Exeter research centre named key collaborator by World Health Organisation

The Centre’s official recognition as a WHO Collaborating Centre on Natural Environments and Health, recognises the Centre’s contribution to identifying environment and health priorities that could inform policy on a global scale.

The World Health Organization (WHO) often requires expert advice and scientific insights to carry out its mandate as the United Nations’ authority on international health. Collaborating centres feed into the development of both reports and technical work which help the WHO set global health priorities and support its member states to tackle health challenges.

As a newly recognised Collaborating Centre, the European Centre will form an integral part of an international collaborative network on environment and human health, and help to support the WHO’s commitment to enhancing the scientific validity and relevance of its global health work.

University of Exeter's Professor Lora Fleming, Director at the European Centre, said: “We’re thrilled to become a WHO Collaborating Centre, which is a testament to the incredible body of work our team has produced since we launched in 2011. Understanding the links between the environment and human health is even more important than ever and we look forward to extending our global reach in this vital area.”

Among several streams of work, the European Centre will support the WHO to compile evidence on the links between natural resources, environment and health, and will work to increase awareness of these complex interconnections.

The designation recognises a history of collaboration with WHO and solidifies efforts to develop capacities and support functions on nature and health across different countries and regions.

Mr Matthias Braubach, Technical Officer at WHO Regional Office for Europe, said: “In the last two years, the WHO Regional Office for Europe has reviewed environment and health knowledge gaps and priorities for research. We’re very excited to welcome the European Centre for Environment and Human Health as a collaborator in this effort and the WHO will greatly benefit from its experience in unravelling the interdisciplinary links between natural environments and health.”