Pregnancy and programming and later risk of obesity related disease
Graduate School of Health and Medical Sciences at University of Copenhagen
This is a specialised course. This means that 80% of the seats are reserved to PhD students enrolled at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences at UCPH and 20% of the seats are reserved to PhD students from other Danish Universities/faculties (except CBS).
The course is free of charge for PhD students at Danish universities (except Copenhagen Business School), and for PhD Students from NorDoc member faculties. All other participants must pay the course fee.
Anyone can apply for the course, but if you are not a PhD student at a Danish university, you will be placed on the waiting list until enrollment deadline. This also applies to PhD students from NorDoc member faculties. After the enrollment deadline, available seats will be allocated to applicants on the waiting list.
Learning objectives
A student who has met the objectives of the course will be able to:
1. understand how fetal life and the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) framework may be an important determinant for later disease development and prevention.
2. understand how exposure to certain dietary nutrients or environmental pollutants, and other early-life exposures during pregnancy and infancy may influence disease risk later in life.
3. understand how early weight, infant growth, and child development relate to later obesity and co-morbidities.
4. know and understand the effects of lifestyle interventions in pregnant women in relation to maternal, infant, and offspring health and disease prevention.
5. understand the role of epigenetics, genetics, and biological mechanisms in developmental programming and long-term health outcomes.
Content
The course will build on the understanding of the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD)obesity and related diseases. It will provide a comprehensive overview of the latest developments with regard to maternal, fetal, and infant nutritional programming research and offer insight into the prevention, diagnosis, and management of early-life determinants of obesity and other chronic. In addition, it will enhance the understanding of the complex interactions between nutrients, epigenetics, genetics, environmental exposures, and biological factors during pregnancy and early life. The programme will also introduce current current perspectives on the first 1000 days, child growth and development, and the promotion of lifelong health in children and adults. The program will thus permit attendees to improve their knowledge in this field through updated scientific overviews and current public health perspectives.
Participants
PhD students with basic knowledge in epidemiology, medicine and/or nutrition
Relevance to graduate programmes
The course is relevant to PhD students from the following graduate programmes at the Graduate School of Health and Medical Sciences, UCPH:
- All graduate programmes
Language
English
Form
Lectures
Course director
Berit L. Heitmann, berit.lilienthal.heitmann@regionh.dk
Teachers
TBA
Dates
22.02.2027 - 26.02.2027 (5 days)
Course location
Enheden for Epidemiologisk Kostforskning, Parker Instituttet, Frederiksberg Hospital, Nordre Fasanvej 57, Vej 8, Indgang 19, 2000 Frederiksberg
Registration
Please register before 01.02.2027
Seats to PhD students from other Danish universities will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis and according to the applicable rules.
Applications from other participants will be considered after the last day of enrolment.