Fellowship Site: Bangladesh

The International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B) has developed into a world class institution encompassing a full spectrum of public health issues such as child health, reproductive health, nutrition, poverty and health, infectious diseases and vaccine sciences, population sciences, health systems research, HIV/AIDS and safe water. Furthermore, ICDDR,B was recently named Ovations and NIH-National Heart, Blood, and Lung Institute, Centre for Control of Chronic Diseases in Bangladesh. Bangladesh provides ICDDR,B a unique opportunity for understanding the diseases and health challenges facing developing countries worldwide.

ICDDR,B translates knowledge from research into policy using strategic health programs. This allows basic research to rapidly influence policy applications and action if the evidence supports meaningful public health benefit. Many research priorities at ICDDR,B are cross cutting, such as to child health, infectious diseases and vaccine sciences, reproductive health, nutrition, population, HIV/AIDS and safe water.

The urban Dhaka and rural Matlab Hospitals at ICDDR,B provide the clinical services to complement the development of lifesaving solutions. The hospitals are aligned with ICDDR,B's strategic research goals and provide an opportunity for scientists and health professionals to co-operate on research, treatment, training and development while delivering quality health services to the people of Bangladesh.

The Laboratory Sciences Division has state of the art laboratories specializing in acute respiratory infections, enteric microbiology, environmental microbiology, immunology, molecular genetics, nutritional biochemistry, parasitology, sexually transmitted diseases, tuberculosis and virology. The Division also has a strong service component including clinical microbiology, pathology, molecular and serodiagnostics, biochemistry, and animal resources. The Division has a DNA sequencer, quantitative PCR machine, ultracentrifuge, FACS, gene microarray reader and other relevant equipment for different research purposes. Every unit of Laboratory Sciences has skilled scientific staff who can act as mentors for foreign trainees.

Below are examples of the mostly cited areas of interest for training at ICDDR,B during the past three years:

• COPD and air pollution
• Medicine, obstetrics, and pediatrics
• Field experience in family planning
• Biochemistry, microbiology, serology laboratories
• Surveillance
• Nutritional program
• Cohort study
• Arsenic contamination
• Self care and social support among elderly
• Infant feeding research on DD acute respiratory
• Molecular biology
• Vitamin deficiency among pregnant women in rural areas
• Iron and vitamin A deficiencies

Housing Availability:
Although ICDDR,B has no formal arrangement with external housing authorities/ facilities, accommodation facilities (300-500 USD per fellow) are available in close proximity to the Centre and are often arranged by the Technical Training Unit/Mentors.

Health Issues and Immunizations Needed for this Site:
The Centre operates a Traveler's Clinic, staffed with both national and foreign physicians. First-line emergency care is readily available if required.

For more information see the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site and The Yellow Book: Health Information for International Travel.

The FICRS program mandates that all Scholars see a physician prior to their assignment abroad.

Safety and Danger Issues:
See the U.S. State Department Web site for information.

Language requirement other than English:
No, though a little Bengali may be advantageous. Language lessons are not available within the program but are easily available at low cost in Dhaka.

What is it like to live in Bangladesh?
Dhaka is a large city lacking much of the infrastructure expected of similar sized cities in the west. ICDDR,B is located in a congested commercial area, a couple of miles south of the main expatriate residential areas in Gulshan and Baridhara. In these areas, there are numerous restaurants and clubs offering sports facilities with temporary memberships for visitors. Travel and accommodation in the country outside Dhaka is basic. Bangladesh can provide a base for visiting other South and Southeast Asian countries. Fogarty Scholars should apply for a multiple entry visa of at least one year duration