Nutrition plays a pivotal role in health and disease. Undernutrition is estimated to be a contributory cause to 45% of all child deaths and, in Africa, is rapidly becoming a leading contributor to adult non-communicable diseases. Undernutrition affects all stages of life and has strong intergenerational echoes. We take a lifecourse approach understanding the role of nutrition starting prior to conception.
Our work concentrates on identifying, and then developing, next-generation nutrition interventions through discovery science that will inform a clearer understanding of the basic mechanisms linking diet and disease. We have four sub-themes:
- Early-growth and development
- Iron, infection and anaemia
- Nutritional genetics and epigenetics
- Nutrition-related chronic disease
The Planetary Health Cross-Cutting Program was established in 2020鈥痶o respond to the challenge of social and environmental鈥痗hanges that threaten鈥痟uman health with a focus on the Africa region. The program has three areas of鈥痜ocus that mirror those of the鈥疞SHTM Centre on Climate Change and Planetary鈥疕ealth:
- Research to improve understanding on climate change and planetary鈥痟ealth
- Fostering connections globally to bring about change
- Co-creating鈥痠maginative, scalable solutions.
Current research strengths lie in鈥痶he direct鈥痑nd indirect impacts of climate change on health and their solutions through鈥痬itigation and adaptation interventions,鈥痵ustainable and healthy food systems鈥痑nd diets, and disease ecology / One Health including expertise on emerging鈥痠nfectious鈥痙iseases, zoonoses and climate sensitive infections.