EUthyroid2 - People and Institutions

Partners

About the EUthyroid2 consortium

The project brings together renowned experts from various fields, including epidemiologists, endocrinologists, nutritionists, health economists, and communication specialists from a broad range of educational institutions and countries. Other partners with global reach, such as Thyroid Federation International, Iodine Global Network, and the World Iodine Association, are also involved in this initiative.

A kick-off meeting was held between 27-29 March in Krakow, Poland, where partners and experts from various countries gathered to brainstorm effective strategies and develop best-practice models for the prevention of iodine deficiency in Europe. Planning for the intervention is underway.

Partners

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University Medicine Greifswald

The University Medicine Greifswald (UMG) is a maximum care hospital. Research at the UMG is characterised by the complementary linking of research of community medicine, molecular medicine, and individualised medicine. The Institute for Community Medicine was founded as a result of the newly formed effort on community-based medicine in the 1990s and has developed into the largest research department at the UMG. Based on its breakthrough research in the area of epidemiology, preventive medicine, and models of health care utilisation of the future, numerous publications and policy changes have been made. The Department of SHIP/ Clinical-Epidemiological Research hosts one of the most comprehensive population-based cohort studies worldwide, the Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP). The main task of the department is to continue to use and extend the data collection of SHIP as a major basis for projects within the Research Network of Community Medicine. Based on the extensive experience in standardised data acquisition and analysis, the department contributes to additional large-scale projects in clinical and population-based epidemiology.

Role in EUthyroid2

As the Project Coordinator, UMG finds its role within EUthyroid2 in maintaining the conditions necessary for successful and effective collaborations. Particularly, in WP1 (Ethics requirements) to ensure compliance with ethical standards. UMG is also involved in WP4 (Methods and Quality Assurance), performing the statistical analysis. In addition, with the lead of WP6 (Management) UMG takes responsibility for overall coordination and the administrative management of the project. EUthyroid2 is substantially based on the initial EUthyroid project, which was funded by the Horizon2020 programme of the European Commission and was also coordinated by the UMG.

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Prof. Henry Völzke, MD

Henry Völzke has a professional background as a Certified Internist but has been working in epidemiology and community medicine research for more than 20 years. He is the Head of the Department of SHIP/Clinical Epidemiological Research at the University of Medicine Greifswald. As Principal Investigator, Völzke runs several large-scale observational studies in the general population and clinical settings including the SHIP and the northeastern part of the German National Cohort. Currently, he chairs the latter multi-site project. In addition, Völzke has coordinated the initial EUthyroid consortium. Furthermore, he has collected expert knowledge on how to manage highly collaborative research. Völzke has also gained insight into the management structures of other projects (Gutenberg Health Study, CARLA, UK Biobank) as a member of the Scientific Advisory Board and as the past president of the German Society for Epidemiology.

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Publications

Ittermann T, Albrecht D, Arohonka P, Bilek R, Dahl L, Castro JJ, Filipsson Nystrom H, Gaberscek S, Garcia-Fuentes E, Gheorghiu M, Hubalewska-Dydejczyk A, Hunziker S, Jukic T, Karanfilski B, Koskinen S, Kusic Z, Majstorov V, Makris K, Markou K, Meisinger C, Milevska Kostova N, Mullan KR, Nagy EV, Pirags V, Rojo-Martinez G, Samardzic M, Saranac L, Strele I, Top I, Thamm M, Trofimiuk-Muldner M, Unal B, Valsta L, Vila L, Vitti P, Winter B, Woodside J, Zaletel KM, Zamrazil V, Zimmermann M, Erlund I, Volzke H. Standardized Map of Iodine Status in Europe. Thyroid 2020.

Ittermann T, Johner S, Below H, Leiterer M, Thamm M, Remer T, Volzke H. Interlaboratory variability of urinary iodine measurements. Clin Chem Lab Med 2018;56(3):441-447.

Ittermann T, Khattak RM, Markus MRP, Kuhn JP, Kromrey ML, Targher G, Steveling A, Nauck M, Volzke H. Association between thyroid function and assessment of hepatic fat and iron contents by magnetic resonance imaging. Endocr Connect 2022;11(2).

Ittermann T, Khattak RM, Nauck M, Cordova CM, Volzke H. Shift of the TSH reference range with improved iodine supply in Northeast Germany. Eur J Endocrinol 2015;172(3):261-7.

Ittermann T, Schipf S, Dorr M, Thuesen BH, Jorgensen T, Volzke H, Markus MRP. Hyperthyroxinemia is positively associated with prevalent and incident type 2 diabetes mellitus in two population-based samples from Northeast Germany and Denmark. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis 2018;28(2):173-179.

Ittermann T, Volzke H, Krey A, Remer T, Heckmann M, Lange A, Kramer A, Below H. Median urinary iodine concentration reflected sufficient iodine supply in neonates from Northeast Germany in 2005-2006. Eur J Nutr 2018.

Ittermann T, Wittfeld K, Nauck M, Bulow R, Hosten N, Volzke H, Grabe HJ. High Thyrotropin Is Associated with Reduced Hippocampal Volume in a Population-Based Study from Germany. Thyroid 2018;28(11):1434-1442.

Kiel S, Ittermann T, Steinbach J, Volzke H, Chenot JF, Angelow A. The course of thyroid nodules and thyroid volume over a time period of up to 10 years: a longitudinal analysis of a population-based cohort. Eur J Endocrinol 2021;185(3):431-439.

Volzke H, Caron P, Dahl L, de Castro JJ, Erlund I, Gaberscek S, Gunnarsdottir I, Hubalewska-Dydejczyk A, Ittermann T, Ivanova L, Karanfilski B, Khattak RM, Kusic Z, Laurberg P, Lazarus JH, Markou KB, Moreno-Reyes R, Nagy EV, Peeters RP, Pirags V, Podoba J, Rayman MP, Rochau U, Siebert U, Smyth PP, Thuesen BH, Troen A, Vila L, Vitti P, Zamrazil V, Zimmermann MB. Ensuring Effective Prevention of Iodine Deficiency Disorders. Thyroid 2016;26(2):189-96.

Prof. Henry Völzke, MD

University Medicine Greifswald

Institute for Community Medicine

Department of SHIP/Clinical Epidemiological Research

Walter Rathenau Str. 48, 17475 Greifswald, Germany

+49 3834 86 75 41
https://www.medizin.uni-greifswald.de/
Henry.Voelzke@med.uni-greifswald.de
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Technical University of Denmark

DTU is recognised internationally as a leading university in the areas of the technical and the natural sciences, renowned for its business-oriented approach and focus on sustainability. The National Food Institute conducts research and disseminates sustainable and value-creating solutions in the area of food and health for the benefit of society. The main objective is to make a difference by generating future prosperity through research into food and health. Research is focused on preventing disease and promoting health and develop new and better food products for a growing population and create sustainable technological solutions. The institute’s tasks are carried out in unique interdisciplinary cooperation in nutrition, chemistry, toxicology, microbiology, epidemiology, modelling, and technology.

Role in EUthyroid2

Within Euthyroid2 DTU is co-leading WP2: Intervention Design and Implementation Strategy and is responsible for the design, test, and implementation of intervention methods, and the development of educational materials for the educational setting. Furthermore, DTU will play a vital part in data analysis and publication of results.

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Gitte Ravn-Haren

Gitte Ravn-Haren is a Senior Researcher in the research group for risk-benefit at the National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark. Through her research, she focuses on bioactive compounds in food and their beneficial effects on human health. The goal is to get a better understanding of how dietary and genetic factors interact and relate to biological responses and the risk of developing chronic diseases. Current research projects aim at increasing food literacy among school children by combining nutrition and technology education and investigating the effects of the Danish iodine fortification program on thyroid health, iodine deficiency, and preventable iodine-related disorders. She advises the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration on upper-safe levels of vitamins and minerals in food supplements and fortified foods. Furthermore, she is a member of the DanThyr steering group.

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Publications

Outzen, M., Lund, C. E., Christensen, T., Trolle, E., & Ravn-Haren, G. (2022). Assessment of iodine fortification of salt in the Danish population. European Journal of Nutrition, 61(6), 2939-2951.

Lund, H. H., Exner, M., Jensen, N. E., Leggieri, M., Outzen, M., Ravn-Haren, G., & Andersen, R. (2022). GrowBot: An Educational Robotic System for Growing Food. Applied Sciences, 12(11), 5539.

Elsborg, P., Thorsen, A. V., Ravn-Haren, G., Bonde, A. H., Andersen, S. G., Vermund, M. C., & Stjernqvist, N. W. (2022). Improved food literacy among schoolchildren as an effect of a food camp intervention: Results of a controlled effectiveness trial. Appetite, 169, 105845.

Jakobsen, L. S., Nielsen, J. O., Paulsen, S. E., Outzen, M., Linneberg, A., Møllehave, L. T., & Ravn-Haren, G. (2022). Risk–Benefit Assessment of an Increase in the Iodine Fortification Level of Foods in Denmark—A Pilot Study. Foods, 11(9), 1281.

Vellinga, R. E., Sam, M., Verhagen, H., Jakobsen, L. S., Ravn-Haren, G., Sugimoto, M., & Temme, E. H. M. (2022). Increasing Seaweed Consumption in the Netherlands and Portugal and the Consequences for the Intake of Iodine, Sodium, and Exposure to Chemical Contaminants: A Risk-Benefit Study. Frontiers in Nutrition, 1042.

