lifestyle, public and individual health, quality of life, social deprivation

Epigenetics and lifestyle had been shown to affect a health-related quality of life (HRQOL) that plays an important role in occurrence, development and course of chronic and acute diseases. Investigation of factors associated with HRQOL with the attempt to change the modified ones became one of the most important directions of contemporary research.

Despite the large technological progress in European countries, social deprivation of different populational sub-groups based on their age, gender, occupation, and social stigma still have place, and reasons for such deprivation differ between countries. This difference is grounded on country-specific conditions, habits and stereotypes. Demographic changes that occur during the last decade pose additional challenge concerning reduction of social deprivation. Deprived groups are in disadvantage in their basic needs, working conditions, and lifestyle factors, and that can result in their reduced resilience in everyday and in extreme life conditions. Reduced resilience of some populational subgroups affects in its turn the global health of the entire population.

The aim of this Lab is to investigate the influence of epigenetic, demographic, lifestyle, social, collective and individual factors on HRQOL and resilience of different populations and populational sub-groups. Interdisciplinary multicentre investigations of these aspects can play a role in the development of country-specific and common European public health strategies and policies and to decrease related morbidities.

Lab universities will share its experience in multicentre investigations related to all mentioned subjects. In cooperation with scientific organizations and societies, Lab will provide students and staff with possibilities to participate in scientific and educational events, conferences and symposia. Cooperation between universities will have a grate perspective using a multicentre approach and possibilities of FORTHEM project.

1. Association of lifestyle-induced changes in microbiome with HRQOL
2. Modern lifestyle, stress and HRQOL and their effect on resilience of different groups of population
3. Public awareness of connections between lifestyle, HRQOL and chronic diseases: myths and perceptions in international context
4. Lifestyle and stress-induced changes in HRQOL, and their relation to stroke and cardio-vascular health
5. Providing evidence-based information for communication on healthy lifestyle for decision makers on healthcare topics
6. Interrelation of lifestyle, biochemical and physiological indicators and gene expression
7. Modern lifestyle, stress and HRQOL, and their effect on resilience of different groups of population
8. Public awareness and connection between lifestyle, HRQOL and chronic diseases: myths and perceptions in international context

Alliance level contact person:

· Associate Professor Lilian Tzivian, University of Latvia, Riga, liliana.tz@gmail.com

University level contact persons

· Johannes Gutenberg University, Germany: Professor Raffael Kalisch, rkalisch@uni-mainz.de, Privatdozent, Doctor Pascal Nicklas, pascal.nicklas@unimedizin-mainz.de

· University of Jyväskylä, Finland: Associate Professor Mikaela Von Bonsdorff, mikaela.vonbonsdorff@jyu.fi

· University of Burgundy, France: Professor Daniel Derivois, daniel.derivois@u-bourgogne.fr

· University of Opole, Poland: Assistant Professor Dominika Malchar-Michalska, dmalchar@uni.opole.pl

· University of Palermo, Italy: Associate Professor Domenica Matranga, domenica.matranga@unipa.it, Administrative Manager: Valentina D’Anna, valentina.danna02@unipa.it

· University of Latvia, Riga: Professor Juris Krumins, juris.krumins@lu.lv and Professor Aija Zobena, aija.zobena@lu.lv / Head of International Relations Aline Grzibovska, aline.grzibovska@lu.lv

· University of València, Spain: Professor Silvia Corchón Arreche, silvia.corchon@uv.es and Lecturer Vanessa Sánchez Martínez, vanessa.sanches@uv.es

Neuroimaging Center, Mainz: a platform for cognitive neuroscience studies using magnetic resonance imaging, non-invasive neurostimulation and other methods serving to study the structure and function of the brain and mental processes: www.ftn.nic.uni-mainz.de

Intresa, the International Resilience Alliance, which has a young researchers network that includes mentorship by more advance scientists and free access to the symposium and other things: https://intresa.org/

Latvian Society of Epidemiologists: informational support of Lab events (agreed with founders of the society): https://www.epidemiologija.lv/

International Society of Quality of Life research (ISQOL): informational support, possibility for up-to-date knowledge becoming ISQOLS members. For students and staff with ISQOLS membership: receiving ISQOLS newsletters on newest progress in QOL studies; reduced yearly conference fees and possibility for free participation in relevant pre-conference workshops. In the case of international studies on QOL, Lab students will have a possibility to apply for cooperation (agreed with the President of ISQOLS, Mr. Ming-Chang Tsai and Executive Director, Mr. Jill Johnson): www.isoqol.org

Prognosed alliance-level events:  

• Alliance level kick-off meeting occurred on the 9th of November 2020 (Teams platform, all the universities);  
• Special section on stress, resilience and QOL at the yearly organized International Scientific Conference of the University of Latvia 23.04.2021 (UL);  
• Summer School “Methodology for epidemiological/ psychological investigations  for quality-of-life and resilience thematic” (UL) or "Building a pathway to health: coping strategies and correct lifestyles" (UNIPA).  
• International Symposium on Resilience Research (September 23-25, 2020; https://lir-mainz.de/events/symposium-6th): young investigator talks, poster presentations, young researchers’ network (Mainz); 
• Educational project addressed to Master’s or PhD Students of the School of Medicine (including Dentistry) or Biology, which consists of a 5-days summer school entitled “Building a pathway to health: Coping strategies and correct lifestyles” (UNIPA).