Research Groups

The Environmental Quality and Human Health (HuEL) employs a One Health approach to investigate the impact of global changes on the ecology, physiology, and distribution of organisms, pests, vectors, and pathogens.

By studying the influence of fitness and survival regulation factors on stress processes in biological systems, HuEL research helps inform decision-making aimed at preserving biodiversity and environmental quality while safeguarding human well-being.

The group’s main goals are:

To understand the natural adaptations of organisms to their environmental niches (water, air, sand, and soil);
To investigate the distribution and adaptation of vectors, pathogens, and pests to improve public health and integrated pest management strategies;
To explore the interaction between the environment and human/animal diseases at various biological organisational levels;
To investigate the diversity, fitness, and survival regulation factors of species of economic, ecological, or public health interest, to facilitate the evaluation of stress processes in biological systems;
To support decision-making on targeting and controlling potential impacts on human well-being and ecological processes that aim to preserve biodiversity and environmental quality.

A recent Joint Action (Nov 2023/Out 2026) EU-WISH [EU4H-2023-JA-02: to enhance, extend and consolidate wastewater surveillance for public health (HERA)], with EV as the National representative of the Competent Authority (INSA), has obtained financing (530,105.82€ to Portugal) to support activities to enhance and improve national public health wastewater surveillance capacities.

There are currently on-going national projects engaging institutions such as Instituto Nacional de Saúde Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera, and MSD Animal Health. Overall, HuEL proudly honours its multi-directional outreach to several fronts influencing the delicate equilibrium of OneHealth.

HuEL Team