Gitte Ravn-Haren

Technical University of Denmark

National Food Institute

Kemitorvet, building 202, 2800 Kgs Lyngby

Denmark

+45 93518989
https://www.dtu.dk/english/
girh@food.dtu.dk

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Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf

In 2022, the Children’s Hospital at the University Clinic of Düsseldorf established the Department of Health Services Research in Childhood and Adolescence (Head: Univ. Prof. Dr. Freia De Bock). As a bridge area, it connects the Children's Hospital with the Centre for Health and Society (CHS) and deals with population-related issues in the field of care and the public health of children and adolescents. The scientific work aims to support good, needs-oriented, and integrative healthcare for children and adolescents. This includes the development of preventive services, the optimization of cross-sectoral cooperation in the care of children, socio-medical topics such as child protection, strengthening the resilience and development of children and ensuring participation and quality of life, especially in the presence of chronic diseases. In this way, the research group wants to contribute to the evidence-based development of care and public health in childhood and adolescence and to equal health opportunities.

Role in EUthyroid2

Within EUthyorid2, the HHU/UKD team holds the role of work package 2 (WP2) lead. In cooperation with the partners from Denmark and Norway, WP2 conceptualizes the intervention and develops a prototype for implementation in the different regions. Furthermore, the adaptation process of the prototype for the different implementation contexts will be conceptualized, and after the implementation, a process evaluation will be conducted.

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Prof. Freia De Bock

Since 2022, Dr. De Bock has been appointed Full University Professor for child health services research with a focus on child protection at the Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf and the University Clinic Düsseldorf. She is a Pediatrician with a specialisation in Social Paediatrics and did her habilitation in Child Public Health at the University of Heidelberg. In addition to her medical qualifications, Dr. De Bock has broad qualifications and methodological skills in health services and public health research through the Clinical Effectiveness Program at Harvard University and the Master of Public Health degree at Erasmus University Rotterdam. She was an Excellence Fellow of the Margarete von Wrangell Program in Baden-Württemberg from 2010-2016 and worked as a social paediatrician at the Social Paediatric Centre Frankfurt-Mitte until 2016. From 2008-2018, in addition to her clinical work, she led scientific research groups at the Mannheim Institute for Public Health (University of Heidelberg) and the IMBEI (University of Mainz). From 2018-2022, she gained health policy experience and networks as Division Head of the Effectiveness and Efficiency Health Education Division of the Federal Centre for Health Education in Germany.

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Dr. Adrienne Alayli

Dr. Alayli is a health scientist with an M.Sc. in Public Health and Epidemiology (Maastricht University). With a top-talent grant from the Netherlands Society for Scientific Research (NWO), she completed her Ph.D. on methods of health economic evaluation in public health interventions. She then worked as an Evaluation Specialist at Public Health Ontario in Canada (2013-2014) and as a post-doc at the Institute of Health Economics and Clinical Epidemiology at the University of Cologne (2015-2016). As Head of the Unit at the Federal Centre for Health Education, Dr. Alayli supported the GKV-Bündnis für Gesundheit, a joint initiative of all health insurance funds, regarding setting-based-health promotion and prevention measures from 2016-2021. After leading a scientific working group on health promotion and prevention at the University Hospital of Cologne (2021-2022), Dr. Alayli became Deputy Head of the Department of Health Services Research in Childhood and Adolescence at the Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf in 2022.

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Natalia Cecon-Stabel

Mrs. Cecon-Stabel is a Psychologist (M.Sc.) and a Licensed Psychotherapist. She gathered experience in health services research during her position as a researcher at the Institute of Medical Sociology, Health Services Research and Rehabilitation Sciences (IMVR) at the University of Cologne (2018-2023), where she focused on the evaluation of cancer patients’ experiences with their inpatient care and the evaluation of a complex psycho-oncological intervention programme. Further, she was involved in researching the effects of the implementation of electronic patient files on collaboration and workflow in hospitals. Since 2023, she has focused on health prevention research for children and adolescents at the Health Services Research Department for Children and Adolescents of the Heinrich-Heine-University of Düsseldorf. In addition to evaluation and implementation research, especially concerning complex interventions, her research interests include salutogenic processes in patient care, communication and relationship building between caregivers and patients, and cooperation between interdisciplinary teams. Further, she works as a behavioural psychotherapist in the ambulatory care setting.

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Publications

De Bock F, Rehfuess EA (2021). Mehr Evidenzbasierung in Prävention und Gesundheitsförderung: Kriterien für evidenzbasierte Maßnahmen und notwendige organisationale Rahmenbedingungen und Kapazitäten. Bundesgesundheitsblatt 64, pages 524–533 (2021) Translational article. Describes the concept of evidence-based prevention and health promotion in organisations and settings of everyday life for the German context, including design, implementation, and evaluation of evidence-based interventions

De Bock F, Genser B, Raat H, Fischer JE, Renz-Polster H. Participatory intervention increases physical activity and reduces sedentary behaviour in preschool children: a cluster-randomized controlled trial. Am J Prev Med, 2013 Jul;45(1):64-74

De Bock F, Breitenstein L and Fischer JE. 2011. “Positive impact of a pre-school-based nutritional intervention on children's fruit and vegetable intake: results of a cluster-randomized trial.” 2012 Mar;15(3):466-75.

Schneider S, Diehl K, Görig T, Schilling L, De Bock F, Hoffmann K, Albrecht M, Sonntag D, Fischer JE. (2017). Contextual influences on physical activity and eating habits - Options for action on the community level. BMC Public Health. 2017 Sep 30;17(1):760.

Nawabi F, Krebs F, Lorenz L, Shukri A, Alayli A, Stock S. Understanding Determinants of Pregnant Women's Knowledge of Lifestyle-Related Risk Factors: A Cross-Sectional Study. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Jan 7;19(2):658. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19020658. PMID: 35055480; PMCID: PMC8775702.

Nawabi F, Alayli A, Krebs F, Lorenz L, Shukri A, Bau AM, Stock S. Health literacy among pregnant women in a lifestyle intervention trial: protocol for an explorative study on the role of health literacy in the perinatal health service setting. BMJ Open. 2021 Jul 1;11(7):e047377. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-047377.

Alayli A, Krebs F, Lorenz L, Nawabi F, Bau AM, Lück I, Moreira A, Kuchenbecker J, Tschiltschke E, John M, Klose S, Häusler B, Giertz C, Korsten-Reck U, Stock S. Evaluation of a computer-assisted multi-professional intervention to address lifestyle-related risk factors for overweight and obesity in expecting mothers and their infants: protocol for an effectiveness-implementation hybrid study. BMC Public Health. 2020 Apr 15;20(1):482. doi: 10.1186/s12889-020-8200-4.

Cecon, N., Krieger, T., Salm, S., Pfaff, H. & Dresen, A. (2022). Salutogenesis at Work as a Facilitator for Implementation? An Explorative Study on the Relationship of Job Demands, Job Resources and the Work-Related Sense of Coherence within a Complex Healthcare Programme. International journal of environmental research and public health, 19(3), 1842. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19031842

Krieger, T., Salm, S., Dresen, A., Arning, A., Schwickerath, K., Göttel, A., Houwaart, S., Pfaff, H. & Cecon, N. (2022). Optimizing Patient Information Material for a New Psycho-Oncological Care Program Using a Participatory Health Research Approach in Germany. International journal of environmental research and public health, 19(3), 1518. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19031518

Groß, S. E., Weidner, D., Cecon, N., Pfaff, H., Strauch, C. & Scholten, N. (2020). Does basic information concerning nutrition improve the information needs of breast cancer patients? An evaluation. Supportive care in cancer: official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer, 28(11), 5419–5427. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-020-05385-1

Prof. Freia De Bock

Department of Health Services Research in Childhood and Adolescence

Clinic of General Paediatrics

Neonatology and Paediatric Cardiology and Center for Health and Society (chs)

University Hospital Düsseldorf

Medical Faculty of the Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf

+49 211 81 06133
https://www.hhu.de/
nataliamaria.cecon-stabel@med.uni-duesseldorf.de

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Institute of Marine Research

Institute of Marine Research (IMR) is s a Norwegian governmental leading marine research institute in Europe with about 1100 employees with a head office in Bergen, Norway. IMR's main activities are research, advisory work, and monitoring. Seafood safety and the relationship between seafood consumption and human health are important factors for knowledge-based advice. In the research group ‘Seafood and Nutrition’, we perform cohort- and intervention studies in adolescents, pregnant women, and adults, risk-benefit assessments, and dietary trials in animal models. Our research contributes to increased knowledge regarding seafood and human health, and we provide analytical data on the contents of nutrients and undesirable substances in foods, seafood, fodder, and biological samples. The IMR laboratory is accredited according to ISO17025 and delivers high-quality analytical data to EFSA, Norwegian Food Safety Authority, and IMR’s open online Seafood database.

Role in EUthyroid2

In the EUthyroid2 project, IMR is leading work package 4 (WP4) ‘Methods and Quality Assurance’ together with University Medicine Greifswald (UMG). IMR is responsible for the standardisation of the data collection and will analyse the iodine concentration in all urine samples from the ambulatory care setting in the project. IMR is also co-leading in WP2 ‘Intervention Design and Implementation Strategy’ together with Denmark Technical University (DTU) and with the WP2 leader Heinrich-Heine University Dusseldorf (UDUS), Germany. IMR contributes to the development of intervention materials with focus on the ambulatory care setting. IMR will be involved in the regional studies directly (WP3) by taking part in the intervention study among women (18-24 yrs.) in the ambulatory setting. Furthermore, IMR will play a vital part in data analysis and publication of results in the EUthyroid2 project.

