The European Centre for Environment & Human Health

We conduct world-class research into the complex links between the environment and human health. Part of the University of Exeter Medical School and supported by funding from the European Union, we’re analysing the benefits and risks the environment poses to health, and ensuring our findings have relevance to local communities, policy makers and to UK businesses.

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Our Research Activities

Blue Environments & Health

The opportunities that oceans, rivers and other water based environments present to human health and wellbeing are now increasingly understood and valued globally thanks to the work of teams at ECEHH. This research is having a meaningful impact on policy makers and communities locally, nationally and internationally .

Climate Change

For more than ten years, our teams have been leading the way in interdisciplinary research to better understand and tackle environment and climate change. We are at the forefront of responding to these issues, working in partnership with governments, business, and communities.

Antimicrobial Resistance & Microbiology

The World Health Organisation cites antimicrobial resistance (AMR) as one of the most significant risks facing the world. Our research focuses on the evolution of resistance in complex microbial communities found in human, animal and environmental microbiomes.

Nature, Biodiversity and Health

There is a growing volume of scientific evidence showing that ‘greenspace’ is an important resource for our health and wellbeing. This evidence is essential to ensure the nuances of these interconnections are well understood and to ensure policies are balanced to protect and improve public health and wellbeing as well as our precious natural environments.

Communities and Social Inequalities

As an interdisciplinary research centre, we are focused on addressing health and social inequalities through numerous local and global projects. Among our areas of focus are: digital inclusion; healthy homes; workplace equality; food security and its influence on nutrition and health; social prescribing and climate adaptation.

Food Systems & Planetary Health

Currently, most food systems are neither ecologically sustainable, nor do they provide adequate healthy human nutrition. Research at the ECEHH aims to help transform local and global food systems towards being sustainable within planetary, ecosystem, boundaries, resilient to climate change and being able to equitably deliver improved human nutrition.

News and Events

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Global impact of Exeter’s health, life sciences and environment research recognised in REF 2021

All University of Exeter health, life sciences and environmental research submitted to the UK’s national research assessment has been ranked 100 per cent world-leading or internationally excellent for impact. The…
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Exeter students lead planetary health agenda in medical schools around the world

Medical students at the University of Exeter are improving sustainability and planetary health in medical schools around the world, as part of a global movement. The Planetary Health Report Card (PHRC)…
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Newly connected datasets track how exposure to green space impacts health

A new data cohort, funded by the NIHR Public Health Research programme, can for the first time link national green/blue space data with electronic health records for over a decade.…

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