HEL610 Developmental Origins of Health and Disease

Emnet er tilknyttet følgende studieprogram

• Ph.d.-program i helse- og idrettsvitenskap

Anbefalte forkunnskaper

• EX-602 Philosophy of Science

• ME-617 Systematic Literature Analysis

• ME-618 Qualitative Research Methods

• ME-619 Quantitative Research Methods and Regression Analysis

Innhold

This course focuses on the developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD); a concept that has emerged over the past 40 years, linking life-long health and risk of disease with the environmental conditions during early life. Adverse aspects of the early environment include maternal, paternal, fetal and infant malnutrition (including excess or insufficient macro- and micronutrients), toxins (e.g. maternal smoking or environmental chemical exposure), and psychological or physiological stress. The field brings together molecular biology (especially epigenetics), developmental biology, experimental physiology, clinical studies, public and global health, the social sciences, developmental psychology and evolutionary biology.

At its core, this course highlights the importance of adequate nutrition during early development, and explores fundamental mechanisms of nutrition in development, how to successfully modify dietary behavior and lifestyle in this context, and how this knowledge can be included in public health policy.

 

To reach the aim described above, the content of the course will be the following contexts and topics:

1. The developmental origins of health and disease- concepts and perspectives

2. Critical time windows during development- importance of nutrition and other environmental exposures (eg. In Epigenetics and physiology)

3. DOHaD in relation to various non-communicable diseases

4. Health promotion in a DOHaD perspective

5. DOHaD and public health policy

Læringsutbytte

On successful completion of the course, the candidate:

 

Knowledge

• will have in-depth knowledge of the concept of developmental origins of health and disease

• will have insight and understanding of the complex relationship between nutrition and environmental exposures on the developing child and will be able to identify critical time windows for this relation.

• will have insight of the relation between early life exposures and non-communicable diseases

• will have in-depth knowledge and understanding of health promoting strategies and public health policies of relevance within the field of DOHaD.

 

Skills

• can formulate research questions and plan research in the field of DOHaD

• can critically analyze and evaluate health promotion and public health interventions considering DOHaD

 

General competence

• can communicate results from research within the field of DOHaD through recognized national and international channels, and participate in debates in the field in relevant forums

• can identify relevant ethical issues and carry out his/her research with scholarly integrity within the field of DOHaD

Vilkår for å gå opp til eksamen

The course days, group work, presentations and essay are obligatory.

Undervisnings- og læringsformer

This course unit will be taught over 2 video-lectures prior to the start of the program, then 4 days course program and an exam essay. The teaching and learning methods will consist of a combination of lectures, group work and presentations based on the lecture topics and the candidates¿ own ongoing research work.

Eksamen

The final assignment is a 3000-word essay based on the literature review that the candidate has performed. The essay will focus on a self-chosen topic related to the course content. The essay must be delivered within four weeks after the end of the course.

The assignment will be graded as pass or fail.