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Dr. Lisbeth Dahl

Lisbeth Dahl is a Nutritionist and a Senior Scientist in the Seafood and Nutrition group at IMR. She is a member of the National Nutrition Council and a co-author of the report to the Directorate of Health that concluded that there is an urgent need to secure the population’s iodine intake. She is a member of the Norwegian Scientific Committee on Food and Environment (VKM) and the risk-benefit report on iodine fortification of salt in Norway. She has a broad network, both nationally and internationally, on iodine nutrition and the effects of iodine deficiency on women’s health. She is the Norwegian national coordinator for Iodine Global Network (IGN).

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Dr. Synnøve Næss Sleire

Post-doctor Dr. Synnøve Næss Sleire has recently defended her PhD thesis entitled “Maternal and infant iodine nutrition and thyroid function: A cohort study of pregnant and postpartum women and their infants in Norway”. Dr. Sleire is a clinical dietitian with an extensive experience in research, project planning and data collection despite her young age, and has eight publications within the topic iodine nutrition. She has also experience with project coordination of a scientific background document for FAO/WHO.

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Dr. Maria Wik Markhus

Dr. Maria Wik Markhus is a senior scientist with a long-lasting experience in iodine nutrition in pregnant women and young children. She is the PI of the ‘Mommy’s Food’ project, an RCT aiming to increasing dietary iodine intake during pregnancy and further evaluate the effect on mother and child health. Furthermore, she is an officially approved biomedical laboratory scientists with extensive experience in sampling techniques, sample handling and analyses. Dr. Markhus is the secretary lead of the Global Action Network in the Decade of Action on Nutrition led by Norway.

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Dr. Inger Aakre

Dr. Inger Aakre is an experienced scientist and has a broad range of performing and leading iodine projects, such as intervention studies and analyses of iodine in foods and macroalgae. Dr. Aakre has expertise with developing and accessing knowledge indicators of iodine nutrition in young women, which is particularly relevant in this project. Aakre is member of the Norwegian Scientific Committee on Food and Environment (VKM).

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Publications

Monica Hauger Carlsen, Ellen Kielland, Maria Wik Markhus and Lisbeth Dahl. Iodine concentration in tap water, mineral water, and coffee. Food & Nutrition Research 67, 2023. https://doi.org/10.29219/fnr.v67.9517

Synnøve Næss, Inger Aakre, Tor Strand, Lisbeth Dahl, Marian Kjellevold, Ann-Elin M. Stokland, Bjørn Gunnar Nedrebø, Maria Wik Markhus. Iodine status and thyroid function in infants during the first year of life. British Journal Nutrition 2022 https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007114522001465

Line Tang Møllehave, Marie Holm Eliasen, Ieva Strēle, Allan Linneberg, Rodrigo Moreno-Reyes, Ludmila B. Ivanova, Zvonko Kusić, Iris Erlund, Till Ittermann, Ingibjorg Gunnarsdottir, Jonathan Eli Arbelle, Aaron Milton Troen, Valdis Pīrāgs, Lisbeth Dahl, Alicja Hubalewska-Dydejczyk, Malgorzata Trofimiuk-Müldner, João Jacome de Castro, Mafalda Marcelino, Simona Gaberšček, Katja Zaltel, Manuel Puig-Domingo, Sofia Manousou, Helena Filipsson Nyström, Michael Bruce Zimmermann, Karen R. Mullan, Jayne Valerie Woodside, Henry Völzke, Betina Heinsbæk Thuesen. Register-based information on thyroid diseases in Europe: lessons and results from the EUthyroid collaboration. Endocrine Connections 2022 https://doi.org/10.1530/EC-21-0525

Lisbeth Dahl, Tonje Aarsland, Synnøve Næss, Inger Aakre and Maria Wik Markhus. Iodine concentration in plant-based milk products available on the Norwegian market. Norsk Tidsskrift for Ernæring 2021 Link to the article

Ingrid Kvestad, Mari Hysing, Marian Kjellevold, Synnøve Næss, Lisbeth Dahl, Maria Wik Markhus. Maternal cod intake during pregnancy and infant development the first year of life; secondary analyses from a randomized controlled trial. Journal of Nutrition 2021. https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/nxab083

Inger Aakre, Dina Doblaug Solli, Maria Wik Markhus, Hanne K. Mæhre, Lisbeth Dahl, Sigrun Henjum, Jan Alexander, Patrick-Andre Korneliussen, Lise Madsen, Marian Kjellevold. Commercially available kelp- and seaweed products – valuable iodine source or risk of excess intake? Food & Nutrition Research, 2021. Link to the article

Inger Aakre, Lidunn Tveito Evensen, Marian Kjellevold, Lisbeth Dahl, Sigrun Henjum, Jan Alexander, Lise Madsen and Maria Wik Markhus. Iodine status and thyroid function in a group of seaweed consumers in Norway. Nutrients 2020, 12(11), 3483 https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12113483

Lisbeth Dahl, Arne Duinker, Synnøve Næss, Maria Wik Markhus, Ive Nerhus, Lisa Kolden Midbø, Marian Kjellevold. Iodine and mercury content in raw, boiled, pan-fried, and oven-baked Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua). Foods 2020, 9(11), 1652 https://doi.org/10.3390/foods9111652

Maria Wik Markhus, Mari Hysing, Lisa Kolden Midtbø, Ive Nerhus, Ingrid Kvestad, Lisbeth Dahl, and Marian Kjellevold. Effects of two servings of cod weekly for 16 weeks in pregnancy on iodine status and infant neurodevelopment: Mommy’s Food, a randomized controlled trial. Thyroid 2020 Sept. https://doi.org/10.1089/thy.2020.0115

Øyen J, Aadland EK, Liaset B, Fjære E, Dahl L, Madsen L. Lean seafood intake increases urinary iodine concentrations and plasma selenium levels – a randomized controlled trial with crossover design. European Journal of Nutrition 2020 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00394-020-02366-2

Inger Aakre, Marianne Sandsmark Morseth, Lisbeth Dahl, Sigrun Henjum, Marian Kjellevold, Vibeke Moe, Lars Smith, Maria Wik Markhus. Iodine status during pregnancy and at 6 weeks, 6-, 12- and 18 months postpartum - Longitudinal data from the Little in Norway (LiN) cohort. Maternal & Child Nutrition June 2020. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/mcn.13050

Ittermann, Till; Albrecht, Diana; Arohonka, Petra; Bílek, Radovan; de Castro, Joao; Dahl, Lisbeth; Filipsson Nyström, Helena; Gaberšček, Simona; Garcia-Fuentes, Eduardo; Gheorghiu, Monica; Hubalewska-Dydejczyk, Alicija; Hunziker, Sandra; Jukic, Tomislav; Karanfilski, Borislav; Kusic, Zvonko; Majstorov, Venjamin; Makris, Konstantinos; Markou, Kostas; Meisinger, Christa; Milevska Kostova, Neda; Mullan, Karen; Nagy, Endre; Pīrāgs, Valdis; Rojo-Martinez, Gemma; Samardzic, Mira; Saranac, Ljiljana; Strele, Ieva; Top, Işık; Thamm, Michael; Trofimiuk-Müldner, Malgorzata; Unal, Belgin; Vila, Lluis; Vitti, Paolo; Winter, Benjamin; Woodside, Jayne; Zaletel, Katja; Zamrazil, Vaclav; Zimmermann, Michael; Erlund, Iris; Völzke, Henry. Standardized Map of Iodine Status in Europe. Thyroid 2020 May https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/thy.2019.0353

Dr. Lisbeth Dahl

Section of Seafood and Nutrition

Institute of Marine Research (IMR)

PO Box 1870 Nordnes

5817 Bergen, Norway

+47 472 91 689
https://www.hi.no/en

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Jagiellonian University

The Jagiellonian University Medical College (JUMC) is a part of the Jagiellonian University (JU), the oldest Polish University and one of the most influential academic institutions in Poland. JUMC consists of three faculties: the Faculty of Medicine – instituted in 1364, Poland’s oldest unit educating physicians, the Faculty of Pharmacy, and the Faculty of Health Sciences. The Chair and the Department of Endocrinology of the Jagiellonian University Medical College, founded 50 years ago as a part of the Internal Diseases Institute, is one of the oldest endocrinology departments in Poland. It focuses on teaching, clinical and research activities, being the most important institution of this kind in South-Eastern Poland. Since its founding, the Department of Endocrinology has been involved in research on the epidemiology of endocrine diseases and their prevention, with particular interest in iodine deficiency disorders and diabetes mellitus. Its staff have participated in regional, national, and European studies on iodine deficiency, including management of the Polish National Programme for Elimination of Iodine Deficiency and the EU-founded EUthyroid projects. The activities of the Department resulted, amongst others, in the introduction of the obligatory model of iodine prophylaxis in Poland in 1997. JUMC hosted the launching of the Krakow Declaration on Iodine in 2018. The head of the Endocrinology Department, Prof. Alicja Hubalewska-Dydejczyk chairs the Polish Council for Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders and is the national coordinator of Poland of the Iodine Global Network.

Role in EUthyroid2
Within EUthyroid2, JUMC is the WP3 leader, managing the regional studies. It will involve testing the feasibility of interventions (in close cooperation with WP2), supervising the adaptation of educational materials, and coordinating the performing of the interventions in the regions. JUMC will be involved in the regional studies directly, taking part in the interventions in the ambulatory setting.

