Complex Urban Systems for Sustainability and Health (CUSSH)

The Complex Urban Systems for Sustainability and Health (CUSSH) project is a four-year Wellcome Trust funded project that will deliver key global research on the systems that connect urban development and health. Alongside partner cities in France, China and Kenya, the project will assist decision-makers and the public about areas of development that afford the greatest opportunities for health and sustainability. It aims to develop critical evidence on how to achieve the far-reaching transformation of cities needed to address vital environmental imperatives for population and planetary health in the 21st century, making use of cutting-edge science and systems-based participatory methods to help shape policy decisions and accelerate the implementation of transformational changes for health and sustainability in low, middle and high-income settings.

IIASA is leading Work Package 3 of the project, dealing with impact modelling and policy analysis. This proposes to answer the following three research questions:

1. What models are necessary to understand the impact of alternative development interventions on population health and environmental and economic objectives?
2. What are the key uncertainties that may influence decision-making and how can research evidence reduce them?
3. What are the main trade-offs and how can they be addressed in decision-making?

The microsimulation models being developed by the project partners will be informed by, and make use of, the GAINS model which IIASA is currently adapting as an assessment tool for cities in work sponsored by the World Bank. The intention is to develop the model to incorporate evidence on an extended range of impacts (e.g. physical activity, water-related risks, road injuries) from the microsimulation modelling in order to provide a decision support tool for policymakers.

The objectives of the kick-off workshop are to enable a better shared understanding of the modelling capabilities of each group in WP3, to review the proposed work, timetable and deadlines, to agree the allocation of tasks and responsibilities, and generally, plan working methods, outputs and engagement with other work packages, with policy makers and the wider public.

Last edited: 05 June 2018