Partner institutions

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.

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.

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

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.

THE NETHERLANDS: Department for Health Evidence, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences (RIHS), Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen 

As one of the three core science departments within the Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, the Department for Health Evidence at Radboud University Medical Center focuses on research and education aiming to advance knowledge and methodologies in disease prevention and healthcare improvement. Their collaborative efforts strive to enhance healthcare outcomes and develop effective disease prevention strategies.

A key contributor from Radboud is Dr. Marleen van Gelder, an Assistant Professor in Pharmacoepidemiology. She also holds a dual role as a Researcher in Biostatistics and Pharmacoepidemiology within the PharmacoEpidemiology and Drug Safety (PharmaSafe) research group at the University of Oslo's Department of Pharmacy. Dr. van Gelder leads multiple research projects focusing on medication safety during pregnancy, including the co-initiation and scientific coordination of the PRIDE Study, which provides unique insights into real-world practices. Dr. van Gelder’s expertise extends to advanced methodological studies and novel data collection techniques in perinatal pharmacoepidemiology. Radboud University Medical Center's commitment to international collaboration and innovation in healthcare research makes them an invaluable partner in our project.
 

ITALY: Department of Statistics and Quantitative Methods, University of Milan-Bicocca, Milan

The Department of Statistics and Quantitative Methods at the University of Milan-Bicocca is deeply engaged in advancing the development and application of statistical models for both experimental and observational clinical research. Their research interests encompass Healthcare Research and Pharmacoepidemiology, prognostic models in clinical fields, statistical models in epigenetics, and causal models in epidemiology, focusing on evaluative and etiological aspects.

This department thrives within the context of multicenter and multinational research programs, collaborating with experts from methodological and epidemiological biostatistics as well as clinical and public health domains. It also emphasizes internationalization through its robust Master's program in in Epidemiological Methodology and Biostatistics for Clinical Research. Anna Cantarutti, a PhD student with an MSc in Biostatistics, and Dr. Rino Bellocco, Professor in medical statistics, are prominent connections to our projects. Cantarutti and Dr. Bellocco's expertise in biostatistics further strengthens our collaborative endeavors in producing high-quality, clinically relevant research outcomes.

DENMARK: Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, Odense 

The Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Southern Denmark is renowned for its commitment to advancing research and education in the health sector. With a central focus on reproductive epidemiology, pharmacogenomics, and pharmacoepidemiology, the faculty aims to enhance our understanding of health determinants and improve therapeutic outcomes. Our collaboration with leading researchers such as Mette Bildal, who specializes in maternal health and obesity, Per Damkier, an expert in the safety and interactions of medications during pregnancy and breastfeeding, and Anton Pottegård, a professor dedicated to analyzing real-world data for rational drug use, positions us to explore significant health questions. 

By leveraging the rich Danish registry data, which includes unique access to laboratory information, our partnership seeks to generate valuable insights that will advance healthcare practices both in Denmark and internationally. We are dedicated to fostering an environment that promotes knowledge exchange and international collaboration, providing opportunities for our researchers and students to engage in diverse learning experiences. Together, we aim to enhance our collective ability to improve health outcomes and contribute to innovative solutions in disease prevention and healthcare improvement.