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Małgorzata Trofimiuk-Müldner, MD PhD

Małgorzata Trofimiuk-Müldner, MD Ph.D., from the beginning of her research career, has been associated with the Chair and Department of Endocrinology, JUMC. She is a specialist in endocrinology, internal diseases, and nuclear medicine. She has been involved in the research on iodine deficiency epidemiology and its management for over 20 years. She was one of the managers of the National Programme for Elimination of Iodine Deficiency in Poland and took part in the Euthyroid Consortium works. Her other scientific activities include endocrine oncology and nuclear imaging and therapy. She has participated in international research groups on applying novel radiotracers for endocrine diseases. She is a co-author of Polish guidelines on managing thyroid diseases in pregnancy, as well as thyroid nodules and cancer. She is a regional consultant in nuclear medicine. She coordinates the Nuclear Medicine Ward within the Endocrinology, Endocrine Oncology, and Nuclear Medicine Department of the University Hospital in Krakow.

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Publications

Møllehave LT, Eliasen MH, Strēle I, Linneberg A, Moreno-Reyes R, Ivanova LB, Kusić Z, Erlund I, Ittermann T, Nagy EV, Gunnarsdottir I, Arbelle JE, Troen AM, Pīrāgs V, Dahl L, Hubalewska-Dydejczyk A, Trofimiuk-Müldner M, de Castro JJ, Marcelino M, Gaberšček S, Zaltel K, Puig-Domingo M, Vila L, Manousou S, Nyström HF, Zimmermann MB, Mullan KR, Woodside JV, Völzke H, Thuesen BH Register-based information on thyroid diseases in Europe: lessons and results from the EUthyroid collaboration. Endocr Connect. 2022 Mar 10;11(3):e210525. doi: 10.1530/EC-21-0525.

Trofimiuk-Müldner M, Konopka J, Sokołowski G, Dubiel A, Kieć-Klimczak M, Kluczyński Ł, Motyka M, Rzepka E, Walczyk J, Sokołowska M, Buziak-Bereza M, Tisończyk J, Pach D, Hubalewska-Dydejczyk A. Current iodine nutrition status in Poland (2017): is the Polish model of obligatory iodine prophylaxis able to eliminate iodine deficiency in the population? Public Health Nutr. 2020 Oct;23(14):2467-2477. doi: 10.1017/S1368980020000403

Ittermann T, Albrecht D, Arohonka P, Bilek R, de Castro JJ, Dahl L, Filipsson Nystrom H, Gaberscek S, Garcia-Fuentes E, Gheorghiu ML, Hubalewska-Dydejczyk A, Hunziker S, Jukic T, Karanfilski B, Koskinen S, Kusic Z, Majstorov V, Makris KC, Markou KB, Meisinger C, Milevska Kostova N, Mullen KR, Nagy EV, Pirags V, Rojo-Martinez G, Samardzic M, Saranac L, Strele I, Thamm M, Top I, Trofimiuk-Müldner M, Ünal B, Koskinen S, Vila L, Vitti P, Winter B, Woodside JV, Zaletel K, Zamrazil V, Zimmermann M, Erlund I, Völzke H. Standardized Map of Iodine Status in Europe. Thyroid. 2020 Sep;30(9):1346-1354. doi: 10.1089/thy.2019.0353

Rochau U, Qerimi Rushaj V, Schaffner M, Schönhensch M, Stojkov I, Jahn B, Hubalewska-Dydejczyk A, Erlund I, Thuesen BH, Zimmermann M, Moreno-Reyes R, Lazarus JH, Völzke H, Siebert U. Decision-Analytic Modeling Studies in Prevention and Treatment of Iodine Deficiency and Thyroid Disorders: A Systematic Overview.Thyroid. 2020 May;30(5):746-758. doi: 10.1089/thy.2018.0776.

The Krakow Declaration on Iodine: Tasks and Responsibilities for Prevention Programs Targeting Iodine Deficiency Disorders. Eur Thyroid J. 2018 Aug;7(4):201-204. doi: 10.1159/000490143.

Völzke H, Erlund I, Hubalewska-Dydejczyk A, Ittermann T, Peeters RP, Rayman M, Buchberger M, Siebert U, Thuesen BH, Zimmermann MB, Grünert S, Lazarus JH. How Do We Improve the Impact of Iodine Deficiency Disorders Prevention in Europe and Beyond? Eur Thyroid J. 2018 Aug;7(4):193-200. doi: 10.1159/000490347.

Völzke H, Caron P, Dahl L, de Castro JJ, Erlund I, Gaberšček S, Gunnarsdottir I, Hubalewska-Dydejczyk A, Ittermann T, Ivanova L, Karanfilski B, Khattak RM, Kusić Z, Laurberg P, Lazarus JH, Markou KB, Moreno-Reyes R, Nagy EV, Peeters RP, Pīrāgs V, Podoba J, Rayman MP, Rochau U, Siebert U, Smyth PP, Thuesen BH, Troen A, Vila L, Vitti P, Zamrazil V, Zimmermann MB. Ensuring Effective Prevention of Iodine Deficiency Disorders. Thyroid. 2016 Feb;26(2):189-96. doi: 10.1089/thy.2015.0543.

Szybiński Z, Jarosz M, Hubalewska-Dydejczyk A, Stolarz-Skrzypek K, Kawecka-Jaszcz K, Traczyk I, Stoś K. Iodine-deficiency prophylaxis and the restriction of salt consumption - a 21st-century challenge. Endokrynol Pol. 2010 Jan-Feb;61(1):135-40.)

Szybinski Z, Golkowski F, Buziak-Bereza M, Trofimiuk M, Przybylik-Mazurek E, Huszno B, Bandurska-Stankiewicz E, Bar-Andziak E, Dorant B, Kinalska I, Lewinski A, Klencki M, Rybakowa M, Sowinski J, Szewczyk L, Szponar L, Wasik R. Effectiveness of the iodine prophylaxis model adopted in Poland. J Endocrinol Invest. 2008 Apr;31(4):309-13. doi: 10.1007/BF03346363.

Huszno B, Szybiński Z, Przybylik-Mazurek E, Stachura J, Trofimiuk M, Buziak-Bereza M, Gołkowski F, Pantoflinski J. Influence of iodine deficiency and iodine prophylaxis on thyroid cancer histotypes and incidence in endemic goiter area. J Endocrinol Invest. 2003;26(2 Suppl):71-6.

Szybinski Z, Delange F, Lewinski A, Podoba J, Rybakowa M, Wasik R, Szewczyk L, Huszno B, Gołkowski F, Przybylik-Mazurek E, Karbownik M, Zak T, Pantoflinski J, Trofimiuk M, Kinalska I. A programme of iodine supplementation using only iodised household salt is efficient--the case of Poland. Eur J Endocrinol. 2001 Apr;144(4):331-7. doi: 10.1530/eje.0.1440331.

Małgorzata Trofimiuk-Müldner, MD PhD

Jagiellonian University

Ul. Golebia 24, 31-007 Krakow, Poland

+48 12 4002300
https://cm-uj.krakow.pl/
malgorzata.trofimiuk@uj.edu.pl

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Cyprus University of Technology

The Cyprus International Institute for Environmental and Public Health (CII or the Institute) was founded in 2004 based on a trilateral agreement between the Cyprus Government, the Cyprus University of Technology (CUT) and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and since 2009, it operates within the CUT system. The Institute now runs autonomously by building on the know-how and experience gained from the >10-year agreement with Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, which has recently come to an end. Since 2004, the Institute was the first research institute in Cyprus that dealt exclusively with public and environmental health issues. The Institute now demonstrates its >10-year presence in educational and research activities in Cyprus and the broader Eastern Mediterranean region, such as in Kuwait and Greece by establishing successful postgraduate and doctoral programs, population health studies, and extensive scientific collaboration with the Harvard School of Public Health and other leading public health institutions.

Role in EUthyroid2

In EUthyroid2, the role of CUT is to setup the intervention study on iodine deficiency in the educational setting of Cyprus, including the data collection and data processing. Moreoever, the Cyprus study will continue the regional analyses and data processing.

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Konstantinos C. Makris, PhD

Dr. Konstantinos C. Makris is an Associate Professor of Environmental Health in the Cyprus International Institute for Environmental and Public Health within the School of Health Sciences at Cyprus University of Technology. He was appointed as Adjunct Assistant Professor of Environmental Health at the Dept. of Environmental Health, Harvard University, USA (2009-2015). Dr. Makris leads the exposome-based water and health lab which aims to minimize the human health risk associated with chronic exposure to environmental stressors. Toward this goal, his team applies improved exposure assessment tools and population health protocols by having conducted human studies in Cyprus, Greece, France, Kuwait, the Netherlands, and Norway. His laboratory is equipped with state-of-the art instrumentation to generate its own biomarker and metabolomics data. Since 2010, he has received over 1.5 million euros in external funding from the EU, the Cyprus RPF, the EU BBMRI-LPC Biobanking network, and the National Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences Center at Harvard University. He has co-authored over 120 peer-reviewed journal articles and had 60 conference proceedings. He has been one of the two investigators that conducted the cancer cluster investigation for the Astrasol brain cancer court case in Cyprus. He has been invited by the Cyprus Parliament Senate Committee on Environment and Health to provide expert testimony about the environmental health consequences for the surrounding populations after the Mari tragedy/explosion and has also served as a member of the scientific advisory committee to the Ministry of Health concerning arsenic exposures in Cyprus. He has delivered research talks at more than 20 universities and organizations in the USA/EU, such as at Harvard University, Emory University, University of Alberta, University of Delaware, and he has presided over 15 symposia at international conferences.

