The Chair in Global Environmental Health, a bilateral SA–Swiss collaboration between UCT and the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, works to advance our understanding of diseases linked to environmental exposures, including chemical and biological pollution. While translating results into public health action, the Chair, which at UCT is based within the Centre for Environmental and Occupational Health Research (CEOHR) within the School of Public Health, addresses environmental health challenges of local and global relevance through a focused set of projects. These include examining the impacts of current-use pesticides as well as co-chemical and other exposures on child development and the effects of chemical and biological air pollution on asthma outcomes especially in vulnerable communities from informal settings.

Further research by the Chair also includes issues of water pollution and health as well as the health consequences of climate change in both local and international contexts. These projects are conducted through novel research with a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration, incorporating epidemiological, clinical, molecular-biological and social sciences research. Emphasis has also been placed on the agenda setting and translation of the research through proactive engagements with the stakeholder communities to ensure research uptake and use. Through this work the Chair contributes towards building future environmental health research leadership and capacity at UCT and nationally.