Title: NIHR HPRU in Environmental Exposures and Health at the University of Leicester
Funder: Department of Health and Social Care

Abstract: The Health Protection Research Unit (HPRU) in Environmental Exposures and Health is a partnership between the University of Leicester, Public Health England (PHE) and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the government agency responsible for workplace health. Our overarching aims are to use new technologies to improve assessment of public exposure to pollutants and combine this with laboratory and health data studies, to develop policies to protect health. We build on current successful joint research, for example world-leading work supporting regulation of waste composting. Our research in the HPRU focuses on health effects from exposures in the built environment. Leicester and PHE have expertise on health impacts of transport noise (aircraft and road) and will develop this work to provide better information and guidance to protect health. Leicester will investigate exposures to chemical pollutants from building materials and household products to help support new PHE guidance to protect health in and around people s homes. We will investigate how pollution affects children's development and how benefits of the environment such as (open) green space protect health. We will investigate exposures to moulds and impacts these may have with allergic disease. We will work with HSE to look at health risks of new technologies starting to be used in schools and homes such as 3D printing. Our work will help design better cities, schools and transport policies. We have set aside funding to respond to new and emerging environmental hazards. We have also discussed potential for joint projects with other HPRUs e.g. climate change. Stakeholders and patients helped design this research proposal. We will continue close patient and public involvement, engagement and participation throughout. Training younger researchers is vital to meet future challenges - we will establish at least 2 PhD studentships, and fund training and career development. We will develop existing links with policy makers, industry, local government and clinicians to ensure our work translates into major benefits for public health.

Lay abstract: The Health Protection Research Unit (HPRU) in Environmental Exposures and Health is a partnership between the University of Leicester, Public Health England (PHE) and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the government agency responsible for workplace health. Our overarching aims are to use new technologies to improve assessment of public exposure to pollutants and combine this with laboratory and health data studies, to develop policies to protect health. We build on current successful joint research, for example world-leading work supporting regulation of waste composting. Our research in the HPRU focuses on health effects from exposures in the built environment. Leicester and PHE have expertise on health impacts of transport noise (aircraft and road) and will develop this work to provide better information and guidance to protect health. Leicester will investigate exposures to chemical pollutants from building materials and household products to help support new PHE guidance to protect health in and around people s homes. We will investigate how pollution affects children's development and how benefits of the environment such as (open) green space protect health. We will investigate exposures to moulds and impacts these may have with allergic disease. We will work with HSE to look at health risks of new technologies starting to be used in schools and homes such as 3D printing. Our work will help design better cities, schools and transport policies. We have set aside funding to respond to new and emerging environmental hazards. We have also discussed potential for joint projects with other HPRUs e.g. climate change. Stakeholders and patients helped design this research proposal. We will continue close patient and public involvement, engagement and participation throughout. Training younger researchers is vital to meet future challenges - we will establish at least 2 PhD studentships, and fund training and career development. We will develop existing links with policy makers, industry, local government and clinicians to ensure our work translates into major benefits for public health.

Research activity codes: 2.6 RESOURCES AND INFRASTRUCTURE (AETIOLOGY)
Health categories: GENERIC HEALTH RELEVANCE