Academic Units
The Lab consists of seven Units – these Units operate in a complementary manner, bringing together prevention, population-based research, environmental health, quality of life and health policy.
I. Primary Health Care, Public Health, Social & Preventive Medicine
The Unit examines prevention, access to healthcare services, community needs and health inequalities. It translates epidemiological evidence into health-promotion interventions, community-oriented services and training for health professionals.
II. Epidemiology & Biostatistics
The Unit designs and analyses epidemiological studies, supports the surveillance of communicable and non-communicable diseases, assesses risk factors and applies quantitative methods to evidence-informed decision-making.
III. Environmental Health
The Unit investigates chemical and biological hazards in water, food, wastewater, air and other environmental samples. Its work encompasses environmental microbiology and virology, exposure assessment, surveillance and risk assessment.
IV. Nutrition & Health
The Unit examines dietary behaviours, food safety, foodborne hazards and the relationships between nutrition, metabolic factors and health at the population level.
V. Health Promotion, Quality of Life & Bioethics
The Unit examines disease-prevention and health-promotion interventions, quality-of-life indicators, and mental and social well-being, with particular emphasis on equity, participation, respect and the responsible use of data and technology.
VI. Health Policy, Economics & Health Systems
The Unit evaluates public-health policies and interventions, resource allocation, costs and effectiveness, as well as the resilience, accessibility and performance of health systems.
VII. Occupational Medicine
The Unit investigates occupational exposures, health and safety in the workplace, and factors affecting workers’ quality of life. It supports prevention, risk assessment and the development of organisational interventions.
