Contact

68, Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Sarani, Mohakhali, Dhaka-1212, Bangladesh

Website

https://www.icddrb.org/

Description

icddr,b – Organizational profile History: icddr,b was established in Dhaka in 1960s as the South-East Asia Treaty Organisation (SEATO) Cholera Research Laboratory. The Cholera Research Laboratory (CRL) soon developed an international reputation in diarrhoeal disease research. Among its notable early achievements was a key role in the development, testing and implementation of oral rehydration solution (ORS) – a treatment estimated to have saved tens of millions of lives worldwide. During the 1960s, the CRL also established a large-scale health and demographic surveillance site at Matlab – now the longest-running such site in the global South and an inspiration for many similar sites worldwide. In 1962, the CRL established the Dhaka Hospital, still run by icddr,b, to meet the urgent need to treat patients, particularly young children, with severe diarrhoeal disease. The Dhaka Hospital has developed into a nationally important treatment centre and provides an infrastructure for an extensive programme of clinical research. Clinical services were also introduced at Matlab Hospital. As many other factors affect the risk of diarrhoeal diseases or recovery from them – including nutritional status, income, education of mothers, access to clean water, sanitation habits and efficacy of vaccines – research at CRL expanded into new areas of public health. However, it retained its primary focus on evidence-based solutions able to deliver significant public health benefits at low cost to those living in poverty. From CRL to icddr,b In 1978, the CRL received fresh impetus and a new name – the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh. In recent years, we have been known simply as icddr,b. Our research continued to expand, to address the major public health threats facing Bangladesh and other countries of the global South. Extensive research programmes were implemented in areas such as malnutrition, respiratory disease, vaccine testing, maternal, neonatal and child health, and health systems. We have maintained a strong and productive relationship with the Government of Bangladesh, and played an influential role in informing and evaluating national health policies and practice. icddr,b is recognised as a national asset, and has contributed to the significant improvements in health achieved by Bangladesh in recent decades, despite the challenges posed by limited resources. In 2001, we received the first Gates Award for Global Health in recognition of our development of ORS. In 2005, we received the Independence Day Award, Bangladesh’s most prestigious national award. We have also been committed to sharing our expertise, for example through an extensive training programme used by thousands of public health professionals, researchers and others from Bangladesh and other countries of the global South. In addition, our researchers and clinicians have played major roles in international responses to global humanitarian crises, particularly to prevent and control outbreaks of infectious disease. Over the past 30 years, our staff have supported multiple relief efforts across Asia, the Middle East, the Caribbean and sub-Saharan Africa. Looking forward, our goal is to continue generating the evidence to underpin further improvements in public health in Bangladesh, while also ensuring that our research benefits those living in other countries of the global South. icddr,b’s Strategic goals: Goal One: Maintain a Focused Research Strategy Goal Two: Develop and Promote Use of Innovations for Bangladesh and the global South Goal Three: Clinical and Humanitarian Services and Response Goal Four: Invest in our Research Platforms and Field Sites Goal Five: Increase the Visibility and Impact of Our Research Evidence Goal Six: Invest in Our People Goal Seven: Improve Organisational Efficiency and Cost Effectiveness Goal Eight: Ensure Financial Sustainability icddr,b’s Research area: 1. Reducing maternal, neonatal, and child mortality and improving the well-being of women and children 2. Preventing and treating maternal and childhood malnutrition 3. Controlling enteric and respiratory Infections 4. Detecting and controlling emerging and re-emerging infections 5. Achieving universal health coverage 6. Achieving gender equality, and sexual and reproductive health and rights 7. Examining the health consequences and adaptations to climate change 8. Preventing and treating non-communicable diseases icddr,b Governance structure icddr,b is led by an experienced management team, and benefits from input from internationally recognised experts in global health and international health research. The Board of Trustees is icddr,b’s governing body and provides strategic oversight. icddr,b’s Board of Trustees comprises 17 health professionals and researchers representing both developed and developing countries. The Board was created by an Ordinance of the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh. Three members are nominated by the People’s Republic of the Government of Bangladesh, with the World Health Organization and UNICEF nominating one member each. icddr,b’s Executive Director serves as the Member-Secretary. The Board operates under the icddr,b Ordinance and follows the Rules of Procedure. The Board of Trustees’ roles and responsibilities include fund oversight; approving and monitoring the budget; setting broad institution-wide policies, as well as monitoring adherence to the Strategic Plan; employing, evaluating and supporting the Executive Director; maintaining the line between governance and management; and evaluating the Board’s own performance. The Senior Leadership Team (SLT), led by the Executive Director, is responsible for icddr,b’s day-to-day activities and implementing its institutional strategy. The SLT also includes the Deputy Executive Director, the Senior Directors of the Scientific Divisions, and Directors of Finance and Human Resources. In addition, it has specific departments like Regulatory and Legal Affairs, Supply Chain and Facilities Management, Communications, Information Technology, Research Administration and Technical Training Unit to support research. The Research Administration Unit provides technical assistance for preparation and management of research proposals and monitors the human subjects review process through the Institutional Review Board (IRB). The international Scientific Advisory Group provides scientific advice to icddr,b’s Executive