The Centre for Arctic Health and Molecular Epidemiology is the organizational body for the scientific and administrative collaborators who in accordance with the aims of the Centre undertake research and education together with related activities.

 

The functions of the Centre for Arctic Health and Molecular Epidemiology

The research activities associated with the Centre for Arctic Health and Molecular Epidemiology are of an epidemiological character:

1. Responsible for the established ‘Biological Bank for Greenlandic samples’ (daily operations and transfer of materials) in cooperation with a steering committee with representatives from The Department of Public Health and The Faculty of Health Sciences, Aarhus University; The Greenland self-Government, The Directorate of Health; The Country Doctor for Greenland.
2. Monitoring and assessment of the effect of persistent environmental contaminants on humans in Greenland.
3. Establishment of an Inuit mother and child cohort in Greenland
4. Time trends and geographical variations of environmental factors such as chemicals, metals and trace elements in humans.
5. Assessment of human contaminant burden versus lifestyle factors, e.g. diet and smoking
6. Contaminant burden and neonatal sex ratio
7. Intake of long chained marine fatty acids in relation to obesity, diabetes and atherosclerosis
8. Assessment of human contaminant burden and the risk of reproductive anomalies and breast cancer
9. Research in the Cellular and Molecular basic mechanisms behind the toxicology of environmental contaminants
10. Endocrine disrupting potentials of environmental contaminants

 

Circumpolar memberships of The Centre for Arctic Health and Molecular Epidemiology

• Director Eva Bonefeld-Jørgensen is a member of the Greenland Center for Health Research, University of Greenland, Nuuk, Greenland
• The Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP) for human health: “The Human Health Assessment Group” (HHAG).
• The Arctic Health & Well Being Network
• Planning group for the PhD program on Arctic Health & Well Being
• The International Network for Circumpolar Health Research (INCHR)
• The Nordforsk Network for Research on Fluorinated Compounds
• The Nordic Network Investigation of use and emission of per- and polyfluorinated substances in the Nordic countries

 

Research and Education

The Centre for Arctic Health and Molecular Epidemiology is responsible for the master course in Arctic Medicine for medical students at the University of Aarhus, and summer school courses for Arctic PhD students. There are currently 3 PhD students attached to the Centre for Arctic Health. An agreement of co-operation between the Centre and the Master of Public Health Program, AU has been made with an annual intake of 2-3 students from Greenland to ensure a Greenlandic relevant study.

 

The duties of the Centre for Arctic Health and Molecular Epidemiology

• Coordinator for the cross disciplinary Arctic Health Research at Aarhus University
• Board member of the cross faculty “Arctic Research Centre” (ARC) at Aarhus University
• Implementation of the AMAP Human Health Program in Greenland
• Coordinator for the HHAG implementation of:
1. The circumpolar human xenobiotica-effect program
2. Integration of the AMAP discipline data for humans, marine, terrestrial and atmospheric environment in Greenland
3. Standardization of diet investigation program in Greenland