Epidemiology
Epidemiology examines the distribution of health and morbidity in populations and their determinants. It is a scientific discipline increasingly asked for in clinical (human, pharmaceutical or veterinary) research, industry and policymaking. With ´evidence based medicine´ setting new standards, specialists are needed in design, data collection, analysis and interpretation of epidemiological and health research. The study of Epidemiology is an attractive option for students with a background in Biomedical Sciences, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, or equivalent, who have an explicit interest in applied (bio)medical research and human or veterinary population medicine.
Epidemiological research has strongly gained importance over the last decades. On the one hand because major changes have been occurring in public health and health care systems, where focus is becoming more and more on evidence based practice and cost effectiveness. But also because of worldwide developments, such as rapid population growth and urbanisation, globalisation of the (agricultural) industry and increasing mobility. This all together leads to increased (novel) infectious disease risks, and environmental and occupational exposures to combustion products and chemicals. Increased life expectancy in western societies gives rise to increased incidence of chronic disease and public concern about both improvement and cost-effectiveness of health care. From a practical point of view epidemiological research is stimulated by increased accessibility of computerised clinical, pharmaceutical and life style data, in particular when gathered in established populations followed over longer periods in time. At Utrecht University several of such large population based and clinical cohorts are available.
Epidemiology
Epidemiology examines the distribution of health and morbidity in populations and their determinants. It is a scientific discipline increasingly asked for in clinical (human, pharmaceutical or veterinary) research, industry and policymaking. With ´evidence based medicine´ setting new standards, specialists are needed in design, data collection, analysis and interpretation of epidemiological and health research. The study of Epidemiology is an attractive option for students with a background in Biomedical Sciences, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, or equivalent, who have an explicit interest in applied (bio)medical research and human or veterinary population medicine.
Epidemiological research has strongly gained importance over the last decades. On the one hand because major changes have been occurring in public health and health care systems, where focus is becoming more and more on evidence based practice and cost effectiveness. But also because of worldwide developments, such as rapid population growth and urbanisation, globalisation of the (agricultural) industry and increasing mobility. This all together leads to increased (novel) infectious disease risks, and environmental and occupational exposures to combustion products and chemicals. Increased life expectancy in western societies gives rise to increased incidence of chronic disease and public concern about both improvement and cost-effectiveness of health care. From a practical point of view epidemiological research is stimulated by increased accessibility of computerised clinical, pharmaceutical and life style data, in particular when gathered in established populations followed over longer periods in time. At Utrecht University several of such large population based and clinical cohorts are available.