Developmental Environmental Medicine Lab (Environment and Genome Research Center)

AboutAbout the lab

Linking the environment before and after birth to children's development.

The Developmental Environmental Medicine Lab studies how the environment during the fetal and neonatal periods affects the development and growth of children after birth.
Based on the DOHaD hypothesis, the lab focuses on exposure to chemical substances such as secondhand smoke, to heavy metals, and to digital devices.
The lab analyzes information collected through questionnaires and in-person surveys, using data from the Japan Environment and Children's Study (JECS), a birth cohort study run by the Ministry of the Environment since 2011.
The lab also conducts joint research with clinical departments at Tohoku University Hospital and affiliated hospitals.

ResearchResearch themes

This lab investigates how environmental factors during the fetal and neonatal periods affect the development and growth of children after birth. It uses data from the Japan Environment and Children's Study and carries out research in collaboration with clinical departments at university hospitals and other institutions.

*Illustrative image

The fetal and neonatal environment and child development↗

The lab examines the effects of fetal exposure to secondhand smoke, heavy metals, persistent organic pollutants, allergens, digital devices, and more, using data collected through questionnaires and in-person surveys. As a project under the JST Moonshot Research and Development Program, the lab is also working to clarify the relationship between children's social capital and their physical and mental development, using wearable devices.

VoicesStudent voices

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Students who take part in an interview may receive a thank-you gift worth ¥1,000, regardless of what they say.