The Instituto de Saúde Ambiental (ISAMB) is Portugal's premier research center entirely devoted to Environmental Health, established in 2013 as part of the Lisbon School of Medicine. Since 2021, ISAMB has provided healthcare expertise to the TERRA National Associate Laboratory which consists of five high-quality research units dedicated to sustainability and planetary health research and supporting policy decision-making.
ISAMB's knowledge creation structure comprises five Research Groups, three Research Labs, and a Unit of Ethics and Integrity in Research. The institute's research program adopts an interdisciplinary approach, focusing on the intersections of the environment, health, and society. It aims to conduct innovative research in clinical, epidemiological, and translational studies to address environmentally related diseases and expand our understanding of the environmental determinants of human health (from an exposome perspective). This holistic view enables the identification and mitigation of risks, while also exploring the potential benefits of healthier environments.
Our vision
ISAMB strives to consolidate its status as an internationally competitive center for research, education and training, social and economic innovation, and outreach. The institute is committed to addressing the complex and intertwined relationships between the environment, human activity, and their collective impact on health and well-being. By promoting research that captures these dynamics, ISAMB aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of Environmental Health as a comprehensive field that not only identifies risks but also fosters solutions to enhance health and quality of life.
Guiding principles and mission
Environmental Health encompasses the study and management of "modifiable" environmental influences—including chemical, physical, biological, social, psychological, and economic factors—on human health and well-being. These factors, along with human behaviors in relation to the physical, social, and cultural environment, shape the exposure to risks and benefits throughout the human life cycle. As a science, Environmental Health aims to understand all aspects of the natural and built environments that affect human development. Often considered a preventive science, effective management of environmental health can mitigate disease burden, enhance productivity, and reduce the demand for health services.
Positioned at the crossroads of environment, society, and health, ISAMB's mission is to advance excellence in research, education, and outreach to contribute to both national and global public health improvement. By preventing and reducing the burden of environmentally associated diseases and promoting health and well-being, ISAMB seeks to drive productivity improvements and lessen inequalities in health and exposure. ISAMB’s ultimate goal is to contribute to national and international efforts in R&D and innovation, addressing current and future societal challenges, particularly those related to Environmental Health, as we move toward 2030 and beyond.
General objectives
In times of unprecedented global environmental change, social disruption, and economic instability, advancing knowledge on the relationships between environment, health, and well-being has never been more important. Not only is it essential to prevent disease, but also to leverage the opportunities provided by supportive environments to address major health, social, and economic challenges. However, there remains a significant gap in critical knowledge, as well as in the education, training, and implementation of Environmental Health solutions. This gap hinders both national and global efforts to reduce or eliminate diseases that could be prevented through better management of environmental factors and innovative exploration of the natural and built environment to enhance health and well-being.
Therefore, to support the ISAMB's mission while taking into consideration its situation related to both internal (strengths) and external (opportunities) conditions, the ISAMB's aims for the next years will include:
#1 Consolidate ISAMB as an internationally-recognized center of excellence and a leading hub of knowledge and expertise in Environmental Health
#2 Ensure that the undertaken research addresses the most pressing areas, keeping the complexity of the Environmental Health challenges at the core of ISAMB’s scientific agenda
#3 Extend national and international collaborations, build partnerships with key stakeholders, government bodies, and the industry, and foster links with complementary R&D groups, to ensure interdisciplinary approaches and shared knowledge
#4 Translate research outputs into actionable insights, ensuring that ISAMB’s outputs are relevant for stakeholders' products and services, and contributing to the development of policies and innovations that improve environmental and health outcomes
#5 Continue supporting the Environmental Health decision process, in the public, private, and third sectors, as well as at local, regional, and national levels, mainly on the most relevant threats to health and beneficial influences from the environment
#6 Enable the ISAMB to compete successfully for research funds and ensure long-term financial sustainability
