01
Questionnaire
>300 variables
Detailed interviews covering demographics, socioeconomic status, behavioural risk factors, medical history, and environmental exposures for every enrolled participant.
Epidemiological Cohort · Urban Bangladesh · Since 2016
BELIEVE-UrbanSTUDY
Bangladesh Longitudinal Investigation of Emerging Vascular and Non-vascular Events
A prospective cohort of nearly 60,000 residents in Mirpur, Dhaka, investigating how environmental, behavioural and biological factors shape non-communicable diseases — a collaboration between NHFH&RI and the University of Cambridge.
59,844
Participants
31,713
Households
>300
Variables
2016
Study start
59,844
Participants Recruited
Mirpur, Dhaka
31,713
Households
Urban catchment
>300
Questionnaire Variables
Per participant
~2,000
Nightingale DBS Pilot
Paired samples
50%
Round 3 Reassessed
Follow-up ongoing
About the Cohort
A living bioresource for NCD epidemiology in Bangladesh
Initiated in 2016 to address the growing burden of non-communicable diseases, BELIEVE-Urban is one of the largest prospective cohorts ever assembled in Bangladesh.
The BELIEVE Urban Study is a large population-based prospective cohort conducted in Mirpur, Dhaka, as part of the broader Bangladesh Longitudinal Investigation of Emerging Vascular and Non-vascular Events. It was initiated in 2016 to establish a high-quality epidemiological platform for long-term research on cardiovascular and metabolic disorders.
The cohort includes 59,844 participants recruited from 31,713 households within the Mirpur urban catchment area. The study is implemented by the Department of Epidemiology and Research at the National Heart Foundation Hospital & Research Institute (NHFH&RI) in collaboration with the University of Cambridge, and is locally led by Professor Sohel Reza Choudhury.
The primary objective is to examine the determinants and progression of major non-communicable diseases — particularly cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension and other metabolic disorders. The study integrates demographic, socioeconomic, behavioural, environmental, clinical and biological data so investigators can explore the complex interactions between social, environmental and biological determinants of disease.
Participants undergo baseline assessment including questionnaire-based interviews, anthropometry, blood pressure evaluation and biological sample collection. Specimens support biochemical testing and advanced molecular analyses — including genomics and proteomics — enabling investigation of the pathways that underlie cardiovascular and metabolic disease.
Follow-up rounds are conducted periodically to identify incident events and track changes in risk profiles. The third round of follow-up is currently under way, with around 50% of participants already reassessed. Findings from the cohort aim to inform national prevention strategies, guide health policy, and strengthen Bangladesh's research capacity in chronic disease epidemiology.
Study Setting
Where BELIEVE happens
The BELIEVE-Urban cohort spans the dense urban wards of Mirpur in northern Dhaka — a population of ~2 million within one of the world's most rapidly urbanising megacities. Participants were recruited across 31,713 households in the Mirpur catchment area.
~2.0M
Mirpur population
31,713
Catchment households
59,844
Participants enrolled
3
Follow-up rounds
Study Design
5 data streams — one cohort
Every participant contributes across complementary data streams — from behavioural questionnaires to genomic analyses — enabling the study of social, environmental and biological determinants of disease side by side.
02
Anthropometry & BP
Clinical measurements
Standardised anthropometric assessments, blood pressure readings, and behavioural risk factor profiling captured at baseline and each follow-up wave.
03
Biological Samples
Serum · Plasma · Whole blood · Nail
A long-term biobank of serum, plasma, whole blood and nail samples enabling biochemical testing and molecular epidemiology for decades to come.
04
Genomics & Multi-omics
Advanced molecular analyses
Genomic, proteomic and metabolomic profiling of stored specimens to uncover biological pathways underlying cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.
05
Longitudinal Follow-up
MI · Stroke · Diabetes · Cancer
Periodic follow-up rounds track incident events and risk-factor trajectories. Round 3 is currently under way with around 50% of participants already reassessed.
From the Field
BELIEVE in action
A window into the community engagement, training, and scientific life of the BELIEVE-Urban Study.
The Journey
A decade of evidence building
From the first ethical clearance in 2015 to active Round 3 follow-up today — every milestone of the BELIEVE-Urban cohort.
2015
Milestone 01
Ethical approval
BMRC/NREC first clearance granted (Oct 2015), laying the regulatory foundation.
