University of Turin's E-CHANGE project on the health effects of climate change
The Epidemiology Unit of the University of Turin and the Città della Salute e della Scienza hospital complex (Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria) of Turin launch E-CHANGE (short for «boosting Epidemiological methods to assess human health risks in a CHANGing climatE»), a research project funded by the Italian Fund for Science (Fondo Italiano per la Scienza, FIS 2) of the Ministry of University and Research [1].
The project studies how environmental exposures linked to climate change affect health in the short and long term, bringing together epidemiology, biostatistics, molecular biology and climate science, with particular attention to pregnancy and childhood [1][2]. The research covers two areas: the short-term effects of heat waves, wildfires and floods on daily mortality in Italy, and the role of climate conditions in the spread of vector-borne diseases such as West Nile virus, dengue and Lyme disease; and the long-term effects of extreme climate exposures during pregnancy and childhood on growth and respiratory health, including through biological changes measurable by epigenetics [2].
For its analyses, E-CHANGE uses national mortality data, infectious disease surveillance systems and the Italian mother-child cohorts NINFEA and Piccolipù, building a data infrastructure that can also be used for future research on environment, climate and health [2].
Related articles: Launch of the E-CHANGE project on climate and health, University of Turin
Sources
- Al via uno studio sugli effetti sulla salute del cambiamento climatico — ANSA Piemonte, 21 September 2026
- Clima e salute: al via uno studio sugli effetti sulla salute del cambiamento climatico — TorinoOggi, 21 September 2026