About
WHO WE ARE
COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI) is one of the largest public sector universities in Pakistan, with the mandate to increase scientific capacity in Pakistan and enhance our understanding of various scientific disciplines. The Centre for Climate Research and Development, and the Department of Meteorology at COMSATS University Islamabad have been working on climate science in the South Asian region, to provide analytical information to assist in the fight against climate change at the Global South level.
Within that mandate, working at the climate-health nexus, CUI is working towards collaborations that generate insights on the potential development and use of novel climate intervention technologies, like solar geoengineering. Specifically, CUI researchers are working to understand how solar geoengineering techniques like stratospheric aerosol injection might change how vector borne diseases like malaria may transmit in the South Asian region in the near and far future.
We are climate and health scientists working on a Harvard Global Empowerment Meeting Incubation Grant to develop a prototype dashboard for South Asian health policymakers to comprehend the interplay between climate change, solar geoengineering and malaria is at the South Asian level. We hope this work will spur further conversation on the scientific and policy needs for vector borne diseases and the health sector, as a whole, for this region, among researchers, policy makers and civil society.
OUR WORK
GLOBAL COLLABORATION
This work has come about as a result of growing collaboration between CUI entities and The Alliance for Just Deliberation on Solar Geoengineering (a US-based nonprofit focused on ensuring these technologies are researched under principles of justice and fairness), and Harvard, as our funding entity. Our work is an extension of the efforts of the Malaria Atlas Project (MAP), and seeks to incorporate information about SRM into their information portal on climate change and malaria transmission.
This site presents development of a Solar Radiation Modification (SRM) impacts based prototype web dashboard for health policy makers in South Asia. South Asia being a climatically most vulnerable region, desperately needs an evidence-based information hub for perspective building of SRM among relevant health policy makers. Collaboration between scientists from the health services and climate change sectors, and web developers has led to an extension in MAP through projected climate change impact on a vector borne disease malaria, without and with SRM. Health policy makers of South Asia can now view the projected malaria risk maps with climate change and with and without SRM.
This effort is intended to demonstrate the functioning of a prototype SRM impacts dashboard for South Asia in health sector. This ensures a handy display of SRM impacts to initiate serious deliberations on role of South Asia and at the same time supports think tanks, policy shaping and decision making on SRM in South Asia. The presented tool enables the health policy makers in South Asia to take cost effective preventive actions in a timely manner.
TECHNICAL EXCELLENCE
We store the world’s largest malaria database assembling millions of data elements and developing innovative analytical approaches to make sense of complex malaria data. This extensive repository allows us to gather comprehensive insights into malaria patterns, trends, and anomalies. By leveraging this wealth of information we can better understand the disease’s dynamics and identify critical factors that contribute to its spread and persistence.
As leaders in geospatial analysis, spatiotemporal statistical methods, machine learning, and computational disease models we employ cutting edge techniques to interpret and predict malaria occurrences. Our expertise enables us to create detailed maps and models that visualize the disease's distribution and evolution over time and space. Through these advanced analytical methods we aim to inform and enhance malaria control and eradication efforts worldwide ultimately contributing to improved public health outcomes.
Data driven solutions for a malaria free future.
