Nicole Probst-Hensch, Professor, PhD (Pharmacy and Epidemiology), MPH

Function(s)
Scientific Group Leader, Head of Department

Organisational Entity

Nicole Probst-Hensch leads the Exposome Science group at Swiss TPH and is Professor of Epidemiology and Public Health at the University of Basel. She headed the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health at Swiss TPH for over a decade and also led the Chronic Disease Epidemiology Unit. Probst-Hensch has been trained in both Pharmaceutical Sciences (ETH Zürich) and Epidemiology (UCLA Los Angeles) and holds doctorates in both fields. She has broad research experience covering several chronic diseases including cancer, respiratory and cardiovascular diseases and covering multiple domains related to NCD risks (genetic and molecular epidemiology; environmental epidemiology; nutrition and physical activity; dual disease burden NCDs-Infectious diseases). In her research she applies biomarkers in the context of Exposome and Mendelian Randomisation approaches to improve mechanistic and causal understanding modifiable disease risks. Her research group has broad expertise in developing, implementing and scientifically exploiting longitudinal cohorts and biobanks, both nationally and internationally.

COVCO-Basel SAPALDIA HBM4EU

Latest Publications

All Publications

Ammann P et al. Beyond human health – exploring farmers' perspectives on pesticides in Swiss agriculture. J Rural Stud. 2026;122:103995. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2025.103995

Ammann P et al. Depression and anxiety symptoms in male and female farmers: association with farm characteristics and mental health protection strategies in the FarmCoSwiss cohort. BMC Public Health. 2026;26(1):101. DOI: 10.1186/s12889-025-25407-z

Brulé G et al. Can One Health help reduce the environmental impacts of the healthcare system in Switzerland? Insights from an interdisciplinary focus group. Ethics Med Public Health. 2026;34:101227. DOI: 10.1016/j.jemep.2025.101227

Hänggi J et al. Movement patterns of youth and their parents: cross-sectional and longitudinal associations. J Act Sedentary Sleep Behav. 2026;5:2. DOI: 10.1186/s44167-025-00092-w

Yu Z et al. Road traffic noise exposure and blood DNA methylation at birth and in childhood: an epigenome-wide meta-analysis. Environ Int. 2026;207:109976. DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2025.109976

Alchalabi L, Probst-Hensch N, Zitzmann N.U, Merten S. Asylum seekers and refugees' access to oral health care services in Switzerland: a qualitative study. Int J Equity Health. 2025(in press). DOI: 10.1186/s12939-025-02711-z

Ammann P et al. Human flourishing in the context of farm characteristics and occupational hazards – baseline findings from the FarmCoSwiss cohort. Swiss Med Wkly. 2025;155(4):4135. DOI: 10.57187/s.4135

Bringolf-Isler B, Hänggi J, Kayser B, Suggs L.S, Dössegger A, Probst-Hensch N. Parental modelling has a sustainable effect on offspring's physical activity: the SOPHYA cohort. BMC Public Health. 2025;25:3435. DOI: 10.1186/s12889-025-24527-w

Brugger C, Abu Hamad B, Hattendorf J, Winkler M.S, Probst-Hensch N. Changes in psychological distress during conflict escalation in an adult population-based cohort in the Gaza Strip (2020-2025): a longitudinal analysis. EClinicalMedicine. 2025;90:103647https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eclinm.2025.103647. DOI: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2025.103647

Brugger C et al. Drinking water access and quality in the Gaza Strip prior to 7 October 2023 and implications for reconstruction. Environ Health. 2025;24:41. DOI: 10.1186/s12940-025-01191-6