Project acronym CHILIC
Project Child health intervention interactions in low-income countries
Researcher (PI) Christine Benn
Host Institution (HI) STATENS SERUM INSTITUT
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), LS7, ERC-2009-StG
Summary Vitamin A supplementation (VAS) and vaccines are the most powerful tools to reduce child mortality in low-income countries. However, we may not use these interventions optimally because we disregard that the interventions may have immunomodulatory effects which differ for boys and girls and which may interact with the effects of other interventions. I have proposed the hypothesis that VAS and vaccines interact. This hypothesis is supported by randomised and observational studies showing that the combination of VAS and DTP may be harmful. I have furthermore proposed that VAS has sex-differential effects. VAS seems beneficial for boys but may not carry any benefits for girls. These findings challenge the current understanding that VAS and vaccines have only targeted effects and can be given together without considering interactions. This is of outmost importance for policy makers. The global trend is to combine health interventions for logistic reasons. My research suggests that this may not always be a good idea. Furthermore, the concept of sex-differential response to our common health interventions opens up for a completely new understanding of the immunology of the two sexes and may imply that we need to treat the two sexes differently in order to treat them optimally possibly also in high-income countries. In the present proposal I outline a series of inter-disciplinary epidemiological and immunological studies, which will serve to determine the overall and sex-differential effects of VAS and vaccines, the mechanisms behind these effects, and the basis for the immunological difference between boys and girls. If my hypotheses are true we can use the existing tools in a more optimal way to reduce child mortality without increasing costs. Thus, the results could lead to shifts in policy as well as paradigms.
Summary
Vitamin A supplementation (VAS) and vaccines are the most powerful tools to reduce child mortality in low-income countries. However, we may not use these interventions optimally because we disregard that the interventions may have immunomodulatory effects which differ for boys and girls and which may interact with the effects of other interventions. I have proposed the hypothesis that VAS and vaccines interact. This hypothesis is supported by randomised and observational studies showing that the combination of VAS and DTP may be harmful. I have furthermore proposed that VAS has sex-differential effects. VAS seems beneficial for boys but may not carry any benefits for girls. These findings challenge the current understanding that VAS and vaccines have only targeted effects and can be given together without considering interactions. This is of outmost importance for policy makers. The global trend is to combine health interventions for logistic reasons. My research suggests that this may not always be a good idea. Furthermore, the concept of sex-differential response to our common health interventions opens up for a completely new understanding of the immunology of the two sexes and may imply that we need to treat the two sexes differently in order to treat them optimally possibly also in high-income countries. In the present proposal I outline a series of inter-disciplinary epidemiological and immunological studies, which will serve to determine the overall and sex-differential effects of VAS and vaccines, the mechanisms behind these effects, and the basis for the immunological difference between boys and girls. If my hypotheses are true we can use the existing tools in a more optimal way to reduce child mortality without increasing costs. Thus, the results could lead to shifts in policy as well as paradigms.
Max ERC Funding
1 686 043 €
Duration
Start date: 2010-01-01, End date: 2014-12-31
Project acronym SCREENS
Project Immediate and long-term health risks of excessive screen-based media use
Researcher (PI) Anders GRØNTVED
Host Institution (HI) SYDDANSK UNIVERSITET
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), LS7, ERC-2016-STG
Summary Excessive screen-based media use in young people is a clear emerging public health concern which commands serious attention and research to keep pace with the fast and profound changes in technology of screen media and how it is used. The proposed research project’s overarching objective is to investigate the immediate and long-term effects of screen-based media use on a number of important health outcomes in young people. In work package (WP) 1 and WP2 we will investigate the short-term effect of limiting screen use and timing of limiting use on circadian rhythm, sleep, physical activity patterns, and mental stress in 7-year old children and among adolescents/young adults. The WP3 of the proposed project will develop and validate a parent- and self-reported questionnaire to assess time spent (and timing of use) on different forms- and content of today’s screen media among young people and adults. We will introduce these instruments in a number of large-scale population-based cohort-studies. One of the studies will include a large birth-cohort study, which is the basis for the WP4 sub-study. The 7- and 9-year wave of the birth cohort study will provide an ideal context to investigate the long-term influence of exposure to screen-based media on physical fitness, adiposity, glucose metabolism, and mental health in children. The project will integrate multidisciplinary research into the most thorough investigation to date of the plausible short- and long-term effects of screen-based media. Through rigorously conducted randomized crossover experiments and prospective observations in a birth cohort the present project proposal will leverage methodological development of screen use assessment and new technology advancements to assess physical activity patterns, circadian rhythm, sleep, and mental stress in randomly selected young people. The project will break new ground in our understanding of the extent that today’s habitual screen use affects health of young people.
Summary
Excessive screen-based media use in young people is a clear emerging public health concern which commands serious attention and research to keep pace with the fast and profound changes in technology of screen media and how it is used. The proposed research project’s overarching objective is to investigate the immediate and long-term effects of screen-based media use on a number of important health outcomes in young people. In work package (WP) 1 and WP2 we will investigate the short-term effect of limiting screen use and timing of limiting use on circadian rhythm, sleep, physical activity patterns, and mental stress in 7-year old children and among adolescents/young adults. The WP3 of the proposed project will develop and validate a parent- and self-reported questionnaire to assess time spent (and timing of use) on different forms- and content of today’s screen media among young people and adults. We will introduce these instruments in a number of large-scale population-based cohort-studies. One of the studies will include a large birth-cohort study, which is the basis for the WP4 sub-study. The 7- and 9-year wave of the birth cohort study will provide an ideal context to investigate the long-term influence of exposure to screen-based media on physical fitness, adiposity, glucose metabolism, and mental health in children. The project will integrate multidisciplinary research into the most thorough investigation to date of the plausible short- and long-term effects of screen-based media. Through rigorously conducted randomized crossover experiments and prospective observations in a birth cohort the present project proposal will leverage methodological development of screen use assessment and new technology advancements to assess physical activity patterns, circadian rhythm, sleep, and mental stress in randomly selected young people. The project will break new ground in our understanding of the extent that today’s habitual screen use affects health of young people.
Max ERC Funding
1 500 000 €
Duration
Start date: 2017-02-01, End date: 2022-01-31
