Clinical, Environmental and Social Transformation Epidemiology Unit

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Presentation

The laboratory is based on a group of researchers integrated into a research group “CTS-997” with common interests but with heterogeneous and interdisciplinary disciplines. All members are particularly interested in the relationship between environmental factors and public health. The general objectives of the research are framed in the development and application of assessments in various health fields, and their application in various epidemiological topics and issues related to public health. Thus, the group’s experience and activities have been fundamentally focused on the relationship between various environmental factors and the development of types of cancer and/or neuropsychological impairments due to environmental exposure to neurotoxins (organophosphates, heavy metals, aromatic hydrocarbons, drug use, etc.).

The group was initially formed in 2014 after a prolonged period of work and research activity by its members, both nationally and internationally. The affinity between their research lines, workspaces, and research objectives served as a catalyst for forming their own research group and, in turn, made it possible for their final inclusion in the Research Center for Natural Resources, Health, and Environment (RENSMA).

The group aims to design and apply clinical assessment procedures and their application in different health fields. Some of the group’s members develop various technical and procedural solutions in the study of neurocognitive and neurobehavioral variables in the field of neuropsychology. These developments have been applied in cohort and control group studies, in various epidemiological topics such as childhood and occupational neurotoxicity, acquired brain damage, drug abuse, and addiction. Additionally, the interest extends to other epidemiological fields such as cancer and other health-related habits in young people and university students. These general research lines are complemented by the development of tests and specific tasks from experimental designs, aiming to design new assessment protocols and statistical analyses.

There are numerous and varied collaborations and scientific production in these fields, where the development of the group’s research activity is supported through projects coordinated with other entities and funded through competitive regional and national research projects.