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Angelos Kyriacou

Dr. Kyriacou is a Consultant in Endocrinology and Diabetes. He obtained his Bachelor in Medicine and Surgery (MBChB) at the University of Manchester (UK) in 2005. Thereafter, he worked in the North West area of England. In 2009 he became a member of the Royal College of Physicians (MRCP - Edinburgh). He completed the Specialty Exam (SCE) in Endocrinology & Diabetes in 2012 and he was awarded his Certificate of Completion (CCT) of training in 2014 in General Internal Medicine (GIM) and Endocrinology and Diabetes. He has been awarded a fellowship with the Royal College of Physicians in 2018 (FRCP - Edinburgh). He has worked as a Consultant in Endocrinology and Diabetes at Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust (Greater Manchester, UK) up to September 2015.

He retains an affiliation (Honorary Contract) with the aforementioned hospital to this date. From 2014 to 2015 he completed a Clinical Fellowship in Thyroid diseases in the North West of England which is among his special interests. After he based in Cyprus in late 2015, Dr. Kyriacou has been working in CEDM Centre of Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism in Limassol while also affiliated with Evangelismos Hospital in Paphos. Dr. Kyriacou has been involved in teaching and training junior colleagues and medical students and has completed a Master's degree (MA) in Post-Graduate Medical Education (PGME, Edge Hill University, UK) in March 2018. His dissertation thesis has been on "Online health information seeking behavior by patients before their outpatient appointments in endocrinology". His other academic interest includes research with over 30 articles published so far in various peer-reviewed journals or conference proceedings. He is a reviewer for various medical journals, including The BMJ, and has presented at various national and international conferences. He has also authored a book chapter titled 'Thyroid and weight' in the medical textbook 'Practical Guide to Obesity Medicine'.

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Publications

A Kyriacou, A Kyriacou, KC Makris, AA Syed, P Perros, 2019. Weight gain following treatment of hyperthyroidism — A forgotten tale. Clinical Obesity 9 (5), e12328

E Tingi, AA Syed, A Kyriacou, G Mastorakos, A Kyriacou, 2016. Benign thyroid disease in pregnancy: a state of the art review. Journal of Clinical & Translational Endocrinology 6, 37-49

A Kyriacou, E Vogiazanos, S Ghattamaneni, 2016. A Critical Reflection of British Thyroid Association (BTA) guidelines for the management of thyroid nodules and cancer. Thyroid Disorders Ther 5 (204), 2

E Ioannou, S Oikonomou, N Efthymiou, A Constantinou, T Delplancke, et al. 2022. A time differentiated dietary intervention effect on the biomarkers of exposure to pyrethroids and neonicotinoids pesticides. Iscience 26 (2)

B Armocida, L Monasta, S Sawyer, F Bustreo, G Segafredo, Makris KC et al, 2022. Burden of non-communicable diseases among adolescents aged 10–24 years in the EU, 1990–2019: a systematic analysis of the Global Burden of Diseases Study 2019. The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health 6 (6), 367-383

T Ittermann, D Albrecht, P Arohonka, R Bilek, JJ De Castro, L Dahl, Makris KC, et al. 2020. Standardized map of iodine status in Europe. Thyroid 30 (9), 1346-1354.

KC Makris, C Konstantinou, XD Andrianou, P Charisiadis, A Kyriacou. 2019. A cluster-randomized crossover trial of organic diet impact on biomarkers of exposure to pesticides and biomarkers of oxidative stress/inflammation in primary school children. PLoS One 14 (9), e0219420.

S Gängler, XD Andrianou, A Piciu, P Charisiadis, C Zira, K Aristidou. 2017. Iodine status and thyroid nodules in females: a comparison of Cyprus and Romania. Public Health 143, 37-43

XD Andrianou, S Gängler, A Piciu, P Charisiadis, C Zira, K Aristidou. 2016. Human exposures to bisphenol A, bisphenol F and chlorinated bisphenol A derivatives and thyroid function. PLoS One 11 (10), e0155237

Konstantinos C. Makris, PhD

Angelos Kyriacou

Cyprus International Institute for Environmental and Public Health

School of Health Sciences

Cyprus University of Technology

Irinis 95, 3041, Limassol, Cyprus

+357 25002398
+357 25002676
http://web.cut.ac.cy/waterandhealth
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Bangladesh University of Health Sciences

BUHS was founded 10 years ago by qualified and trained professionals of the world-renowned Diabetic Association of Bangladesh (BADAS) originating from the Bangladesh Institute and Research in Diabetes, Endocrine and Metabolic Disease (BIRDEM). The main objective of the organisation is to develop qualified professionals to improve the health of the public and generate evidence-based knowledge in biomedical research involving biological, chemical, clinical, and social sciences that can help policymakers develop better healthcare programmes in the country. BUHS has 25 undergraduate and postgraduate programmes under 4 faculties – Basic Science, Allied Health Science, Public Health, and Health Engineering and Technology. The organisation has been engaged with innovation and good practices in the area of health-related research, training, and programme implementation. BUHS has the unique advantage of combining diverse expertise (from molecular biology to health policy levels) under one umbrella. Getting proper access to the local communities is a significant challenge in public health research, and BUHS is blessed to have such an advantage through its parent organisation BADAS. Focusing on education, research, and development, it works in close collaboration with many renowned universities from around the world: the University of Oslo Norway, the University of Southern Denmark, the University of Glasgow, the University of Munich, and the National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan.

Role in EUthyroid2

As a partner of Euthyroid 2, BUHS is leading this type of research for the first time in the country. It will survey adolescents and young women and collect information about iodine intake knowledge and practice. The outcome of the intervention considering the local context will provide the basis for further intervention to increase awareness among the target group and improve their iodine status. The data will help policymakers and thyroid specialists to establish strategies to reduce iodine deficiency in Bangladesh.

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Publications

Alam, F., Begum, F., Haque, M., Faruque, O., Ali, L. at el. Status of thyroidal Radioiodine (I-131) uptake and urinary iodine in Bangladeshi population: A re-look following implementation of Universal Iodination of Salt. World Journal of Nuclear Medicine. January 2007; Vol 6, No 1. Available: https://inis.iaea.org/search/search.aspx?orig_q=RN:34020596

Ishaque, A.M., Moslem, F., Khalilullah, S., Alam, F. et al. Neonatal Hypothyroidism Screening in Bangladesh. Journal of Endocrinological Investigation. 1992; 15: (suppl 5).

Azim M.A., Islam, M.A., Biswasarma, A.C., Uddin, M.J., Jabin, Z., Begum, F., Shamim, M., Begum, F., Alam, F. et al. Current Status of Newborn Screening for the Early Diagnosis of Congenital Hypothyroidism in Bangladesh. Bangladesh Journal of Nuclear Medicine. January 2022; Vol. 25 No. 1. p15-21. Doi: https://doi.org/10.3329/bjnm.v25i1.59636

Mondal R, Sarker RC, Sayrin R, Afrin R, Zaman K, Acharya NP, Sultana S, Banik PC, Faruque M, Choudhury SR, Zaman MM. Knowledge, attitude, and practice towards dietary salt intake among nurses working in a cardiac hospital in Bangladesh. Cardiovascular Journal. 2019; 12(1):53-58. https://doi.org/10.3329/cardio.v12i1.43420

Biswas J, Haque MM, Mahbub MS, Nurani RN, Shah NA, Barua L, Banik PC, Faruque M, Zaman MM. Salt Intake Behavior among the Undergraduate Students of Bangladesh University of Health Sciences. Journal of Xiangya Medicine. 2020; 5:24. http://dx.doi.org/10.21037/jxym-20-47

Fatima Begum, Sadia Sultana, Nurun Nahar, Faridul Alam, Mizanul Hasan, Raihan Hussain, Mahmubul Haque, Faria Nasreen, Mohafizul Haque Khan, Lutfun Nisa, Fauzia Moslem, Shahana Afroz, Kamila Afroj Quadir, M. A. Karim. Protocol for Management of Hyperthyroidism. Bangladesh Journal of Nuclear Medicine. Vol. 18 no. 1 January 2015

Faria Nasreen, Nurun Nahar, Sadia Sultana, Faridul Alam, Outcome of Well-Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma Patients Receiving a Cumulative Doses of ≥ 600 mCi (22GBq) of I-131; Bangladesh Journal of Nuclear Medicine. Vol. 17 No. 2 July 2014;

Sharmin Reza, Sadia Sultana, Fatima Begum, Rahima Perveen, Zeenat Jabin, Nurun Nahar, and Faridul Alam; Delayed Citrus Stimulation and Prevention of Salivary Glands Damage in Patients of Thyroid Carcinoma Treated by Radioiodine Therapy. Bangladesh Journal of Nuclear Medicine. Vol. 21 No. 2 July 2018. Doi: https://doi.org/10.3329/bjnm.v21

Reza, S., Sultana, S., Begum, F., Perveen, R., Jabin, Z., Nahar, N., & Alam, F. (2019). Delayed Citrus Stimulation and Prevention of Salivary Glands Damage in Patients of Thyroid Carcinoma Treated by Radioiodine Therapy. Bangladesh Journal of Nuclear Medicine, 21(2), 92–96. https://doi.org/10.3329/bjnm.v21i2.40358

Sultana, S., Nahar, N., Begum, F., Alam, F., Hasan, M., Hussain, R., Haque, M., Nasreen, F., Khan, M. H., Nisa, L., Moslem, F., Afroz, S., Quadir, K. A., Begum, F., & Karim, M. (2017). Management of Patients with Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma- SNMB Guidelines. Bangladesh Journal of Nuclear Medicine, 18(1), 73–84. https://doi.org/10.3329/bjnm.v18i1.34943

