Environment and Health over the Lifecourse
Research & Innovation Programmes Environment and Health over the Lifecourse

Environment and Health over the Lifecourse

Web Image for ISGlobal Research Programmes
Photo: Àlex Losada / Barcelona.cat

The Environment and Health over the Lifecourse research programme aims to conduct high-quality integrative research to expand knowledge on the causes and mechanisms of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The programme focuses on environmental, radiation, occupational, lifestyle, social, infectious, and genetic risk factors throughout the lifecourse, from prenatal to late adult life. Key outcomes include respiratory and immune health, neurodevelopment, cardiovascular health and cancer. Our ultimate goal is to prevent and control NCDs, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Specific Goals

  • To assess the prevalence and extent of risk factors and lifetime exposures associated with NCDs, while advancing exposure assessment methods.
  • To understand the causes, development, course and mechanisms of NCDs, with a focus on respiratory and immune health, neurodevelopment and cognitive decline, mental health, cardiovascular and metabolic health, birth and pregnancy outcomes, and cancer.
  • To quantify environmental exposures and NCDs burden, globally, and in low-and-middle income countries and vulnerable populations (e.g., pregnant women, children, elderly, socioeconomically disadvantaged, indigenous peoples and local communities).
  • To inform, improve and promote interventions and policies for primary and secondary prevention of NCDs, including preparedness and resilience to health and climate emergencies.

We build on large population-based, clinical and occupational cohort and case-control studies as powerful platforms for etiological research, and incorporate innovative approaches such as the exposome, omics biomarkers, imaging, and data science. Work in the programme ranges from local to national and global efforts in high and low-and-middle income countries, with international leadership in areas such as exposome, radiation, child health, cancer, and respiratory health research. We have a successful record of research and training in epidemiology and in translation of research findings into policy. Within ISGlobal, successful collaborations are in place with the Severo Ochoa groups, the Climate, Air pollution, Nature and Urban Health and the Global Viral and Bacterial Infections Programme.

Main Research Areas

Brain and mental health over the lifecourse

The Brain and mental health over the lifecourse research area aims at investigating the factors influencing brain health development and promotion over the lifecourse, with a particular focus on environmental and social exposures.

  • BrainChild Lab - Mònica Guxens
  • Jordi Sunyer
  • Léa Maitre
  • Judith Garcia-Aymerich
  • Xavier Basagaña
  • Cristina Villanueva
  • Payam Dadvand
  • Eider Martínez de Arenaza
  • Ioar Rivas
  • Sarah Koch
  • NeuroEpia - Jordi Julvez
  • IsabelleThierry-Chef
  • Mariona Bustamante
  • Mireia Gascon
  • PopMental - Oleguer Plana-Ripoll

Projects

Chemicals and water pollutants

The Chemicals and water pollutants research area evaluates the link between exposure to environmental chemical pollutants and health effects over the life course.

Projects

Circadian health

The Circadian health research area aims to evaluate the effect of circadian disruption on health and prevention with a focus on shift work, artificial light at night, nutrition and novel biomarker/omics research.

  • Manolis Kogevinas
  • NutriEpi - Camille Lassale
  • Payam Dadvand
  • Paula Petrone
  • Nuria Matilla
  • Gemma Castaño
  • Kyriaki Papantoniou
  • Kurt Straif
  • Marianna Karachaliou
  • Barbara Harding
  • Ana Espinosa

Projects

Environment and Mother-child health

The Environment and Mother-child health research area aims to expand scientific understanding of the environmental, lifestyle and social risk factors for mother-child health and development and the origins of later disease. Our approach is strongly nested in longitudinal cohort studies, starting in pregnancy and following children through adolescence, as a powerful platform for etiological research. We coordinate several mother-child cohort studies and International networks, and incorporate innovative approaches such as exposome and omics approaches. Research lines include childhood obesity and cardiometabolic and liver health, and emerging topics such as infections, climatic conditions, and micro and nanoplastics. Data from the cohorts is used extensively by other research areas within the Environment and Health over the Lifecourse programme (e.g. brain and mental health, respiratory health, chemicals, molecular) and by other ISGlobal programmes.

