A global leader in environmental research
The CEPH addresses pressing concerns for population health, environmental sustainability and economic opportunity. We work in partnership with international communities through research, consultancy, capacity building and nurturing leaders. We are committed to translational research to improve policy and solutions, strategic planning for population health, international links and partnership, and sustainable health development.
Research themes:
- Global health promotion theories and practices
- Gender, sexual and reproductive health
- Environment, health and development through settings
- Climate change, disaster risks and global health security
Global Health Promotion Theories and Practices
The world is faced with pressing public health challenges involving the spread of new and old infectious diseases, chronic diseases, industrial accidents, disasters stemming from environmental degradation and climate changes. Global health has emerged as an important field of study. It involves a multidisciplinary approach that focuses on transnational health challenges and is concerned with the broad socioeconomic and environmental determinants of health across the globe. The priority for health planners and end-users is to develop policies and strategies to address key drivers of the global health changes such as:
- population ageing
- social determinants and inequality
- urbanisation
- globalisation of risks
- global environmental changes.
CEPH researchers are committed to conducting translational research to address global health issues through interdisciplinary and multi-sectoral efforts to promote health, prevent diseases, and strengthen health systems.
Gender, population and reproductive health
CEPH is committed to advance understanding of gender and development and the promotion of population health particularly sexual and reproductive health for women.
Areas of interest:
- Gender, sexual and reproductive health policy
- Cross-cultural issues and migrant health needs
- Lifecycle and settings approach to reproductive and population health
- Migrant children’s health
- Adolescent health
- Postnatal health
- Menopausal health
- Healthy Ageing
- HIVAIDS local decision making and risk communication
Environment, health and development through settings
Global environment and population health challenges and new conception of health determinants has introduced new direction for health promotion:
- from disease-centred to people-centred approaches
- from an emphasis on the illness itself to addressing the multi-determinants of health through settings where people live, learn, work and play which can have positive or negative impacts on people’s life and their health
- Put it simply, settings approach to health promotion is about integrating planning and risk management into management practices of settings: cities, workplaces, schools, hospital, and communities. Healthy cities, for example, health is an integral part of urban planning, management and development. Based on needs assessment and through multi-sectoral collaboration to create integrative local and municipal plans, the ultimate goal is better health and quality of life for all citizens.
The healthy settings movement is perhaps one of the most important means to bring together governments, communities, NGOs, industries and different professional and scientific bodies to work together towards human survival and environmental sustainability.
CEPH researchers have been active in working with:
- Governments on the planning and development of healthy and sustainable cities which involves integrating environment, health & socio-economic development into urban planning and management
- Health promoting hospitals to develop future-proofing strategies against climate and disaster risks
- Workplaces to develop integrative management plan to safeguard health, safety and environment.
Climate change, disaster risks and global health security
Scientific evidence demonstrates that climate change is intensifying and increasing the severity of various climate-sensitive extreme events and their associated health risks. To deal with these challenges, CEPH stresses the need for the health sector to link disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate change adaptation (CCA) in order to bring coherent synergies, and maximize complementary strengths and resources for disaster response effectiveness and efficiency.
Over the last decade, the CEPH has been conducting research and capacity-building in the Asia-Pacific and ASEAN region, around health security and climate change. These are particularly pressing problems in developing countries, where health systems are already severely challenged by new and re-emerging infectious diseases. Climate-related infectious diseases are beginning to cause bigger and more severe impacts. These challenges are examples of disruptions that contribute to instability and conflict, which have been identified as threats to stability and national security. Since 2011, CEPH has been hosting a global research consortium “Risk Communication, Emergency Management and Adapting to Climate Change for Health (REACCH) consisting of members from 15 countries in the region. The Consortium also fosters the One Health Approach to facilitate international research collaborations to better deal with emerging zoonotic diseases in order to safeguard global health security.
Higher Degree by Research
Complete your research degree alongside our world-class experts. At CEPH, we offer a range of PhD and research opportunities. Explore the possibilities and find out how to apply below. For more information about short courses, please contact Professor Cordia Chu.
