VITO Health
We work on the transition to a personalized, preventive and sustainable health system to keep people longer active and healthy. We create and use new insights into the complex relationship between environment, lifestyle and the biological make-up on an individual level. We develop knowledge and technology to detect early warning signs of disease, and develop innovative solutions and advice for prevention together with companies, health actors and governments.
Research Programs
We develop algorithms, monitoring and analytical technologies for biomarker development and decision support tools within 4 different programs: I AM my healthTM (see home page), Health diagnostics, Environment & health and Air Quality Management Systems.
Health diagnostics
Within the VITO-Health diagnostics program, we develop and utilize novel technological solutions for prevention, diagnosis and monitoring of disease, to detect risks and guide therapy decisions for individual patients. We enable the prospect of a truly personalized medicine by integrating genomics and proteomics technologies, data interpretation and artificial intelligence tools (e.g. for retinal imaging) and lung tissue modelling with air liquid interface technology. We identify, optimize and analyze biomarkers in the genome and proteome and develop technologies for improved diagnostic testing to support the pharma and diagnostics industry.
Environment & health
VITO-Health has been conducting research for more than 20 years to advise policy makers on health aspects of environmental and lifestyle factors. We improve the health assessment of our changing environment through our exposomics research. Innovative data analysis of exposure to complex mixtures of environmental and stress factors (due to climate change, new chemicals, spatial planning ...) leads to the development of evidence-based decision support instruments and policy advice for the health of citizens. We have the expertise to set up human biomonitoring and intervention studies to monitor and assess policies that address external health impacts.
Environment & health
VITO-Health has been conducting research for more than 20 years to advise policy makers on health aspects of environmental and lifestyle factors. We improve the health assessment of our changing environment through our exposomics research. Innovative data analysis of exposure to complex mixtures of environmental and stress factors (due to climate change, new chemicals, spatial planning ...) leads to the development of evidence-based decision support instruments and policy advice for the health of citizens. We have the expertise to set up human biomonitoring and intervention studies to monitor and assess policies that address external health impacts.
Air Quality Management Systems
We focus on the societal and economical need of clean air by providing local and more personalized monitoring systems in both indoor and outdoor environments. By combining innovative sensor technology and highly accurate reference equipment, we aim for a much larger spatial data set of reliable air quality data. Our specific expertise lies in the selection of the appropriate measurement strategy, intelligent data processing and analysis and in the availability of a state-of-the-art lab infrastructure for sensor validation, accurate analysis and methodology development. By assessing air quality in different micro-environments and quantifying the sources of air pollution we offer solutions to citizens, policy makers and industry to improve air quality through cost-efficient and targeted measures.
Management team
From left to right: Rudi Torfs (Unit manager), Liesbeth Schrooten (Program manager Environment & health), Gert Otten (Program manager AQMS), Eefje Peeters (Program manager I AM my health and Health diagnostics) and Jef Hooyberghs (Scientific lead, not in picture)
VITO is an independent Flemish research organisation in the area of cleantech and sustainable development. It is our goal to accelerate the transition to a sustainable world. We reduce the risk of innovation for companies and strengthen the economic and social fabric of Flanders with interdisciplinary research and large-scale demonstrators.
