 diabetes and alcoholics), thereby decreasing morbidity and mortality rates associated with this cancer.
Researchers have uncovered two new cholera substrains in a displaced refugee population in southern Bangladesh, where a pre-emptive mass vaccination campaign of over one million refugees was successful in preventing an epidemic. They also showed that the cholera bacterium initiating this campaign was the high risk pandemic strain that has caused outbreaks of cholera globally.
Today, icddr,b and PRIP Trust under the leadership of the National Tuberculosis Control Programme (NTP), have successfully organised a historic event to form and operationalize the 'Parliamentary TB Caucus'. It was supported by the Stop TB Partnership-UNOPS. The event took place at the Parliament Members Club in Bangladesh.
HKG Epitherapeutics Ltd., the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, and a team of eminent Bangladeshi clinicians and scientists have announced the development of a transformative high-throughput assay for early detection of Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). This innovative assay published in the high impact peer reviewed international journal Nature com.
On 17 May 2023, icddr,b celebrated the exceptional achievements of Dr Firdausi Qadri, Senior Scientist at icddr,b, who received the Independence Award (Swadhinata Padak) 2023, the highest state award in Bangladesh. Dr Qadri received it for her outstanding contributions to research and training. It is a unique milestone for women scientists, which serves as a source of inspiration for the young generation in Bangladesh. The event brought together esteemed guests, including the Honourable Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni, MP, who graced the occasion as the Chief Guest; Dr Md Anwar Hossain Hawlader, Secretary of Health Services Division, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) and Joe Goodings, Head of Development Cooperation, High Commission of Canada to Bangladesh as the special guests. The event was held at icddr,b Sasakawa Auditorium, Mohakhali.
The National Conference 2023: Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in Bangladesh (NCSRHR2023) |Showcasing Research through Ideas, Ingenuity, and Innovations (NCSRHR2023) was held at the InterContinental Dhaka on 3 May 2023. The conference was organised by Advancing Sexual and Reproductive Health (AdSEARCH) by icddr,b and was a huge success with over 300 attendees including, researchers, policymakers, Government High officials, representatives from UN agencies, and INGO. ‘Excellence in SRHR Award 2023’ was presented to three outstanding individuals in recognition of their lifetime achievements and contributions to the field of SRHR in Bangladesh.
A dissemination seminar on the preliminary results of the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS) 2022 was held on 11 April 2023 at Hotel Radisson Blu Dhaka. Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS) findings highlight significant improvements in maternal and child health indicators over the past five years. The survey, conducted by the National Institute of Population Research and Training (NIPORT), with technical assistance from partners, provides crucial data on key health indicators to guide policies and programs aimed at improving the health and well-being of the people of Bangladesh.
icddr,b’s senior scientist Dr Firdausi Qadri received country’s highest state award the Independence Award (Swadhinata Padak) 2023 today for her outstanding contributions to research and training. The Honourable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh handed over the award to nine individuals and one institution at a programme at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in recognition to their contributions to the country.
Today, in observance of World Tuberculosis (TB) Day 2023, the National Tuberculosis Control Programme (NTP) of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) and USAID’s Alliance for Combating TB in Bangladesh (ACTB) activity, led by icddr,b, jointly organized an event with the day’s theme “Yes! We Can End TB!” at Sheraton Banani, Dhaka. The theme conveys a message of hope that it is possible to turn the tide against TB through leadership, investments, innovation and collaboration.
Today, icddr,b and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) jointly organized a dissemination seminar titled “Long-Term Sequelae of COVID-19: A Longitudinal Follow-Up Study in Dhaka, Bangladesh.” The seminar also presented a guideline titled “Long COVID Clinical Management Guideline for Physicians”. The findings, based on the first five months of participant follow-ups, were recently published in The Lancet Regional Health Southeast Asia.
The recently established NIHR Global Health Research Centre for Non-communicable Diseases and Environmental Change was kicked-off today in Dhaka, Bangladesh at a dissemination seminar by the Non-Communicable Disease Control (NCDC) Program of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) and icddr,b; in partnership with Imperial College London, UK; The George Institute for Global Health, India; Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education & Research (India), and University of Brawijaya (Indonesia).
On 5 March 2023, icddr,b and UNICEF jointly organised a dissemination seminar to highlight the activities of the project titled “Emergency Healthcare (Acute Watery Diarrhoea-AWD preparedness and response) and Sentinel Cholera Surveillance in Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals (FDMN) camps and host communities in Cox's Bazar.” The seminar was held at Long Beach Hotel, Cox’s Bazar and was attended by a diverse group of stakeholders, including government officials, development partners and NGOs.
The USAID funded Research for Decision Makers (RDM) activity, icddr,b and Data for Impact (D4I) organized a special session with health journalists, giving them a hands-on tour to the web-based platform https://cch.icddrb.org/ which provides a comprehensive resource for understanding the effects of climate change on health. This website serves as a one-stop resource for the latest data, research, and information on this important and rapidly evolving topic.
On 27 February 2023, under the leadership of the Communicable Disease Control (CDC) of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) of the Government of Bangladesh, and with support from the World Health Organization, icddr,b, and the Civil Surgeon Office of Noakhali, launched an oral cholera vaccination campaign in Bhasan Char, Noakhali. About 30,000 Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals (FDMNs), commonly referred to as Rohingyas, will be vaccinated through this campaign. Professor Dr Mohammad Nazmul Islam, Director of Disease Control and Line Director Disease Control Program, DGHS; and Dr Firdausi Qadri, Acting Senior Director of the Infectious Diseases Division of icddr,b, were present at the inauguration of the vaccination campaign. Dr Masum Iftekhar, District Civil Surgeon, Noakhali and representatives from CDC, DGHS; development partners, and icddr,b were also present at the event.
On 25 February 2023, the Honourable Minister of International Development of Canada Mr Harjit S. Sajjan visited icddr,b campus in Mohakhali, Dhaka, to witness the institution's life-saving work and its partnership with Canada for over four decades. He was accompanied by the Canadian High Commissioner to Bangladesh, H.E. Ms Lilly Nicholls, and other members from Global Affairs Canada.
