Research

Information. Partnerships.
Translation. Interventions.

Over the years, CAIHR’s formidable body of research work in nutrition, child development, chronic diseases and sickle cell disease, has won acclaim in the global health research community.

Our high-quality research is of regional and global relevance. A myriad of programmes and projects are implemented under three broad research themes - Early Life Exposures in Health and Development; Health Interventions, Evaluation, Translation & Implementation Research; and Biological Expression of Disease.

Our faculty of scientists, researchers and support staff have earned a solid reputation for research excellence built upon strong collaborative partnerships and relationships with a widening network of stakeholders regionally and internationally. Caribbean policymakers depend on the outputs of the Institute, which has consistently addressed the research needs of the region, while attracting increasing support from international development partners, donors and other stakeholders.

Our research themes

Life-Course Exposures in Health and Development

This theme assesses the development, health, and disease, and estimates the burden of disease and associated risk factors in the Caribbean, and other relevant populations. We explore the social, psychological, biological and environmental (including climate) exposures on population health, overall wellbeing, and development. Our work is particularly focused on nutrition and metabolism, sickle cell disease and the five other major non-communicable diseases. Our research investigates the impact of prenatal, early childhood, and other life course exposures and informs interventions for improving health and development.

Programmes under this theme

  1. Early Life Exposures
  2. Population Health Outcomes and their Determinants
  3. Sickle Cell Disease Variability
  4. Climate Change and Health
  5. Health Services Research

Interventions, Implementation and Policy

CAIHR research spans efficacy trials, implementation/scaling up to demonstrate effectiveness and feasibility, and the integration into policy to affect populations.

Programmes under this theme

  1. SCD Interventions
  2. Child & Adolescent Development
  3. NCD Policy Development & Evaluation
  4. Interpersonal Violence
  5. Cancer, Cardiometabolic Disease and Mental & Neurological Conditions
  6. Healthy Food Policy Development & Evaluation

Mechanistic and Biological Studies in Health and Disease

This theme encompasses research that explores the mechanistic underpinnings of health and disease as well as research that collates, curates, handles, and disseminates data, by deploying tools and techniques from health informatics. Research conducted within this theme employs a range of modern investigative approaches that utilize biological markers to describe, explain and predict important disease conditions. It also emphasizes the growing prominence of biorepositories, with accompanying advances in health informatics-derived software and hardware approaches, in assisting all aspects of the research cycle, from data collection, through data processing, and on to data sharing.

Programmes under this theme

  1. Genetic, Metabolic and Inflammatory Markers
  2. Health Informatics (Biobank, Routine Data Management, Data Curation)