CANADA: Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Occupational Health (EBOH) at McGill University
McGill University is one of Canada's best-known institutions of higher learning and one of the leading universities in the world. With students coming to McGill from over 150 countries, their student body is the most internationally diverse of any research-intensive university in Canada. Their programs in epidemiology and biostatistics are recognized as excellent and attract researchers and students from all over the world. McGill University has already a Dual Degree Program in Public Health Data Science with the University of Bordeaux. Programs in Public Health Data Science (MSc) and/or Digital Public Health (PhD) include a period of coursework and international research. This program is extremely relevant for training of the researchers in iAPOGEE within epidemiology and biostatistics the University of Oslo. In particular, iAPOGEE will enable us to build a close collaboration with Professor Plats research group at the McGill Pharmacoepidemiology Research Unit at The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre. He and his research group focus on improving methods for the study of medications using administrative data, with an emphasis on methods for causal inference and a substantive focus on medications in pregnancy.
FRANCE: Team Pharmacoepidemiology, Inserm U1219 Research Center Bordeaux Population Health, University of Bordeaux
Research Center Bordeaux Population Health is internationally recognized for its excellence in Epidemiology and biostatistics; it includes Research teams with high expertise in the field of informatics applied to research in health. These complementary expertises allowed the Bordeaux University Institute for Public Health and Development to launch in 2019 a Master program in Digital Public Health, aimed to educate the future generations of Public Health Data Scientist. The Master, dedicated to the training of international students, provides a to date almost unique education program in both Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Medical Informatics. This specific research and training experience could highly contribute to the iAPOGEE project.
USA: University of California, Center for Better Beginnings, San Diego
The Center for Better Beginnings is a medical division of the Department of Pediatrics at UC San Diego. The Center is one of North America’s foremost institutes for breakthrough research and education in maternal health and child development. Prof. Chamber’s team consists of world-renowned medical professionals and researchers who are at the top of their field that are actively generating research, disseminating knowledge to end preventable birth defects and other adverse pregnancy outcomes. Two major priorities are 1) conducting research to better understand the causes, prevention and treatment of birth defects 2) teaching future generations of professionals in the fields of epidemiology, pediatrics, dysmorphology, genetics, pharmacology, and health behavior
BRAZIL: Genetics Department, Biosciences Institute, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre
As of today we lacks training programs in embryology, teratology and clinical genetics. This expertise is found in Prof. Schuler-Faccini’s group, where they have a specific research focus on genetic mechanisms of teratogenicity. Through this collaboration we will enable us to expand into clinical teratology and pharmacogenetics. Furthermore, due to their geographic location and culture, Prof. Schuler-Faccini’s group can focus on topics like teratogenicity of zika virus and thalidomide embryopathy, which we cannot study in Europe.
The Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) has a very strong focus on student mobility and international collaboration, and will be excellent hosts for our students. Prof. Schuler-Faccini has taught and trained a large number of students (pharmacy, medicine, genetics) in genetic teratology, and will offer important field work experience for the students. She runs the Brazilian Teratogen Information Service, located at UFRGS.