2016
Milestone 02
Cohort initiated
BELIEVE-Urban enrollment launched in Mirpur, Dhaka through an NHFH&RI × Cambridge collaboration.
2017–2019
Milestone 03
Baseline completed
59,844 participants from 31,713 households enrolled with questionnaire, clinical and biospecimen data.
2020–2023
Milestone 04
Follow-up rounds
Periodic follow-up waves track incident events and changing risk profiles.
2024
Milestone 05
Cohort profile published
Study design and baseline characteristics published in BMJ Open.
2025 → Present
Milestone 06
Round 3 follow-up
Third follow-up wave under way — ~50% of participants already reassessed.
Currently active
Round 3 follow-up in progress
~50% of participants already reassessed
50%
Round 3
Impact & Voice
Evidence that shapes prevention in Bangladesh
Policy Outcome
The BELIEVE cohort provides evidence to support national strategies for the prevention and control of cardiovascular and other non-communicable diseases in Bangladesh.
Largest
NCD bioresource in BD
Longitudinal
MI · Stroke · Diabetes · Cancer
Multi-omics
Genomics + Proteomics
Cross-cohort
UK × BD collaboration
Community Voice
By engaging tens of thousands of residents in Mirpur, the study has created an opportunity for participants to learn more about their own health — through blood-pressure checks and other clinical assessments — and to contribute to research that aims to improve the health of future generations in Bangladesh. Many participants have expressed appreciation for increasing awareness of cardiovascular risk factors, including hypertension and diabetes, within their community.
Synthesised from BELIEVE community engagement notes
Peer-Reviewed Output
Published research
2 peer-reviewed papers from the BELIEVE-Urban cohort — drawn live from the NHFB publications database.
Featured Cohort Paper
BMJ OpenPublished 2024
Cohort profile: the BangladEsh Longitudinal Investigation of Emerging Vascular and non-vascular Events (BELIEVE) cohort study
Read full paperDOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-088338
Cohort at a glance
59,844
Participants
31,713
Households
>300
Variables
3
Follow-ups
Open access — the complete cohort profile, protocols and methods.
Looking for more NHFB research?
Search hundreds of papers across all programs — filter by year, journal, or topic.
For Researchers
Cite this cohort
If the BELIEVE-Urban Study supports your work, please cite the canonical cohort profile paper below.
APA citation
Choudhury SR, Danesh J, Di Angelantonio E, et al. (2024). Cohort profile: the BangladEsh Longitudinal Investigation of Emerging Vascular and non-vascular Events (BELIEVE) cohort study. BMJ Open. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2024-088338
BibTeX
@article{choudhurysr2024,
title = {Cohort profile: the BangladEsh Longitudinal Investigation of Emerging Vascular and non-vascular Events (BELIEVE) cohort study},
author = {Choudhury SR, Danesh J, Di Angelantonio E, et al.},
journal = {BMJ Open},
year = {2024},
doi = {10.1136/bmjopen-2024-088338},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2024-088338},
}Leadership
A cross-continental research team
BDPrincipal Investigator (Bangladesh)
Prof. Sohel Reza Choudhury
Professor & Head, Department of Epidemiology and Research, National Heart Foundation Hospital & Research Institute, Dhaka
UKPrincipal Investigator (UK)
Prof. John Danesh
University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
UKCo-Principal Investigator
Prof. Emanuele Di Angelantonio
University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
Partners & Affiliations
An international research consortium
BELIEVE-Urban is powered by a partnership between Bangladesh's leading cardiovascular research institute, the University of Cambridge, and a network of funders, ethics bodies, and scientific collaborators.
National Heart Foundation Hospital & Research Institute
Implementing institution
Dhaka, Bangladesh
University of Cambridge
Scientific partner
Cambridge, United Kingdom
UKRI Medical Research Council
Primary funder
United Kingdom
CAP
CAPABLE Consortium
Funding mechanism
UKRI Global Challenge Research Fund
BMRC
Bangladesh Medical Research Council
Ethical oversight
Dhaka, Bangladesh
Bangladesh Medical University
Ethical oversight (formerly BSMMU)
Dhaka, Bangladesh
Governance & Compliance
Funding & ethical oversight
BELIEVE operates under continuous ethical review and is funded through competitive international research grants — every study round is independently approved.
Declaration of Helsinki
Informed consent obtained from every participant · Data de-identified for analysis
Follow the BELIEVE journey
For the latest news, publications and community updates from the BELIEVE-Urban Study, visit the official study website.