BIDE has been involved in various research projects since its establishment in 1996. In January 1999, BIDE opened a medical research department pioneering the research activities in the field of Diabetes in Pakistan. Research department has now a fully developed research unit consisting of head of the research department, honorary research consultant, research officers, statistician and a research coordinator. The department is led by Professor Abdul Basit and Prof. Rubina Hakeem.

Prof. Abdul Basit (Director – BIDE) is also an honorary research associate of Nottingham University. The research department has valuable support of BIDE consultants who have been participating in the departmental activities and giving their precious time and advice to the research department for conducting studies. Diet and Education department of BIDE has also been actively participating in the research activities.

So far six students have completed M.Phil/PhD studies and four are currently enrolled in various Post Graduate Programmes.

• So far 54 studies have been published in various international and national indexed journals.
• The Department explored an important area of child health by assessing the school children for various anthropometric and biochemical risk factors to draw attention on childhood obesity.
• In the year 2000 Prevalence of diabetes survey was done by the Research department in the area of Hub Baluchistan .Now in 2009 the same area is being explored to see the current status of diabetes and its associated risk factors.
• Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome and associated risk factors was assessed in an epidemiological study through geographical imaging system in Lyari town of Karachi, Pakistan.
• First time from Pakistan the comprehensive data on diabetic foot was collected and published for;
  • Prevalence of Diabetic foot ulcer.
  • Factors associated with diabetic foot ulcer.
  • Outcome and presentation of diabetic foot ulcer.
  • Economic burden of diabetic foot ulcer.
• Research Department of BIDE through electronic data keeping on specialized health care software (HCMS) is maintaining the data of diabetic patients. So far the data of around12,000 diabetic patients and around 1800 diabetic foot patients has been maintained and the following areas has been explored for research studies
  • The presentation of Diabetic patient at tertiary care unit.
  • The Prevalence of acute and chronic complications of diabetes.
  • Association of glycaemic control and hypertension with chronic complications of diabetes.
  • The annual incidence of chronic complications in yearly follow up.
• Studies on Type 1 diabetes and Ramadan are two important and first of its kind studies from Pakistan. These studies give the baseline data and now further larger scale prospective studies are designed for the coming year to have more detailed information for making local guidelines.

BIDE Research department is currently involved in collaborative studies with Diabetic Association of Pakistan (DAP) at the National level and with University of Oslo, Norway (UIO) and University of Birmingham at the International level.

Studies on primary prevention of diabetes in collaboration with University of Oslo (UIO) and genetic studies in collaboration with University of Birmingham are among present International research commitments.

• The Department has participated in various international and national medical symposia and has presented around 150 oral and posters presentations.
• The study tilled: “Diabetes Risk Factors in Middle Income Pakistani School Children” was awarded Gold Medal by Pakistan Academy of Medical Sciences (PAMS)
• Dr. Zafar Iqbal Hydrie is enrolled in a PhD program with scholarship in University of Oslo, Norway
• Prof. Abdul Basit’s oral presentation at International Symposium on Diabetic Foot (ISDF), from May 9 – 12, 2007, held in Amsterdam, Netherlands, was awarded first prize among sixty speakers from all over the world. In this conference BIDE had the honor of presenting seven posters & three oral presentations.
• Dr. Asima’s oral presentation at 47th Annual Medical Symposium, Role of Symposia in Education & Research, 15th – 21st February, 2010, Karachi, Pakistan, was awarded first prize.
• Dr. Musarrat Riaz Poster presentation at 47th Annual Medical Symposium, Role of Symposia in Education & Research, 15th – 21st February, 2010, Karachi, Pakistan, was awarded first prize.