Assistant Research Professor, Co-Lead – African Diaspora Centre for Healthy Urban Futures (UrbanBetter Academy @ Cambridge)

Current work and interests

Gabriel Okello is a leading exposure scientist driving action at the nexus of climate change, urbanisation, and health. His work examines how environmental exposures, including air pollution, extreme heat, mobility patterns, and the built environment, shape population and planetary health, particularly in rapidly growing urban areas facing complex social and environmental challenges.

Gabriel’s research is centred on understanding and transforming the systems that influence health in cities. His work brings together environmental and health data, community knowledge, and anticipatory approaches to generate actionable intelligence for decision-makers. His work connects data, lived experience and decision-making to co-design actionable research with diverse stakeholders for real-world impact.

His work is grounded in mixed-methods, participatory, and transdisciplinary approaches, enabling the co-creation of scientifically robust and socially grounded solutions. He is a strong advocate for citizen science and locally relevant interventions.

Gabriel also champions the African diaspora as a critical component of Global Africa, exploring how its intellectual capital, networks, and institutional influence can be more effectively connected to African-defined priorities.

Background and experience

Since joining the University of Cambridge in 2020, Gabriel has led and contributed to transdisciplinary research that connects data, lived experience, and evidence with urban policy and practice, with a particular focus on climate resilience and health challenges in African cities. He led the Air Quality and Non-Communicable Diseases Fellowship from 2020-2023, which has evolved into the Climate Baraza (Climate and Health Africa) Programme. In 2026, he co-founded and now co-leads the African Diaspora Centre for Healthy Urban Futures, strengthening equitable research, training, and knowledge partnerships across Africa and the global African diaspora.

Alongside his research leadership, Gabriel teaches on the University of Cambridge MPhil programme, delivering lectures on air pollution and planetary health, facilitating training in epidemiological methods, mentoring students, and contributing to recruitment and assessment.

