About the Institute of Epidemiology I
The Institute of Epidemiology I (EPI I) aims to investigate environmental and life style factors, genetic markers and metabolic processes for the onset and the progression of airways diseases (COPD, asthma), allergic diseases of the skin, metabolic diseases (intermediate phenotypes of type 2 diabetes, obesity, etc.) and selected malignant diseases, e.g. lung cancer.
Exposure to environmental toxicants, for instance ambient air pollutants originating from mobile traffic and indoor air pollutants, as well as life style factors such as diet, physical activity, smoking, etc., play also a major role in the natural course of health in apparently healthy subjects and for the process of ageing.
We use epidemiological statistical modelling techniques to study the complex interplay between environmental and life style factors in combination with metabolic and immunological processes which could be determined or modified by genetic variants in relation to the health of human beings.
The institute uses data and biosamples from ongoing children cohorts (GINI and LISA) and adult cohorts (MONICA/KORA), and it is one of the few leading institutions responsible for planning and implementation of the National Cohort, a large cohort of adults in Germany.
The institute is subdivided in two working units
Main research activities
Environment and health:
- Effect of long term exposure to traffic air pollutants on mortality, respiratory health, lung function, immunological parameters, and its potential effect modification by genetic by genetic variants.
- Biogenic indoor component exposure and priming of the immune system as well as studying trigger function for exacerbation in allergic subjects and the potential role of effect modification by genetic markers.
Life style factors and chronic diseases:
- Life style factors in early childhood and the potential of priming of the diseases in adolescent and adult age (life course epidemiological approach)
- The influence of gene-environment interactions on metabolism and metabolite profiles in bio-samples and their link to chronic diseases
- Dietary and metabolic factors as potential risk factors for the development of cancer of selected sites
- Personalized prevention of metabolic diseases through targeted modification of life style factors.
