Environment Network (UPEN)

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January 2013

University’s Environment Facilitator appointed Coordinator of Nationally Funded Initiatives

Dr David Hutchinson, Environment Facilitator for the University of Portsmouth Environment Network (UPEN), has been appointed as Environment and Health Science Coordinator for two nationally funded initiatives designed to contribute to protecting human, plant and animal health against diseases, pests and environmental hazards.

The initiatives, which have secured nearly £18 million in funding, will see Dr. Hutchinson working with research councils, Government departments and researchers who are engaged in the Environmental Exposures and Health Initiative (EEHI) and the Environmental and Social Ecology of Human Infectious Disease Initiative (ESEI).

Aimed at reducing the adverse health effects of contaminated water, land, food or air, the EEHI is a five year programme seeking to deliver an integrated understanding of environmental pollutants on human health, which currently costs the UK healthcare system over £20 billion per year.

Through collaboration across thematic disciplines, the ESEI programme aims to develop knowledge on the manner in which natural and social environments affect the emergence and spread of novel pathogens, such as campylobacter or plasmodium (which causes malaria), and will provide valuable insight to the development of prevention and control methodologies.

Dr. Hutchinson will spend one day a week helping to facilitate the projects and said: “I am honoured to have been offered this position and the opportunity to collaborate with some extremely talented researchers. Developing our national capability in effective interdisciplinary research is a real passion of mine, and I look forward to finding ways to nurture the visions of ESEI and EEHI”.