Links

• LinkedIn
• X.com

Publications

1. Okello, G., Kizza, F.G., O’Sullivan, N. et al. Examining Data-Driven Approaches for Clean Air Advocacy in a Changing Climate: a Scoping Review. Curr Envir Health Rpt 13, 41 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40572-026-00563-5
2. Gómez-Sanabria A, Okello G, Nyamurungi K, Kiconco E, Kiguli D, Onyai F, et al. Organic waste management reveals methane reduction opportunities in Uganda. Communications Sustainability 2026 1:1. 2026 Aug 11;1(1):131. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44458-026-00127-6
3. Lsoto, D., Okello, G., et al. A Framework for Interpreting Air Pollution Sensor Data: Bridging Gaps in Monitoring, Analysis and Community Engagement. https://doi.org/10.1080/10962247.2026.2635079
4. Okello et al. 2024. Association between Ambient Air Pollution and Respiratory Health in Kampala, Uganda: Implications for Policy and Practice. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.uclim.2024.102128
5. Alaran, J. A., O’Sullivan, N., Tatah, L., Sserunjogi, R., 2024. Air pollution (PM_2.5) and its meteorology predictors in Kampala and Jinja cities, in Uganda. https://pubs.rsc.org/en/Content/ArticleLanding/2024/EA/D4EA00074A
6. Appiah-Dwomoh C, Tettey P, Akyeampong E, Amegbor P, Okello G, Botwe PK, et al. Smoke exposure, hemoglobin levels and the prevalence of anemia: a cross-sectional study in urban informal settlement in Southern Ghana. BMC Public Health, Springer. 2024 Dec 1;24(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-18304-4
7. Mead, M.I., Okello, G., Mbandi, A.M. et al.Spotlight on air pollution in Africa.  Geosci. 16, 930–931 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-023-01311-2
8. Okello, G., Nantanda, R., Awokola, B., Thondoo, M., Okure, D., Tatah, L., Bainomugisha, E., & Oni, T. (2023). Air quality management strategies in Africa: A scoping review of the content, context, co-benefits and unintended consequences. Environment International, 171, 107709. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2022.107709
9. MDebela; Kebeta ND; Begosaw AM; Gabriel Okello; Muluken Azage. (2023). Bagasse dust exposure and chronic respiratory symptoms among workers in the Metehara and Wonji sugar factories in Ethiopia: a longitudinal study design. BMJ open respiratory research. DOI: 1136/bmjresp-2022-001511
10. Lambed Tatah; Louise Foley; Tolu Oni; Matthew Pearce; Charles Lwanga; Vincent Were; Felix Assah; Yves Wasnyo; Ebele Mogo; Gabriel Okello et al. (2023). Comparing travel behaviour characteristics and correlates between large and small Kenyan cities (Nairobi versus Kisumu). DOI: 10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2023.103625
11. Lee Randall; Anna Brugulat-Panés; James Woodcock; Lisa Jayne Ware; Caitlin Pley; Safura Abdool Karim; Lisa Micklesfield; Gudani Mukoma; Lambed Tatah; Philip Mbulalina Dambisya; Sostina Spiwe Matina; Ian Hambleton; Gabriel Okello et al. (2023).
    Active travel and paratransit use in African cities: Mixed-method systematic review and meta-ethnography. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jth.2022.101558
12. Semple, S., Dobson, R., O’Donnell, R., Zainal Abidin, E., Tigova, O., Okello, G., & Fernández, E. (2022). Smoke-free spaces: A decade of progress, a need for more? Tobacco Control, 31(2), 250. https://doi.org/10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2021-056556
13. Awokola B, Okello G, Johnson O, Dobson R, Ouédraogo AR, Dibba B, et al. Longitudinal Ambient PM2.5 Measurement at Fifteen Locations in Eight Sub-Saharan African Countries Using Low-Cost Sensors. Atmosphere,mdpi.com. 2022. https://org/10.3390/atmos13101593
14. Woolley, K. E., Thomas, G. N., Kirenga, B., Okello, G., Kabera, T., Lao, X.-Q., Pope, F. D., Greenfield, S. M., Price, M. J., & Bartington, S. E. (2022). Association of household cooking location behaviour with acute respiratory infections among children aged under five years; a cross sectional analysis of 30 Sub-Saharan African Demographic and Health Surveys. Atmospheric Environment, 276, 119055. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2022.119055
15. Awokola, B., Amusa, G. A., Jewell, C. P., Okello, G., Stobrink, M., Finney, L. J., Mohammed, N., Erhart, A., & Mortimer, K. (2022). Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in sub-Saharan Africa. International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, 26(3), 232-242. https://doi.org/10.5588/ijtld.21.0394
16. Singh, A., Dobbie, F., Kinnunen, T.I., Okello, G., Semple, S., Okyere, P.B., Logo, D.D., Lartey, K.F., McNeil, A., Britton, J., Bauld, L., & Owusu-Dabo, E. (2021). Adherence to smoke-free policies in Ghana: Findings from a cross-sectional survey of hospitality venue owners and staff. Tobacco Prevention & Cessation, 7(January), 4. https://doi.org/10.18332/tpc/131058
17. Singh A, Okello G, Semple S, Dobbie F, Kinnunen TI, Lartey KF, et al. Exposure to secondhand smoke in hospitality settings in Ghana: Evidence of changes since implementation of smoke-free legislation. Tobacco Induced Diseases, 2020
    DOI: https://doi.org/10.18332/tid/120934
18. Okello, G., Mortimer, K., Lawin, H. & Semple, S. 2020. Quantifying exposure to respiratory hazards in sub-Saharan Africa: a simple guide to some practical issues to help plan your study. AJRM 14, no 2.
19. Okello, G., Devereux, G. and Semple, S. (2018). Women and girls in resource poor countries experience much greater exposure to household air pollutants than men: Results from Uganda and Ethiopia, Environ international, 119, pp. 429-437 3. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2018.07.002
20. Gravely S, Nyamurungi KN, Kabwama SN, Okello G, Robertson L et al. 2018. Knowledge, opinions and compliance related to the 100% smoke-free law in hospitality venues in Kampala, Uganda: cross-sectional results from the KOMPLY Project. BMJ Open 2018. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/bmjopen/8/1/e017601.full.pdf
21. Tumwesige, V., Okello, G., Semple, S., Smith, J. 2017. Impact of partial fuel switch on household air pollutants in sub-Sahara Africa. Environmental Pollution 231 (1)1021-1029. 1016/j.envpol.2017.08.118