Dr. Mithila Faruque

Bangladesh University of Health Sciences (BUHS)

125/1 Darus Salam, Mirpur 1, Dhaka 1216

+880 1673637393
www.buhs.ac.bd

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Islamia College Peshawar

Islamia College Peshawar (ICP) was founded in 1913 by the initiatives led by Sir Sahibzada Abdul Qayyum Khan and Sir George Roos-Keppel. The historical roots can be traced back to the culminating point of the Aligarh Movement (currently in India). ICP is not only famous for its educational activities but also for its historical buildings which attract the public at national and international levels. The architectural style of the building is a blend of Islamic Mughal traditions combined with typical Curzonean touches. Historically, the students of this institution had the honour to suggest the name Pakistan for this country, which was later officially named the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. In 1950, the University of Peshawar was founded as an offshoot of Islamia College Peshawar, with the latter being associated with the university as a constituent college. By contributing to the founding of three Universities in Peshawar − the University of Peshawar, University of Engineering and Technology, Peshawar and the Agricultural University, Peshawar − Islamia College Peshawar has been recognised as a university in 2008. The word college is retained in its title for preserving its historical roots. As an emerging higher education institution, ICP comprises five faculties; the Faculty of Arts and Languages, the Faculty of Basic and Social Sciences, the Faculty of Religious and Legal Studies, the Faculty of Natural Sciences, and the Faculty of Technology & Engineering Sciences. Currently, the university has more than 3000 students with 240 faculty members. The focus of ICP is slowly converging
from an academic institution to a research organisation.

Role in EUthyroid2

ICP will collaborate with WP1, WP3, and WP4 in designing and translating the intervention materials in both educational and ambulatory care settings to make them culturally adaptable and locally readable. ICP will perform the interventions and ensure the standardized baseline and follow-up data collection. ICP will also ensure the collection of secondary data from local communities and students.

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Dr. Rehman Mehmood Khattak

Rehman M. Khattak is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Zoology at Islamia College Peshawar. He was trained as an Epidemiologist with a specific interest in iodine deficiency disorders and population studies. He was part of the Institute of Community Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Germany while pursuing his Ph.D. degree. While working in Germany, he was involved in the SHIP studies. He contributed to several publications in the first phase of the EUthyroid project. He also presented an overall iodine deficiency situational analysis by identifying the hurdles encountered in the adaptation of the USI programme and the possible difficulties in the implementation of programmes aimed at eradicating iodine deficiency in Pakistan. Currently, he is working on population health-related issues with a special focus on iodine deficiency disorders and on identifying the social and cultural aspects impeding the progress of the USI programme in Pakistan.

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Publications

Khattak RM, Saifullah Z, Khadija G, Fayyaz A, Zaman S, Gul M et al. Regional Influence on Iodine Nutritional Status of Pakistani Pregnant Women. Thyroid 2018. DOI: 10.1089/ thy.2017.0267

Khattak RM, Ittermann T, Nauck M, Below H, Völzke H. Monitoring the prevalence of thyroid disorders in the adult population of Northeast Germany. Population health metrics 2016; 14(1): 39. DOI 10.1186/s12963-016-0111-3

Völzke H, Caron P, Khattak RM, Kusic Z, Laurberg P et al. Ensuring effective prevention of iodine deficiency disorders. Thyroid 2015. DOI: 10.1089/thy.2015.0543

Ittermann T, Khattak RM, Nauck M, Cordova CMM, Volzke H. Shift of the TSH reference range with improved iodine supply in Northeast Germany. European Journal of Endocrinology 2014; 172(3): 261-267. DOI: 10.1530/EJE-14-0898

Dr. Rehman Mehmood Khattak

Islamia College Peshawar, Pakistan

Jamrud road, Peshawar

www.icp.edu.pk
rehman.mehmood@icp.edu.pk

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Västra Götalandsregionen

Region Västra Götaland, Sahlgrenska University Hospital (VGR-SUH) provides basic and emergency care for the Göteborg region, and its 700,000 inhabitants, and highly specialised care for West Sweden, with 1.7 million inhabitants. It is one of six teaching hospitals for medical education in Sweden. The hospital provides the infrastructure necessary for teaching and research in cooperation with the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg.

Endocrinological research is an important area of focus within the Department of Specialised Medicine. This research involves both basic and clinical research into growth hormone, cortisone, sex hormones and thyroid hormone. The Thyroid Department has ongoing research activities in Graves’ Disease and in risk groups of iodine deficiency.

Role in EUthyroid2

Within EUthyroid, VGR-SUH supports the communication and dissemination of the project results (WP5). Through the link to networks with targets groups, research and health providers, we will contribute to the awareness the project’s development and achievements.

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Prof. Helena Filipsson Nyström

Helena Filipsson Nyström, PhD, Senior University Hospital Consultant at Sahlgrenska University Hospital with specialist competences in internal medicine and endocrinology and Professor at University of Gothenburg. She does translational clinical research on the patient group she also manages clinically – patients with hyperthyroidism, especially patients with the autoimmune form – Graves’ disease. She is also regional process-leader for this patient group, with hyperthyroidism, and is the national representative in the Iodine Global Network and has been leader of the national working force for patients. She is a Clinical Wallenberg Research Fellow and belongs to the professional expert council in National patient organisation.

Another area of focus is risk groups for iodine deficiency. The ‘Swedish IoDine in Pregnancy and Development In Children’ (SWIDDICH, ID NCT02378246) study is an on-going randomised controlled longitudinal trial (n=1264) with 150 µg iodine supplement during pregnancy combined with follow-up of the children to assess the importance of thyroid hormones for the brain development of the child. Primary outcome is verbal cognitive development at the age of 3.5 years.

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Publications

A randomized, double-blind study of iodine supplementation during pregnancy in Sweden: pilot evaluation of maternal iodine status and thyroid function S Manousou R Eggertsen L Hulthén H Filipsson Nyström European Journal of Nutrition. 2021 Sep;60(6):3411-22

Standardized Map of Iodine Status in Europe Ittermann T, Albrecht D, Arohonka P, Bilek R, de Castro JJ, Dahl L, Filipsson Nystrom H, Gaberscek S, Garcia-Fuentes E, Gheorghiu ML, Hubalewska-Dydejczyk A, Hunziker S, Jukic T, Karanfilski B, Koskinen S, Kusic Z, Majstorov V, Makris KC, Markou KB, Meisinger C, Milevska Kostova N, et al. Thyroid 2020 Sep;30(9):1346-54

Iodine deficiency in pregnant women in Sweden: a national cross-sectional study S Manousou, M Andersson, R Eggertsen, S Hunziker, L Hulthén, and H Filipsson Nyström. European Journal of Nutrition 2020 Sep;59(6):2535-2545

A Paleolithic-type diet results in Iodine deficiency: a 2-year randomized trial in postmenopausal obese women Manousou S, Stål M, Larsson C, Mellberg C, Lindahl B, Eggertsen R, Hulthén L, Olsson T, Ryberg M, Sandberg S, and Filipsson Nyström H European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2018 Jan;72(1):124-129.

Thyroid volume in Swedish school children: a national, stratified, population-based survey Filipsson Nyström H, Andersson M, Berg G, Eggertsen R, Gramatkowski E, Hulthén, Milakovic M, Nystrom E. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2010 Nov;64(11):1289-95

Prof. Helena Filipsson Nyström

Sahlgrenska University Hospital

Department of Medicine, Section Endocrinology

Blå stråket 8

SE- 413 45 Göteborg

Sweden

+46 31 342 10 00
https://www.sahlgrenska.se/en/

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University Medical Centre Ljubljana

University Medical Centre Ljubljana (UMCL) is the largest medical institution in Slovenia, which has more than 8,300 employees. UMCL's triple mission includes health care, education, and research. It is the only hospital in Slovenia providing specialized care for some diseases. The Thyroid Unit at the Department of Nuclear Medicine of the UMCL is a tertiary referral centre for diagnostics and treatment of thyroid diseases serving an area encompassing half of Slovenia. With its clinical, research, and teaching work, the department is a leading institution in the field of diagnostics and treatment of thyroid diseases. Over the past years, the department has made a significant contribution to research on the iodine supply of the Slovenian population and to legislation regarding salt iodization.

Role in EUthyroid2

UMCL will participate in the educational intervention study including adolescents (13-17 years) in primary schools, high schools, and vocational schools. Additionally, UMCL will participate in the dissemination of the results, as well as in communication activities.

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Prof. Simona Gaberšček, MD

Simona Gaberšček is a Professor at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, and Head of the Thyroid Outpatient Department at UMCL. She is an Internal and Nuclear Medicine Specialist with her main clinical and research interests within thyroid disorders. She led or participated in many research projects. She has been a lecturer in postgraduate courses for thyroid diseases, clinical endocrinology, and clinical chemistry. She is the President of the Slovenian Nuclear Medicine Association. Her research interests are physiology and pathophysiology of the thyroid gland, with an emphasis on pregnancy and the postpartum period, iodine prophylaxis, autoimmune thyroid diseases, as well as radioiodine treatment of benign thyroid disorders. She has co-authored many research and review articles and actively participated in several international conferences.

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Publications

Ittermann T, Albrecht D, Arohonka P, Bilek R, de Castro JJ, Dahl L, Filipsson Nystrom G, Gaberscek S, et al. Standardized map of iodine status in Europe. Thyroid 2020; 30(9): 1346-1354.