Director. The purpose of the SAG is to: build capacity in the training and mentorship of young scientists on their career pathways; increase the involvement of international scientists on site at icddr,b; increase partnership opportunities with other world-class organisations; increase icddr,b’s ability to undertake research outside of Bangladesh, and align icddr,b’s research focus with our research priorities. As a research institution, icddr,b has always been committed to strong monitoring and impact evaluation. Through ongoing use and development of the log frame used for reporting to our core donors, icddr,b systematically tracks how funds are administered and the impact of research through measurable results. Monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of our currently expired Strategic Plan fell under the scope of one of its Goals and it resulted in (1) developing—and ensuring adherence to—a detailed, time-bound implementation plan, and (2) developing a revised set of indicators acceptable to our Core Donors and Board of Trustees to ensure that the plan delivered the anticipated results. icddr,b has a very strong Internal Oversight (IO) office in order to detect fraud and prevent its occurrence. Vigorous internal audit reviews deters financial impropriety and ensure value for money. The institution faces more than 30 project audits every year on top of its annual institutional audit. taken. The Senior Leadership Team (SLT) of icddr,b provides oversight and is accountable to the Board of Trustees. Furthermore, an annual review commissioned by the Core Donor Group provides an independent assessment of our performance and complements our own monitoring and evaluation. The Institutional Governance Framework (IGF) of icddr,b outlines the Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct expected of staff members and the Code promote among others, human rights and culture of safety. Additionally, icddr,b has formulated a number of policies for Human resource, Supply Chain management, Finance, Scientific and research, gender equity, prevention of sexual harassment and child protection and Information Technology. icddr,b’s Institutional Capacity Statement: icddr,b is an autonomous non-profit, international health research organization, located in Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh, dedicated to improving the lives of people living in poverty in its host country Bangladesh and globally. Through the generation of knowledge, and translation of research into treatment, training and policy advocacy, icddr,b addresses some of the most critical health concerns facing the world today. • Research: Established in 1960, icddr,b has developed and delivered low-cost, scalable solutions to major public health problems— such as oral rehydration solution (ORS), zinc for diarrhoeal treatment, tetanus vaccines for new born and new born care, which saved and continue to save millions of lives globally. icddr,b developed an innovative method for managing severe acute malnutrition in children, which reduced death rates by nearly half. Results were published in the Lancet, and the standardised protocol is now endorsed by the WHO throughout the region. icddr,b has rigorously tested the efficacy of many new vaccines for diseases that affect the poor – including rotavirus vaccines, the Hib vaccine, a maternal pneumonia vaccine for protecting infants, and an affordable oral cholera vaccine. Results have helped to shape Bangladesh’s Extended Programme on Immunisation and provided evidence to support vaccine use in other resource-poor settings. The innovative use of female community health workers at Matlab in the 1970s greatly increased contraceptive use and reduced fertility. The work was highly influential nationally, leading to a national programme of family welfare assistants providing family planning support, and internationally. icddr,b has maintained a long-running programme of research on violence against women. Our research and advocacy activities have had major impact, raising awareness of domestic violence, leading to changes in Bangladesh law and introduction of interventions to reduce violence against women. Few major practical innovations made by icddr,b’s researchers in recent times are ultra-low cost Bubble CPAP device to deliver oxygen to young children with severe pneumonia, the Urban Health Atlas (a GIS-based online tool), a range of affordable ready-to-use therapeutic and complementary food, based on locally available ingredients (such as rice, lentils and chickpeas), Q-MAT (a birthing mat), and a social enterprise model for detecting undiagnosed tuberculosis (TB) in the community. A significant contribution has been made by our researchers in providing a clearer picture of the spread of antibiotic resistance in Bangladesh. In 2017, icddr,b has begun a five-year implementation research project to generate evidence and promote the use of evidence-based research and policy analysis for health planning and decision making. icddr,b has been conducting studies with marginalised and stigmatised populations at risk of HIV, translating evidence into policy, and developing interventions to generate impact at the population level. Integral to its research, icddr,b provides high-quality care, free of charge, to over 200,000 Bangladeshis annually. • icddr,b’s response to COVID-19 pandemic icddr,b has been actively monitoring the development of novel coronavirus disease pandemic since December 2019, with particular focus on the health and well-being of the people of Bangladesh, as well as on the continuity of research, and hospital operations, which treats annually more than 200,000 diarrhoeal disease patients free-of-charge. icddr,b has been providing support to the Government of Bangladesh and its partners, responding to the urgent needs of the country. icddr,b has been working closely with the Government of Bangladesh in its COVID-19 response through various capacities from disease diagnosis to capacity building and research activities. In addition, numbers of research projects and trial are ongoing on COVID-19. icddr,b is currently working in collaboration with UNICEF to setup a 200 bed COVID-19 hospital for the vulnerable FDMN population at icddr,b’s Teknaf field site in Cox's Bazar. In an effort to support the livelihood of the transgender and sex worker and the local under privileged group affected due to OVID-19 humanitarian assistance has been provided. Capacity development assistance to local health service providers on critical case management of patients suffering from COVID-19 and