Caribbean Centre for Health Systems Research and Development

The Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease in Trinidad and Tobago (BOLD-TT) Study

COPD is an umbrella term to describe a group of chronic lung diseases, including chronic bronchitis or emphysema, that cause limitations in lung airflow. Airflow limitation is due to an inflammatory response of the lungs to inhaled pollutants. The loss of lung function is progressive and not fully reversible. Individuals with COPD have persistent respiratory symptoms, the most common being difficult or laboured breathing, chronic cough, and excessive phlegm production. Without proper management, patients experience exacerbated symptoms, including frequent chest infections. COPD places a heavy burden on society as the disease. [Read more]

National Eye Survey of Trinidad and Tobago (NESTT)

Vision function is classified into 4 broad categories: normal vision; moderate vision impairment; severe vision impairment; and blindness. In 2013-2014 UWI conducted a was a population-based, cross-sectional national eye survey to [Read more]

One Health Project

One Health is all about finding sustainable solutions to interconnected health problems involving people, animals, agriculture and the environment through partnerships and cooperation across sectors. The Caribbean nations are connected by shared waters, culture and climates, yet the distance, diversity and various approaches to governance between nations complicates efforts to promote an integrated, holistic approach to problems. Overcoming this challenge is urgent because of the many significant One Health problems in the region, such as more frequent and more severe tropical storms and hurricanes, water shortages, rises in sea levels, losses of fisheries, increases in mosquito-borne diseases and chronic non-communicable diseases linked to poor nutrition, poverty and environmental pollution. [Read more]

Oral Health Research Unit

The Research Unit within the School of Dentistry will allow for a more focused research agenda and impactful research outcomes. The Unit will be expected to leverage these relationships and partnerships noted above at national, regional and international levels to compound the reach and impact of it research outputs, inclusive of delivering a more integrated and effective outreach programme. [Read more]