Perspective for future development: 2017-2025

With the transition from the second to the third phase of AMAP at the end of 2002, an increasing importance of effect-related studies in the Arctic environment and population was put in focus. Recently, the report of the fourth phase of AMAP was published in December 2015. The report assessment indicates the importance of effect and genetic related studies in the Arctic. Thus the Centre for Arctic Health & Molecular Epidemiology will play an important role as with contribution as well as co-coordinator in this collaboration nationally and international.

There will be a continuation of the collaboration with other Arctic health projects such as the Arctic Health & Well Being program, Oulu, Finland; the Children and Youth in the North study managed by Canada Health under the Arctic Council; the WHO/UNEP initiative “Health in the Arctic” and the PTS (Persistent Toxic Substances) project in Russia.

The Centre for Arctic Health & Molecular Epidemiology is and will be active in the emerging climate change problems with respect to effects on human health (www.klima.au.dk).

In order to strengthen the close bonds between the society in Greenland and the Centre for Arctic Health & Molecular Epidemiology research at Aarhus University, contact has been established with Ilisimatusarfik (Greenland University); the Institute of Nursing and Health Sciences and  the Natural Science Institute. Also established collaboration with ‘Dronning Ingrid’s Hospital’ in Nuuk, Greenland including the Department of Gynecology, the Primary Health Care Clinic.

The head of the Centre for Arctic Health & Molecular Epidemiology is an adjunct professor at Ilisimatusarfik and will strengthen the contact to the Greenlandic local environmental research milieu, and aim to establish the possibility for expert guidance of PhD students working in Greenland.