Gaberšček S, Gaberšček B, Zaletel K. Incidence of thyroid disorders in the second decade of adequate iodine supply in Slovenia. Wien Klin Wochenschr 2021; 133(5-6): 182-187.

Bajuk V, Zaletel K, Pirnat E, Hojker S, Gaberšček S. Effects of adequate iodine supply on the incidence of iodine-induced thyroid disorders in Slovenia. Thyroid 2017; 27(4): 558-566.

Völzke G, Caron P, Dahl L, de Castro JJ, Erlund I, Gaberšček S, et al. Ensuring effective prevention of iodine deficiency disorders. Thyroid 2016; 26(2): 189-196.

Zaletel K, Gaberscek S, Pirnat E, Krhin B, Hojker S. Ten-year follow-up of thyroid epidemiology in Slovenia after an increase in salt iodization. Croat Med J 2011; 52(5); 615-621.

Prof. Simona Gaberšček, MD

University Medical Centre Ljubljana

Zaloska cesta 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia

+38 615 223 551
https://www.kclj.si
simona.gaberscek@kclj.si

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Thyroid Federation International

Thyroid Federation International (TFI) is a global, non-profit network of patient organisations with more than 35 member organisations from all continents – both patient-led and patient-oriented – that aim to support thyroid patients worldwide. TFI’s mission is to provide evidence-based information to patients and their families about thyroid conditions and help them make informed decisions about their health. TFI actively participates at several international congresses (European Congress of Endocrinology (ECE), European Society of Paediatric Endocrinology (ESPE), European Thyroid Association (ETA), American Thyroid Association (ATA), Latin American Thyroid Congress (LATS) and maintains continuous communication with EURORDIS, EEC, and WIC to help put thyroid disorders on the agenda, have doctors and patients team up to ensure timely diagnosis and adequate treatment to everyone, irrespective of geographical location.

Role in EUthyroid2 Within EUthyroid2, TFI is responsible for the communication and dissemination of results (WP5). Together with IGN and WIA, TFI aims to raise awareness of iodine deficiency and iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) and the importance of iodine nutrition among the target groups, including adolescents and young women up to age 24 pre-pregnancy, the scientific community, medical professionals, and policymakers and inform the target groups, and other research and health stakeholders about the project’s development and achievements.

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Peter Lakwijk

Peter Lakwijk serves as Treasurer and board member at TFI. As a thyroid patient and thyroid advocate, he has more than 18 years of experience working to increase awareness of thyroid diseases. He has been an active voice for thyroid patients and patient organisations. He serves on the editorial board of TFI and has been involved in several projects, among which the MotherBabyIodine (MBI) project and the E-MPATHY study are the most recent. Within the MotherBabyIodine project, he has been working on designing brochures in multiple languages to promote the project in countries where IDD is a prevalent problem. He has recently co-authored in a study that involves the collaboration among thyroid experts, TFI, and Picker Institute Europe. The publication was constructed to gain more insight into the experiences of hypothyroid patients and was published in the American Thyroid Association’s journal, Thyroid. He has established and continues to establish a wide network of contacts with thyroid patient advocates, patient organisations and thyroid experts at international conferences in thyroidology and endocrinology.

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Anna Bokor

Anna Bokor is a Content and Communications Specialist with relevant experience in medical writing and EU-funded projects. She delivers medical writing and communication materials across different projects and ensures effective project execution. With a special focus on educating the public, she processes medical studies in endocrinology, thyroidology, and behavioural science and creates educational materials that are clear and easy to understand for everyone. She works to increase awareness of endocrine/thyroid disorders. She assists the work of TFI in increasing its visibility on social media with educational content and promoting international awareness campaigns (Thyroid Awareness Month, World Thyroid Day, International Thyroid Awareness Week, Graves’ Disease Awareness Month, and Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month).

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Laura Linda Henderson

Laura Linda Henderson is a board member at TFI and a former Project Manager at the Italian European Patients’ Academy (EUPATI), a consortium that helps bring together patients, academia, non-profit organisations, and regulators. As a thyroid patient advocate, she has worked and translated an educational booklet: „Mr. Iody and Little Salty – Best Friends”, aimed to inform children aged 6 to 10 on the importance of iodine and the correct use of salt. She has been actively involved in the MotherBabyIodine (MBI) project. Together with WIA, IGN, GAIN, and other organisations, she has been working on several awareness campaigns to increase awareness of iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) by educating the public on the safety and efficacy of the use of iodised salt to prevent iodine deficiency, especially in women of reproductive age. At the 2nd WIA International Conference on Iodine in Food Systems and Health in November 2022 in Rotterdam, she illustrated a patient advocacy approach towards IDD.

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Publications

MotherBabyIodine (www.motherbabyiodine.org): this project aims to bring attention to the extent and consequences of Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD) in pregnant women and women of reproductive age (12-50).

E-MPATHY study (E-mode Patient self-assessment of thyroid therapy): with the involvement of several TFI member patient organisations, the study examines the experiences of patients with hypothyroidism.

Perros P, Hegedüs L, Nagy EV, Papini E, Hay HA, Abad-Madroñero J, Tallett A, Bilas M, Lakwijk P, Poots AJ. The impact of hypothyroidism on satisfaction with care and treatment and everyday living: results from E-Mode Patient self-Assessment of THYroid therapy (E-MPATHY), a cross-sectional, international online patient survey. Thyroid. 2022 (https://www.liebertpub. com/doi/10.1089/thy.2022.0324).

Fliers E, Demeneix B, Bhaseen A, Brix TH. European Thyroid Association (ETA) and Thyroid Federation International (TFI) Joint Position Statement on the Interchangeability of Levothyroxine Products in EU Countries. Eur Thyroid J. 2018;7(5):238-242. doi:10.1159/000493123.

Peter Lakwijk

Thyroid Federation International

Siriusdreef 17-27

2132 WT Hoofddorp

The Netherlands

+46 761702309
https://thyroid-fed.org/
peterlakwijk@thyroid-fed.org

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University of Surrey

University of Surrey (SURREY) consists of three faculties: the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, and the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences. The Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences has four Schools, including the School of Biosciences which comprises the Department of Nutrition, Food, and Exercise Sciences. The Department of Nutrition, Food, and Exercise Sciences was the recipient of The Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education in 2017 in recognition of its excellence in the field of food and nutrition. The Department has 36 academic staff, five research staff, and 22 PhD students. Members of the Department have a broad range of expertise, ranging from metabolic, molecular, trace-element and public-health nutrition, to nutritional and diabetic medicine, and are skilled in running human studies including randomised controlled trials. The University of Surrey was a partner in the first EUthyroid project.

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Dr. Sarah Bath

Dr. Sarah Bath is a Lecturer in Public Health Nutrition at the University of Surrey and is a Registered Dietitian. Dr. Bath’s main research interest is iodine, and she has been researching the effects and predictors of iodine deficiency since 2009. Her work showing that mild-to-moderate iodine deficiency in pregnancy was associated with lower child IQ and reading scores was published in The Lancet in 2013. Since then, she has collaborated on projects to explore the effects of deficiency in pregnancy using European population-based birth cohorts. Her work also involves exploring the predictors of iodine status and dietary sources of iodine, including the variability in iodine concentration of cow’s milk and the iodine content of milk-alternative products; her current research focuses on the effects of plant-based diets on the risk of iodine deficiency. As a Registered Dietitian, Dr. Bath is keen to translate findings into information for the public and is the author of an iodine fact sheet published by the British Dietetic Association. Dr. Bath chaired an ILSI Europe Expert Group on iodine intake in Europe (2017-2022) and is currently the chair of the Scientific Advisory Board for the World Iodine Association (WIA).

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Publications

Katie Nicol, Anne P. Nugent, Jayne V. Woodside, Kathryn H. Hart, Sarah C. Bath (2023)Iodine and plant-based diets: a narrative review and calculation of iodine content, In: British Journal of Nutritionpp. 1-11 Cambridge University Press DOI: 10.1017/S0007114523001873

Mariana Dineva, Margaret P Rayman, Deborah Levie, Sandra Hunziker, Mònica Guxens, Robin P Peeters, Mario Murcia, Marisa Rebagliato, Amaia Irizar, Alba Jimeno-Romero, Jordi Sunyer, Tim I M Korevaar, Sarah C Bath (2023)Exploration of thyroglobulin as a biomarker of iodine status in iodine-sufficient and mildly iodine-deficient pregnant women, In: European journal of nutrition Springer DOI: 10.1007/s00394-023-03131-x

MARIANA DINEVA, A. Hall, M. Tan, A. Blaskova, SARAH C BATH (2022)Iodine status during child development and hearing ability - a systematic review, In: British journal of nutrition Cambridge University Press DOI: 10.1017/S0007114522001441

K Nicol, E Thomas, A Nugent, J Woodside, K Hart, S C Bath (2022)Iodine fortification of plant-based dairy and fish alternatives - the effect of substitution on iodine intake based on a market survey in the UK, In: British journal of nutritionpp. 1-28 CUP DOI: 10.1017/S0007114522001052

Andrea Cannas, Margaret P Rayman, Ourania Kolokotroni, Sarah C Bath (2022)Iodine status of pregnant women from the Republic of Cyprus, In: British journal of nutrition Cambridge University Press DOI: 10.1017/S0007114522000617

Oliver C Witard, Sarah C Bath, Mariana Dineva, Laury Sellem, Ana-Isabel Mulet-Cabero, Laura H. van Dongen, Ju-Sheng Zheng, Carina Valenzuela, Benoit Smeuninx (2022)Dairy as a Source of Iodine and Protein in the UK: Implications for Human Health Across the Life Course, and Future Policy and Research, In: Frontiers in nutrition (Lausanne)9800559 FRONTIERS MEDIA SA DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2022.800559

Dr. Sarah Bath

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Queen's University Belfast

The Centre for Public Health (CPH) at Queen’s University of Belfast (QUB) brings together scientists and clinicians with backgrounds in nutrition, geriatric medicine, biochemistry, epidemiology, genetics and statistics. The Centre focuses on improving health and reducing inequalities, preventing and managing chronic disease and disability and improving the delivery of health and social care.

