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Early-life URBAN environmental exposures and childhood multimorbidity: An Exposome-wide approach

Project description

How urban environments impact childhood multimorbidity

Childhood obesity and asthma rates are on the rise, impacting as many as 40 % of European children. These health issues can lead to multiple conditions, a phenomenon known as multimorbidity, which is becoming a growing concern for public health. However, there is uncertainty regarding how our complex living environments contribute to multimorbidity. The MSCA-funded URBANE project investigates the influence of urban environments on childhood multimorbidity using a comprehensive exposome-wide approach. This research will use data from a Generation XXI population-based birth cohort in Portugal, combining geospatial urban exposure data with health outcomes to identify priorities, vulnerable subpopulations, and underlying mechanisms. The project emphasises interdisciplinary collaboration and knowledge sharing, aligning with major EU strategies focused on urban environments and non-communicable disease prevention.

Objective

URBANE addresses an important and timely question: how does the urban environment impact the developmental origins of multimorbidity? Neurodevelopmental, cardiometabolic and respiratory adverse health outcomes are increasingly prevalent at young ages, with diseases such as obesity and asthma affecting up to four out of ten children in Europe. Multimorbidity, the co-occurrence of two or more health conditions, in childhood is thus becoming a major public health problem with short- and long-term consequences. Although it is well known that environmental hazards play a role in the development of diseases, the contribution of the complex environment in which we grow up and live on the development of multimorbidity remains unclear. URBANE addresses this knowledge gap. The project will leverage the resources of the Portuguese population-based birth cohort Generation XXI and follow an exposome-wide approach to the study of urban environmental impact on childhood multimorbidity. For that, the project will use a wide range of geospatial urban exposure data (e.g. air pollution, and characteristics of the urban natural and built environment) and multiple adverse health outcomes (e.g. high blood pressure, obesity, asthma, behavioral problems) collected at the vulnerable early stages of the lifecourse (pregnancy and childhood). The project will explore socioeconomic status and gender differences and also assess whether DNA methylation changes and dysregulation of hormone leptin explain the urban environmental impact on multimorbidity. URBANE will contribute to the discovery of urban environmental priorities, vulnerable subpopulations and aid in the identification of underlying mechanisms. URBANE is highly interdisciplinary, and fosters knowledge exchange. The project aligns with major EU strategies related to the urban environment and non-communicable diseases prevention, and thus its results are expected to be of high relevance for researchers, policy makers, and society.

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Programme(s)

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Topic(s)

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Funding Scheme

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HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships

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Call for proposal

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(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2022-PF-01

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Coordinator

INSTITUTO DE SAUDE PUBLICA DA UNIVERSIDADE DO PORTO
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 182 245,20
Address
RUA DAS TAIPAS 135 139
4050-600 PORTO
Portugal

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SME

The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.

Yes
Region
Continente Norte Área Metropolitana do Porto
Activity type
Research Organisations
Links
Total cost

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Partners (1)

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