The research on disaster risk and resilience examines the full disaster cycle (response, recovery, rehabilitation, relocation, and vulnerability reduction) for key hazards, building urban resilience and resilient infrastructure, across  local and global landscapes.

The research focuses on understanding the impact of post-disaster recovery, rehabilitation, resettlement and relocation processes, particularly on vulnerable populations. It studies the long-term impact of disasters on livelihoods, human, and economic development. Its work also focuses on enabling urban multi-hazard resilience, and the planning, financing, and creation of resilient infrastructure systems, as well as enhancing risk governance to address systemic risk and vulnerability.

The research has contributed to the Sendai Agreement, six UNDRR Global Assessment Reports (GAR) on Disaster Risk Reduction, the design and creation of the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) and its flagship report Global Infrastructure Resilience, national and state policy, and programme design and implementation. It has also shaped courses, teaching and training practices.