Epidemiology and Public Health (EPH) |
The department of Epidemiology and Public Health (EPH) is developing and applying new approaches in epidemiology and biostatistics to advance the interdisciplinary approach of the Swiss TPH to innovation, validation, and application. Operating with a focus on designated research fronts and collaboration in projects within and across units and other departments of the Institute, EPH research contributes to international health and policy making from studies in Switzerland and throughout the world, especially in low- and middle-income countries of Africa and Asia, and in high-income countries of Europe and North America. Activities of the department are concerned with the distribution and models of disease, the environmental, social, and molecular contexts of health and illness, effectiveness of interventions and health systems, and patterns of access and use of health services. Cross-cutting interests include health impact of vulnerability and resilience, and the role of gender.
Malaria, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and various neglected tropical diseases (especially schistosomiasis and other helminthiases, food-borne trematodiases, trypanosomiasis, and Buruli ulcer) are priority disease interests in Africa and Asia. The integration of the research units of the former Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine into EPH invigorates the agenda for research on chronic diseases and their causes — including cardiovascular, respiratory and allergic disorders, and cancer. Our environmental and ecosystem health studies are concerned with air and noise pollution, health impact assessment of major development projects and policies, non-ionizing radiation, sanitation and safe water, and the interconnectedness of human and animal health.
Strategic priorities include long-term follow up of large national and international cohorts; integrated analysis of health data bases with social, cultural, environmental, molecular and genetic information (biobanking); and modelling and mapping of diseases and exposures.
The integration of the former ISPM website into this website is in progress.