Recercaixa rewards two CREAL projects

Yesterday Obra Social "la Caixa" and the Association of Catalan Public Universities (ACUP) gave at Barcelona CosmoCaixa, grants to projects selected in the first round of RecerCaixa new program aimed at encouraging and stimulating research in Catalonia. Two of these projects are led by CREAL researchers, Michelle Mendez and Martine Vrijheid.

The project 'Determinants of childhood obesity: the role of social and environmental factors during prenatal and early years' coordinated by Martine Vrijheid counts with 74,170 euros. The objective of this project is to evaluate the influence of the social and environmental factors, prenatal and early childhood on development of childhood obesity to 4 years of age in Catalonia.

'Characterization of risk for cancer and children's health associated daily intake of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) ' is the project that the researcher Michelle Mendez for what received 73,700 euros dand it will determine whether there is any association between intake PAHs present in the mother's diet, growth and development  infantile neurological, and secondly, to determine whether a relationship between  usual intake of PAH in adults and colorectal cancer risk. Also  will examine whether subjects with high consumption of fruits and vegetables may  have a lower risk and will evaluate whether genetic susceptibility may also influence these risks to health.

The event was chaired by the Honorable Andreu Mas-Colell, Minister of Economy and Knowledge of the Generalitat of Catalonia, and were involved Jaume Lanaspa, general manager of the Fundació "la Caixa", Didac Ramirez, Rector
UB and chairman of ACUP, Lluís Ferrer, director of the Program RecerCaixa and
Enric Banda, director of the Department of Science, Research and Environment
"La Caixa".

In the first call RecerCaixa received a total of 461  project proposals. Of the twenty that were selected, there are twelve framed  in the field of social sciences and humanities, for lines  following: cultural heritage; social impact of architecture, education and  educational systems, digital learning environment, economy and sociology poverty and marginalization; impact of third sector organizations; immigration, and political economy and public policy perspective multidisciplinar.