SHAPES Project
Structural Heat Adaptation and Education in Urban and Rural Setting (SHAPES Trial): cRCT
About the Project
As climate change accelerates, extreme heat events are becoming a deadly public health threat—especially in low-resource settings. The SHAPES Project, launched by IGHD in 2024, addresses this challenge through an ambitious research and implementation initiative focused on protecting vulnerable populations: children under five, pregnant women, outdoor workers, older adults, and marginalized communities in both urban Karachi and rural Matiari.
SHAPES is one of Pakistan’s first large-scale efforts to design, pilot, and rigorously evaluate climate adaptation interventions for heat resilience—creating an evidence base for scalable, policy-ready solutions.
Project Objectives
- Map and evaluate existing heat adaptation and mitigation strategies across Pakistan.
- Co-develop and pilot test a Heat Adaptation & Reduction Bundle (HAB).
- Conduct a cluster-randomized trial involving over 3,960 households to assess health and economic impacts.
Expected Outcomes
The study will assess reductions in heat-related illnesses. Secondary outcomes include all-cause mortality, hospital visits, thermal comfort, and indoor temperature. Some participants will also use wearable devices to track sleep, heart rate, activity, and mental well-being.
Collaborating Institutions
London School of Hygiene and
Tropical Medicine (LSHTM)
University College London (UCL)
Support & Funding
Wellcome Trust
Why This Matters
SHAPES integrates scientific rigor with community-driven implementation to inform policy and resilience strategies in Pakistan and other LMICs, especially in urban planning, maternal health, and infrastructure development.
Grant Status
Active 
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