Strong together: How Germany and China are researching environmental factors in children's health
With a heart for children's health: the DFG's Sino-German collaboration
The workshop provided a platform for researchers from Germany and China to discuss recent findings, exchange ideas, and explore potential avenues for future collaboration. With a strong emphasis on multidisciplinary research, the event underscored the importance of integrating diverse scientific perspectives to address the challenges posed by environmental exposures in early life.
Key Sessions and Presentations
The workshop commenced with a welcome address by Prof. Wolfgang Ahrens from BIPS, setting the stage for two days of intensive discussions and knowledge exchange. The agenda was designed to cover a wide range of topics pertinent to child health, starting with an overview of the Sino-German Mobility Programme presented by PD Dr. Antje Hebestreit. This programme aims to investigate risk factors for child and adolescent health using existing databases, providing a robust foundation for cross-national research initiatives.
One of the highlights of the first day was the presentation by PD Dr. Tamara Schikowski from the Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine, who discussed the investigation of the exposome in large cohort studies. Her work shed light on how environmental factors, including air pollution, influence health outcomes across populations, with a particular focus on maternal and child health. Complementing this was Dr. Qin Li from Peking University, who presented his research on air pollution levels retrieved from remote sensing data and their association with maternal and child health, further emphasizing the global relevance of this issue.
The afternoon sessions focused on the intersection of genetics and childhood obesity, with insightful presentations by Prof. Anke Hinney from the University of Duisburg-Essen and Prof. Hai-Jun Wang from Peking University. Their research explored the genetic underpinnings of obesity and related phenotypes in children, sparking a lively discussion on the implications for public health and future research directions.
Collaboration and Future Directions
The second day of the workshop was dedicated to fostering collaboration and discussing priorities for future research. Dr. Lan Cheng from Imperial College London kicked off the day with a presentation on the determinants of physical and mental health in a modern adolescent cohort. This was followed by an open discussion on potential collaborative projects, funding opportunities, and the sharing of resources between the participating institutions.
The event concluded with a meeting between key representatives from BIPS and Peking University, including Prof. Wolfgang Ahrens, Prof. Iris Pigeot, Dr. Antje Hebestreit, Prof. Hai-Jun Wang, and Prof. Jue Liu. This meeting solidified the commitment to continued collaboration and set the stage for joint research efforts aimed at improving child health outcomes through a better understanding of environmental exposures and their biomarkers.