EpiLife - Göteborg Center for Epidemiologic Studies on Mental and Physical Health Interacting over the Lifecourse

The overall disease burden in Sweden is dominated by mental and cardiovascular disorders. Obesity, with multiple etiological links to mental and physical outcomes, has become a public health problem reaching epidemic proportions. Sociocultural and lifestyle-related influences interact with genetics and account for between- and within-population variability observed in these conditions. The broad theme of the EpiLife Center is interplay between mental and physical health at various pivotal stages in the lifecycle, documented by local epidemiologic research.

Aim of EpiLife

The aim of EpiLife is to intensify our long tradition of population-based longitudinal studies in Göteborg. Recent focus has been on common risk factors for medical and psychiatric conditions as well as direct interactions between mental and physical health over the lifecourse. Examples of ongoing collaboration bridging local research groups include studies of obesity’s role in dementia, depression and poor social network predicting cardiovascular problems, as well as psychosocial and genetic susceptibility factors. We will add value to our studies by collaboratively pursuing common and novel approaches to survey methodology, analysis of longitudinal data, management of biobanks and use of registry data.

Projects within EpiLife

Children’s lifestyles and the obesity epidemic – this research program includes surveillance, etiological, and intervention studies to better understand determinants of childhood obesity and develop preventive approaches to manage the epidemic.

PURE (Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiologic study) – The PURE study aims to study societal determinants for health among 100,000 individuals in 15 countries throughout the world. University of Gothenburg is the only center in Europe.

EpiStat - Creating a core facility in statistics, epidemiology and clinical studies at Sahlgrenska Academy funded by Region Västra Götaland.

Four work areas

Research at EpiLife will be organized into four work-packages on cardiovascular health, mental health, obesity, and cognition.

Coordinators of the four "work areas":

	Psyschoscial factors and cardiovascular disease Annika Rosengren
	Mental health, age and aging Ingmar Skoog
	Obesity over the lifecourse Lauren Lissner
	Cognitive functioning Boo Johansson

Each will have connections to supporting cores of expertise in genetics, biostatistics, and communications. Infrastructure will include an administrative core with a central coordinator and steering group. In addition, EpiLife will offer integrated research training at various levels. Our multidisciplinary team includes investigators from diverse public health-related disciplines.

The Center will be located at Sahlgrenska Academy and enriched by cooperation with other departments at University of Gothenburg, throughout Sweden, and via international collaborations.

Swedish Council for Working Life and Social Research is financing the first three years.

Center coordinater and principal investigator: Lauren Lissner at Department of Public Health and Community Medicine