PREVENTING TRUUD aims to change the way decisions are made about urban development to prevent non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the future. DISEASE Learn more traffic with exhaust PREVENTING TRUUD aims to change the way decisions are made about urban development to prevent non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the future. DISEASE Learn more Wapping Wharf development - Bristol PREVENTING TRUUD aims to change the way decisions are made about urban development to prevent non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the future. DISEASE JonCraig_Photos Learn more PREVENTING TRUUD aims to change the way decisions are made about urban development to prevent non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the future. DISEASE Learn more

About TRUUD

TRUUD stands for ‘Tackling the Root causes Upstream of Unhealthy Urban Development’

Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) are illnesses that can’t be passed from person to person, such as diabetes, heart disease and poor mental health.  Our urban environments can have an impact on our health.  For example, links have been found between NCDs and air pollution, availability of green spaces, and nature in our urban spaces.  We are working with decision makers and communities to develop ways to prioritise health in urban planning decisions.

Our Work Packages

Primary Engagement

Together with people who work in urban development, we are mapping out the system of decision making and identifying potential areas where we can influence the system and make changes to prioritise long-term health.

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Economic Valuation

We are using existing evidence and information about people’s “willingness to pay” to develop a tool to calculate the cost of poor health linked to the urban environment (e.g. health treatments, costs of missing work). This tool will be available to decision makers and the public.

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Intervention Co-Production

This piece of the research will bring together information from our Primary Engagement, Economic Valuation and Public Involvement work to identify and develop the best way to prioritise health in urban development decision-making (the “intervention”). This work is also aiming to ensure that TRUUD intervention can be used in a broad range of urban development contexts.

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Public Involvement

We are working with the public to develop creative initiatives. These will be used to communicate the effects of the urban environment and health inequalities on individuals and communities to decision makers.

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Knowledge Exchange

TRUUD aims to work with communities and experts in urban development to develop ways to prioritise health. To do this we will make sure that we share information and listen to what people want and need (knowledge exchange). This is important because we want what we find in TRUUD to be relevant to the “real world” and to make changes to the way that decisions are made about urban developments across the country.

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Meta-Research Evaluation

The TRUUD consortium is made up of lots of experts from lots of different specialties, all with health as a common priority. We are using this part of the research to ensure that we reflect on how we work as a team. This will help us to work as efficiently and effectively as possible.

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Testimonials

Dr Aude Bicquelet-Lock, Deputy Head of Policy & Research, Royal Town Planning Institute

The RTPI has supported and engaged with previous research projects relating to health and wellbeing. We believe that the outputs from this interdisciplinary, inter-sectoral work can support our profession to shape urban environments in a manner which delivers improved public health services.

Edward Rowberry, Chief Executive, Bristol & Bath Regional Capital

Bristol Medical School have assembled a singularly impressive research team who together span comprehensively the wide range of disciplines required to tackle this complex ‘wicked’ challenge of ill-health prevention through the creation of healthier urban environments. It is encouraging to see experts in public health and systems thinking brought together with those from urban development, corporate governance, law and economics: this broad, interdisciplinary and upstream focus is essential o unlock these messy systemic issues. The unusual and extensive real world and policy-making experience within the research team is equally impressive and particularly encouraging in terms of potential for impact.

Professor John Iredale, Pro Vice Chancellor (Health & Life Sciences), University of Bristol

The proposed work will address a wide range of non-communicable diseases, which are hugely impacted through the built environment and current planning and policy mechanisms. The novel upstream and systems approach meets UKPRP objectives and will engage relevant industry and policy representatives to effect change through the findings of the study. The proposal addresses an unmet need and I believe has the potential to improve systems of corporate public and private sector governance for transformative prevention nationally.

Dr Eime Tobari, Social Value Strategist/Director – COCREATIF Ltd.

While research findings to date have created a broad range of evidence base that establishes links between urban environment and health outcomes, this research aims to address a critical and fundamental issue in application of these findings to real urban development projects. I believe that without establishing structural and systematic obstacles for implementation, we will not be able to create a social justice system whereby consideration for health issues are balanced with other social values such as economical and environmental priorities.

Our Partners

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Our Funders

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