  • Martine Vrijheid
  • BrainChild Lab - Mònica Guxens
  • Jordi Sunyer
  • Léa Maitre
  • Manolis Kogevinas
  • Xavier Basagaña
  • Payam Dadvand
  • Juan Ramón González
  • Cristina Villanueva
  • Mariona Bustamante
  • Camille Lassale
  • Ioar Rivas
  • Sarah Koch
  • Mireia Gascon

Projects

Molecular epidemiology

The Molecular Epidemiology research area explores how environmental, lifestyle, and genetic factors interact to influence health and disease throughout life. Using advanced molecular and computational tools, we study the biological pathways that connect exposures to disease onset and progression. We apply omics technologies and biomarkers to identify molecular signatures of exposure and risk. We focus particularly on non-communicable diseases and the impact of early-life exposures on long-term health. By integrating population-based data with molecular insights, we aim to better understand the mechanisms that drive disease and to inform prevention strategies. Ultimately, our research contributes to advancing precision public health and reducing health inequalities worldwide.

  • Juan Ramón González
  • Léa Maitre
  • Manolis Kogevinas
  • Cristina Villanueva
  • Martine Vrijheid
  • Mariona Bustamante

Projects

Occupational health

The Occupational Health research area evaluates the impacts of occupational exposures related to the development and progression of mental and physical health outcomes over the lifecourse, with a particular focus on cancer and respiratory disease. Researchers in the area study the occupational exposome and interactions of occupational and non-occupational exposures. An important focus includes the conduct of both observational and interventional studies related to the impact of climate change, the transition towards sustainable jobs, and the green transition on workers' health. Researchers have placed particular emphasis on the coordination of large-scale occupational cohort studies in Europe through networking and research activities. Researchers also lead and participate in various international initiatives related to topics in hazard identification, global burden of disease, and research agenda setting for occupational health.

  • Michelle Turner
  • Joan Ballester
  • Xavier Basagaña
  • Payam Dadvand
  • Judith Garcia-Aymerich
  • Manolis Kogevinas
  • Barbara Harding
  • Sarah Koch
  • Jordi Julvez
  • Cristina O’Callaghan
  • Kurt Straif
  • Isabelle Thierry-Chef

Projects

Radiation

The Radiation research area covers cancer and non-cancer effects of exposure to both ionising and non-ionising radiation, throughout the life course, from medical, environmental, and occupational sources and from accidents.

Projects

Respiratory health over the lifecourse

The Respiratory health over the lifecourse research area aims to study the risk factors of development and progression of allergic and chronic respiratory diseases (primarily asthma and COPD) over the lifecourse, with a particular focus on physical inactivity and body composition, air pollution, occupational exposures, temperature, indoor environment, sleep, infections, and their interactions. The area also focuses on the definition and assessment of the concept of physical activity across ages and disease status, and in the development and validation of digital health tools and approaches to measure, predict and prevent adverse respiratory health outcomes.

  • Judith Garcia-Aymerich
  • Manolis Kogevinas
  • Jordi Sunyer
  • Michelle Turner
  • Juan Ramón González
  • Joren Buekers
  • Sarah Koch
  • Stefano Guerra
  • Mireia Gascon
  • Ioar Rivas

Projects

Cross-faculty hubs involving this programme:

 

Related Impact Stories

Keeping our Water Safe: Guiding water quality standards in Barcelona and globally.

 

Our Team

Leadership

  • Judith Garcia Aymerich
    Judith Garcia Aymerich Research Professor and Head of the Environment and Health over the Lifecourse Programme
  • Martine Vrijheid
    Martine Vrijheid Research Professor and Head of the Environment and Health over the Lifecourse Programme

Principal lnvestigators of the Programme

SEE ALL STAFF

See all related projects