About
The Heidelberg Planetary Health Hub (Hei-Planet) is an interdisciplinary research community addressing the interconnected challenges of climate change, environmental degradation, pollution, and biodiversity loss through a health-focused lens.
We place human health within the context of healthy ecosystems, exploring the links between planetary and human well-being.
Our team of over 30 researchers at Heidelberg University advances knowledge on health impacts of the triple crisis and develops science-based interventions for resilient societies in collaboration with international partners.
Using innovative approaches, we integrate diverse data and perspectives to address critical issues, such as:
- climate and infectious diseases
- heat-related health effects
- pandemic preparedness
- plastic pollution and health
- nature-based health solutions
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Our research groups
Hei-Planet consists of three interdisciplinary research groups: Climate-Sensitive Infectious Disease Lab, Lancet Countdown Europe, and Eco-epidemiology group—that collaboratively address key planetary health challenges through research and outreach initiatives.
Climate-sensitive infectious diseases: epidemic intelligence through models and novel data streams
Tracking climate change impacts on population health in Europe
Eco-epidemiological studies on interdependencies between health and ecosystems
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Our latest research projects
The Lancet Countdown on Health and Plastics is an international initiative dedicated to systematically tracking and reporting on the global crisis of plastic pollution
Vector-borne disease modelling in Germany -preparing for contemporary and future risk (VBD-MODE) is a project aimed at enhancing the prediction of vector-borne diseases and patterns of outbreak in Germany
The One Health Integrated Surveillance for Zoonotic Diseases: A Case Study of Leptospirosis in Sri Lanka (OHIS-ZOO) project aims to strengthen the early detection and prevention of leptospirosis outbreaks through a proactive One Health approach
Modelling the risk of WNV in vector, animal, and human populations in Germany is a project designed with the objective of enhancing the surveillance and risk assessment of West Nile Virus (WNV) in Germany through the development of innovative modelling approaches
Hitch-hiking East Africa: Spread of Artemisinin-Resistant Malaria project focuses on understanding how these different transmission routes contribute to the spread of AR across four bordering countries in the Great Lakes Region of East Africa, the current epicentre of resistance
LUMEN, Adapting to the Light: Mosquito Behaviour, Human Exposure and Vector Control in a Changing Climate, is a project that aims to improve our understanding of mosquito-borne disease risks in Europe amidst interconnected challenges of climate change, temperature change, and changes in artificial light at night (ALAN) from an interdisciplinary perspective.
Latest highlights
Climate and environmental changes are unequally affecting populations around the world. The triple planetary crisis is an unequal global health crisis as well. In this scenario, how can health equity be achieved amidst the triple planetary crisis?
In the comment “Rising health inequities require looking beyond health systems” published in Nature Human Behaviour, scientists are addressing this significant question.
This publication is the result of a collaboration within Heidelberg University’s Flagship Initiative Climate-Life-Nexus, which aims to advance interdisciplinary research on the interconnected challenges of climate change and health.
More information
Contact us for more information about our research or to learn more about our job opportunities – we recruit and support student projects.
Send us an email: hei-planet (at) uni-heidelberg.de