Role in EUthyroid2

In EUthyroid2, QUB will, working alongside the University of Surrey, conduct the testing of the developed educational interventions in the UK in both schoolchildren and young adults and explore effects on outcomes including iodine awareness.

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Prof. Jayne Woodside

Jayne Woodside is a Professor of Human Nutrition at the Centre for Public Health and the Institute for Global Food Security at Queen’s University Belfast. She specialises in the conduct of human nutrition intervention studies with whole foods and whole diets examining clinically relevant endpoints and interventions to promote long-term dietary change. She has published widely in the nutrition field (more than 250 original papers) and has current funding from the UK Prevention Research Partnership, UKRI (MRC and BBSRC), NIHR, EU and the Northern Ireland Research and Development Office.

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Publications

Kayes L, Mullan KR, Woodside JV. A review of current knowledge about the importance of iodine among women of child-bearing age and healthcare professionals. J Nutr Sci. 2022 Jul 8;11:e56. doi: 10.1017/jns.2022.50. PMID: 35836700; PMCID: PMC9274385.

Møllehave LT, Eliasen MH, Strēle I, Linneberg A, Moreno-Reyes R, Ivanova LB, Kusić Z, Erlund I, Ittermann T, Nagy EV, Gunnarsdottir I, Arbelle JE, Troen AM, Pīrāgs V, Dahl L, Hubalewska-Dydejczyk A, Trofimiuk-Müldner M, de Castro JJ, Marcelino M, Gaberšček S, Zaltel K, Puig-Domingo M, Vila L, Manousou S, Nyström HF, Zimmermann MB, Mullan KR, Woodside JV, Völzke H, Thuesen BH. Register-based information on thyroid diseases in Europe: lessons and results from the EUthyroid collaboration. Endocr Connect. 2022 Mar 10;11(3):e210525. doi: 10.1530/EC-21-0525. PMID: 35044931; PMCID: PMC8942317.

Woodside JV, Mullan KR. Iodine status in UK-An accidental public health triumph gone sour. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2021 Apr;94(4):692-699. doi: 10.1111/cen.14368. Epub 2020 Nov 29. PMID: 33249610.

Mullan KR, McMullan P, Hunter A, McCance DR, Smyth P, Bath SC, Rayman M, Woodside JV. Selenium status in a Northern Irish pregnant cohort with iodine deficiency. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2021 Feb;75(2):403-405. doi: 10.1038/s41430-020-00721-4. Epub 2020 Nov 9. PMID: 33168959.

McMullan P, Hunter A, McCance D, Woodside JV, Mullan K. Knowledge about iodine requirements during pregnancy and breastfeeding among pregnant women living in Northern Ireland. BMC Nutr. 2019 Mar 12;5:24. doi: 10.1186/s40795-019-0285-8. PMID: 32153937; PMCID: PMC7050819.

Shaw M, Nugent AP, McNulty BA, Walton J, McHugh M, Kane A, Moore Heslin A, Morrissey E, Mullan K, Woodside JV. What is the availability of iodised salt in supermarkets on the Island of Ireland? Eur J Clin Nutr. 2019 Dec;73(12):1636-1638. doi: 10.1038/s41430-019-0518-6. Epub 2019 Oct 17. PMID: 31624363.

McMullan P, Hamill L, Doolan K, Hunter A, McCance D, Patterson C, Smyth P, Woodside JV, Mullan K. Iodine deficiency among pregnant women living in Northern Ireland. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2019 Nov;91(5):639-645. doi: 10.1111/cen.14065. Epub 2019 Aug 12. PMID: 31325189.

Mullan K, Hamill L, Doolan K, Young I, Smyth P, Flynn A, Walton J, Meharg AA, Carey M, McKernan C, Bell M, Black N, Graham U, McCance D, McHugh C, McMullan P, McQuaid S, O'Loughlin A, Tuthill A, Bath SC, Rayman M, Woodside JV. Iodine status of teenage girls on the island of Ireland. Eur J Nutr. 2020 Aug;59(5):1859-1867. doi: 10.1007/s00394-019-02037-x. Epub 2019 Jul 18. PMID: 31321499.

Mullan K, Patterson C, Doolan K, Cundick J, Hamill L, McKeeman G, McMullan P, Smyth P, Young I, Woodside JV. Neonatal TSH levels in Northern Ireland from 2003 to 2014 as a measure of population iodine status. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2018 Dec;89(6):849-855. doi: 10.1111/cen.13849. Epub 2018 Oct 8. PMID: 30184261

Prof. Jayne Woodside

The Queen’s University of Belfast

University Road, BT7 1NN Belfast, United Kingdom

+44 28 909 78942
www.qub.ac.uk
j.woodside@qub.ac.uk

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Iodine Global Network

The Iodine Global Network is a non-profit, non governmental organization for the elimination of iodine deficiency worldwide. We aim to improve and sustain adequate iodine intake, primarily through iodization of food grade salt for home use and for use in processed foods. We work with governments, industry and other partners to make salt iodization programs as effective, efficient, equitable and sustainable as they can be.

Role in EUthyroid2

Within EUthyroid2, IGN works with TFI and WIA to promote effective strategies to raise awareness of iodine deficiency among young people.

Anna Bokor

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World Iodine Association

The World Iodine Association (WIA) is a Brussels-based non-profit organisation which represents iodine producers, processors, formulators, distributors and end users towards public institutions and international organisations with respect to guidelines and regulations on iodine and its derivatives. The association offers a central information platform on uses, applications and benefits of iodine with respect to industry as well as human and animal health.

Role in EUthyroid2

Within EUthyroid2, WIA supports the communication and dissemination of the project’s results towards EU policymakers. In this context, WIA is organising two policy roundtables to present the consortium and its findings. The first roundtable will serve to inform policymakers about the Krakow Declaration on Iodine and prepare an execution plan for the signing of the 2nd Krakow Declaration on Iodine. In turn, the second roundtable will serve to present the project’s final findings and policy recommendations, as well as to gather policymakers for the official signature the 2nd Krakow Declaration on Iodine.

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Attilio Caligiani

Attilio Caligiani acts as Director General of WIA. In this capacity, he oversees the organisation's advocacy towards international institutions and key stakeholders.

Attilio Caligiani

World Iodine Association

+32 490 6441 32
https://www.worldiodineassociation.com
info@worldiodineassociation.com

Advisory Board

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Prof. Dr. Heather Foran

Prof. Dr. Heather Foran is the Head of the Department of Health Psychology at the Institute of Psychology at the University of Klagenfurt, Austria. She is also the Coordinator of the FLOURISH project funded by the EU Horizon Europe funding programme that focuses on mental health interventions for adolescents in middle-income countries. She has received several grants and contracts (e.g., through the German Research Foundation, EU Horizon 2020, EU Horizon Europe).

Prof. Dr. Heather Foran

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Prof. Christa Meisinger, MD, MPH

Prof. Christa Meisinger, MD, MPH, is an Epidemiologist and Deputy Head of the Chair of Epidemiology at the University of Augsburg. For years, she headed the KORA study centre and until now she chairs the Augsburg Myocardial Infarction Registry. She is a renowned expert in epidemiological research in the fields of cardiovascular, metabolic, and endocrine diseases. As principal investigator of the KORA project, she gained outstanding experience in collecting high-quality population-based study and registry data.

Prof. Christa Meisinger, MD, MPH

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Prof. Dr. Leonidas Duntas

Prof. Leonidas Duntas is an Endocrinologist and Head Physician of the Unit of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Diabetes at the Evgenidion Hospital, University of Athens. He is currently the Secretary of the European Thyroid Association. As a dedicated expert in thyroid diseases, his research mainly focuses on their clinical aspects, while also investigating environmental issues concerning nutrition and endocrine disruptors. He was elected a member of the Steering Committee of the European Thyroid Association and a member of the Society’s Educational and Public Health Board.

Prof. Dr. Leonidas Duntas

Ethical Advisor

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Dr. Christoph Schickhardt

The Ethical Advisor is responsible for monitoring all relevant procedures within the Consortium, ensuring the ethically appropriate undertaking of experiments according to differing national/international ethics guidelines and regulations of the European Commission, and approving other ethical issues of each WP. The role of the Ethics Adviser will be as an external advisory body.

Dr. Christoph Schickhardt is a Philosopher and Ethicist with a focus on the ethics of biomedical research. He was awarded a PhD in Applied Ethics with a doctoral thesis on Child ethics – the ethics of moral questions concerning minors – in 2012. He is a Senior Scientist at the Section for Translational Medical Ethics at the National Centre for Tumour Diseases at the Heidelberg University Hospital and the German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ). He is an expert in the fields of ethics and normative governance of data-driven research and translational biomedicine. He has also wide-ranging practical experience in ethics consultancy and review of biomedical research. Dr. Schickhardt is a member of the Working Group Consent of the German Medical Informatics Initiative, of the Data Use and Access Committee of Heidelberg University Hospital, and of the Internal Review Board of the DKFZ.

Dr. Christoph Schickhardt