Dr Gabriel Okello

Research interests

Gabriel’s current research interests focus on the interconnectivity between environmental health and disease with a view to helping foster healthier and safer communities. Gabriel has a wider ambition to raise public awareness of air pollution exposure and engage stakeholders across African cities to address the air pollution problem using evidence-based policies and programmes. Gabriel is also interested in increasing capacity around the use of air pollution information in healthcare to help manage patients with respiratory disease and multimorbidity.

Program of translational research focused on air quality measurement and interventions relating to outdoor and indoor pollution; and occupational inhalation hazards.

Career 

• 2018 to 2020: Founder and Centre Director, African Centre for Clean Air
• 2015 to 2019: Postgraduate researcher, University of Aberdeen, Respiratory Group
• 2013 to 2018: Operations Director, Green Heat Uganda
• 2011 to 2013: Master’s student, Northeast Normal University
• 2010 to 2011: Nile Breweries Limited

Qualifications

• PhD Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen
• Pan African Thoracic Society Methods in Epidemiology Clinical and Research Operations Research (PATS MECOR Level 2), Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
• M.Sc. Organic Chemistry, Northeast Normal University
• BSc Food Processing Technology; Kyambogo University

Other affiliations

• Air Quality Faculty: Pan African Thoracic Society Methods in Epidemiology Clinical and Research Operations Research (PATS MECOR)
• Biomass Reduction and Environmental Air Towards Health Effects (BREATHE) -Africa Partnership

Funding and awards

• Systems of Cities: Urban Mobility in Kampala and its Surrounding Areas (PI).
• Understanding Household Fuel Transitions: The Case of Namuwongo (Kampala). 2020. Collaboration study between ACCA, ACTogether, EASE Women’s enterprise and University of Birmingham (PI)
• PATS MECOR Small grant. 2019. Determining the level of exposure to ambient air pollution among urban traffic-junction officers in Kampala, Uganda.

• BREATHE Small Awards 2018: Effect of cooking behaviour on exposure to household air pollution from different cooking fuels (PI)
• Biomass Reduction and Environmental Air Towards Health Effects in Africa – BREATHE Partnership. MRC, UK. (Postgraduate Researcher)
• UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) Clean Start.
• Value addition in milk production using renewable energy. United States Africa Development Fund (Co-PI).