providing COVID-19 care to all icddr,b staff, their dependents and family members living with them at this critical situation within its set up are phenomenal. • Collaboration: icddr,b has worked with over 100 organisations including Government of Bangladesh (GoB), other national governments, international institutions and national and international civil society partners and NGOs. icddr,b is supported by over 50 donor countries and organisations, including the host country government, UN agencies, USAID, DFID, foundations, universities, research institutes and private-sector organisations and companies. icddr,b has ample experience of successful collaboration with internal and external stakeholders including Government of Bangladesh and reputed research institutions/universities worldwide to carry forward our research agenda. Our work has had a major impact on the health of people in Bangladesh – and in other countries of the global South. We develop innovative products and generate rigorous evidence that has influenced health policy and practice in Bangladesh and globally. The institution, at any given time, has more than 100 research projects ongoing. • Institutional Review capacity: icddr,b attaches great importance to the development of high-standard research proposals (technically and scientifically sound and meeting international ethical standards) by its scientists and collaborating institutions. We have satisfactory processes in place to meet Research Integrity and Ethics. icddr,b’s Institutional Review Board (IRB) consists of four mandatory committees: Research Review Committee (RRC), Ethical Review Committee (ERC), Animal Experimentation Ethics Committee (AEEC) and Programme Coordination Committee (PCC). Besides these mandatory committees, there are several subcommittees of the ERC: Data and Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) and Audit/Monitoring Subcommittee. In any given year, icddr,b is subject to more than thirty project audits done by external independent auditors. Moreover, there is an institutional audit every year. In addition, internal functions are regularly audited by the Internal Oversight (IO) department of icddr,b. icddr,b’s Conflict of Interest Policy requires Board of Trustee Members, management and staff members to declare conflict of interest annually. icddr,b is committed to strict adherence and any violation of conflict of interest policy may constitute cause for disciplinary or other administrative action pursuant to Staff Regulations and Rules. • Research facilities and resources: icddr,b hosts some of the finest research laboratories and its clinical diagnostic laboratories serve as reference laboratories for clinical diagnostic analysis of human disease cohorts and control subjects. The diagnostic laboratories are the only accredited labs under ISO15189 (quality) and ISO15190 (safety) in Bangladesh for as many as 160 different tests and parameters. Approximately 1500 patients and individuals avail diagnostic services each day from the diagnostic OPD of the Centre, in addition to the in-patient cohorts and patients referred from icddr,b staff clinic. icddr,b also operates other research support facilities such as the Genomics Centre that provides exquisite services in the areas of genomics, metagenomics, exon sequencing and microRNA sequencing etc. A state of art animal house and a bacteriological media facility also cater to the requirements of the researchers from within icddr,b and outside collaborators. The bio-safety and bio-security as well as laboratory quality monitoring and quality assurance services are ensured. icddr,b also hosts an impressive and well maintained bio-repository which houses all archived biological materials in an ordered and classified manner. • Training: icddr,b offers a huge range of technical training to increase expertise and capacity for public health and allied practitioners and researchers in Bangladesh and beyond. Our training unit works in collaboration with scientific divisions/units within icddr,b and institutions/universities/organizations globally to enhance visibility of icddr,b and its sphere of influence in the policy, program and practice. Fulfilling its commitment to share discoveries with the world, icddr,b has trained an incredible 50,000 health professionals from over 87 countries in public health education to improve health outcomes of disadvantaged populations, particularly poor women and children. This training has had extraordinary impact over the years building capacity of foreign and Bangladeshi students, while also deepening the knowledge base and skills of practicing professionals. • Award and achievement: One of icddr,b's greatest contributions lies in its diligent dissemination and scale-up of findings and discoveries through this large network. icddrb has shared its wealth of knowledge with the world by training more than 50,000 health professionals from over 87 countries. icddr,b's focus and contributions to the humanitarian work has earned national and international recognition, including the UNICEF Maurice Pate award for service to children (1986), the Government of Bangladesh's highest honour, The Independence Day Award (2005), the first-ever Gates Award for Global Health (2001) and most recently, the Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize (2017). Besides these, icddr,b also won USAID’s ‘Science and Technology for Development Award’ in 1987. In 2018, icddr,b researchers published more than 396 scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals. • Financial capacity: The organization is financially stable having an annual budget of US$60 million per year on an average over the last 3 years. As an international health research institute, icddr,b is allowed by the local regulations to receive funds from foreign sponsors. Currently, the institute receives grants from donors like DFID, UKAid, Sida, the Gates Foundation, US Agencies, the Global Fund, EU, NIH etc. icddr,b has both local and foreign currency accounts and they can be reconciled. icddr,b has two budget procedures from preparation to execution. Project budgets are approved by Director Finance and Donors, whereas, the institutional budget is prepared annually and approved by Board of Trustees (BoT). The respective section head prepares the institutional budget; it is reviewed by Finance before submitting to the BoT for approval. The ERP system has strong budgetary control mechanisms which facilitates variance analysis reports on monthly, quarterly and annual basis.

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