The IMPACT Group, led by the University of York, involves collaborations with different academic, research and civil society organizations in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and the UK. It aims to improve the physical health of people with severe mental illness and the mental health of people with chronic physical conditions. This aim will be achieved through synthesis of relevant evidence and development and feasibility-testing of interventions, targeting people with mental and physical multi morbidities. Mental health burden is very high in developing countries. There is very limited capacity for research in this region.  This capacity building is aiming to build leadership capacity and contribute in mental health research.

The program components in Bangladesh are research and capacity building. icddr,b will lead on the capacity building component . As a part of the capacity building at least two of the research fellows are being trained under this activity. It is aiming to increase the individual capacity building of the fellow for conducting research independently. The fellows are already being trained in Effective networking, reviewing relevant literature and prepare matrix, developing strong proposals, writing academic papers. The research fellows have already initiated to work as a Co-PI and Co-I in a new study protocol under this broader IMPACT programme