About us
Vision
Every child has the best start in life for a journey towards lifelong health and well-being. Children are provided optimal conditions and care at the beginning of their lives, setting the foundation for their overall well-being and longevity.
Mission
At the Early Lifestyle Lab, our mission is threefold:
Research Excellence: We are committed to conducting innovative and impactful research, pushing the boundaries of knowledge in understanding the critical role that Early Lifestyle behaviors and exposures play in shaping health trajectories.
Education and Dissemination: Through comprehensive educational initiatives, we strive to disseminate evidence-based insights to parents, healthcare professionals, and individuals who can influence a child’s early life. By fostering understanding, we empower informed decision-making for a healthier future.
Community Outreach: Creating real-world impact is at the heart of our lab. We actively work to implement evidence within individuals, families, schools, and communities, fostering environments that support healthy lifestyles and disease prevention.
Aims/Scope
The aims of the Early Lifestyle Lab, as outlined below, encompass a comprehensive approach to understanding and addressing the impact of early life exposures, particularly lifestyle exposures, on chronic disease development across the lifespan. Let’s break down each aim:
a) Conduct Cutting-Edge Research:
The Early Lifestyle Lab aims to be at the forefront of scientific inquiry by conducting cutting- edge research. This involves staying abreast of the latest developments in the field and actively contributing new knowledge related to the role of early life exposures, particularly lifestyle exposures, in chronic disease development across the life span
b) Provide Educational Opportunities:
The lab aims to disseminate research evidence to various stakeholders, including parents, healthcare professionals, and other individuals who play a role in a child’s early life. This educational component suggests a commitment to translating research findings into accessible information for a broader audience.
c) Translate Research Evidence into Action:
The lab seeks to go beyond conducting research and aims to translate evidence into action by contributing to advocacy, policy development and implementation for the creation of environments that support healthier lifestyles and positively impact individuals, families and communities.
d) Develop Partnerships and Collaborations:
Collaboration is a key element of the lab’s strategy. By forming partnerships with like- minded research groups, professional associations, parental organizations, community stakeholders, and policy makers, the lab aims to enhance its effectiveness and broaden its impact. This collaborative approach suggests a recognition of the need for a multidisciplinary and multi-stakeholder effort to address complex health challenges.
Meet the Team
The Early Lifestyle Lab team consists of a passionate and dedicated team of professionals whose diverse backgrounds and expertise bring unique perspectives various disciplines contributing to a comprehensive understanding of early life influences. Leading the team is Dr Ourania Kolokotroni, a trained Paediatrician and Assistant Professor at the Cyprus University of Technology. Dr. Kolokotroni’s journey is marked by contribution to academia and a commitment to improving the health of communities.
Her research work in the area of early life determinants of Health. She has been involved in two European Programmes focusing on improving health amongst the Cyprus community by promoting breastfeeding (BrEaST Start in Life project) and healthy lifestyle habits in pregnancy and the early life of a child (Baby Buddy Forward).
Her community work involves promoting healthy pregnancies and labour and supporting Breastfeeding through her actions with local NGOs such as Birth Forward (Chair of Scientific Advisory Board) and the Cyprus Breastfeeding Association (Founding Member and President of the Board)
She is also a trained Lifestyle advisor (European Lifestyle Medicine Certificate) and a certified lactation consultant (IBCLC)
Funding
The Early Lifestyle Lab is hosted by the School of Health Sciences of the Cyprus university of Technology
and has received initial funding from the university Seed Grant programme.
