Ongoing ► research projects are focused in the health policy and systems arena, whereas an overview of the completed projects is provided herewith

1. Health Policy and Systems Research

As part of  strengthening the evidence base of health reforms in Pakistan, health policy and systems research is currently ongoing in many areas ►

As part of the NAP-NCD, policy and systems research forms the empirical basis for health system reforms in the areas of an integrated approach to chronic disease and public-private [not-for-profit] collaboration. Work is currently underway to evaluate the process of developing the NAP-NCD ►

Research in the area of priority setting initiated in collaboration with the Global Forum for Health Research, Geneva, was aimed at developing locally suited priority-setting models

2. Applied research

Heartfile-Lodhran CVD Prevention Project:  Pilot and demonstration community project, which aimed to develop sustainable and low-resource-setting-sensitive strategies for prevention of chronic disease.
Funding: Department of International Development, UK (2001-2004) End of Project evaluation: ► click to view.

Heartfile JC Project: Pilot project, which aimed to develop an approach to integrate chronic disease prevention into the work plan of health providers in the private sector.
Funding: European Union funded Trust for Voluntary Organizations End of Project reporting: ► click to view.

PREMISE Study: a global study aimed at developing models for Prevention of Recurrences of Myocardial Infarction and Stroke. Heartfile was the principal investigator in Pakistan for this WHO global study and was represented on the Technical Committee of the study
Funding and Collaboration: WHO Cardiovascular Disease Unit, Geneva
End of Project reporting: available

WHO Risk Management Package: an international study aimed at testing the suitability of low-resource-setting-sensitive tools for secondary prevention of cardiovascular diseases
Funding and Collaboration: WHO Cardiovascular Disease Unit, Geneva
End of Project reporting: available

Global [price of chronic disease medicines] WHO Drug Survey: an international study to assess barriers to the use of medicines for secondary prevention of chronic disease. Heartfile was the principal investigator in Pakistan for this WHO global study
Funding and Collaboration: WHO Cardiovascular Disease Unit, Geneva
End of Project reporting: available 

3. Epidemiological Research:

National population-based NCD surveillance system; the surveillance system of the National Action Plan for NCD prevention, control and health promotion in Pakistan
Funding: World Health Organization, Geneva
Existing publications: ► click to view.
Final Report: in the pipeline

The RISK-CORN study - the first case control study to determine risk factors for coronary heart disease in Pakistanis; conducted in collaboration with Guys and St. Thomas', London
Funding: Pakistan Medical Research Council and St Thomas’ Hospital, London
Existing publications: ► ► ► click to view.

Investigators in Pakistan for the INTERHEART study - a global study of risk factors in acute myocardial infarction; conducted by McMaster University, Canada

4. Communications research

Research in this area aimed at developing feasible approaches to impacting the behaviour of all actors in the health system. The intervention campaigns used as part of these projects went beyond the public service announcement approach, utilizing lessons from behavioural research and capitalizing on the strengths of social marketing. Details about the campaigns can be accessed ►. Funding: Canadian International Development Agency
Existing publications: ► click to view.