Researchers from ErasmusMC (Reina Sikkema), Leiden University (Maarten Schrama), EUR (Maike Tietschert), and TU Delft (Robert van Roijen) jointly submitted a proposal for funding to establish the stakeholder network on climate adaptation and mosquito-borne infectious diseases in the Rotterdam-Rijnmond area. This proposal was recently approved by the collaborating universities. Under the name ClimateHUB (Regional Knowledge Network on CLIMATE Adaptation, Human Health, and Biodiversity), we will conduct a comprehensive stakeholder analysis, build a network (including meetings), and work with stakeholders to develop guidelines and materials. The goal is to prepare the city of Rotterdam and its surroundings for the impacts of climate change, with a focus on vector-borne diseases and infection risks.

Stakeholder Network on Climate Adaptation and Mosquito-Borne Infectious Diseases

In November 2023, an initial meeting was held to bring together climate adaptation and infectious disease stakeholders in the South Holland region. During the meeting, it became clear that many questions and uncertainties remain about the link between climate adaptation measures and health, including the risks of mosquito-borne infectious diseases. Additionally, it was evident that few connections currently exist between these two stakeholder groups.

With the Kickstarter grant now awarded, the ClimateHUB project will map stakeholder collaborations in the Rotterdam-Rijnmond region. We will also organize workshops where, through transdisciplinary co-creation with stakeholders, strategies will be developed to prepare cities for the effects of climate change, with attention to mosquito-borne infectious diseases. Pauline de Best has been appointed as a postdoctoral researcher for this project and will soon begin conducting the first interviews.

Researchers on this project

 

Dr. Reina Sikkema, is assistant professor of One Health virology workgroup at the Erasmus MC and the principal investigator of this project. Her research focuses on unraveling the drivers and risk factors of zoonotic disease emergence and spread, with specific interest in mosquito borne viruses.

 

 

 

Pauline de Best is a postdoc researcher in the One Health virology workgroup at the Erasmus, and a researcher within the ClimateHub project. Her research focuses on translating academic knowledge to public health practice, including for mosquito-borne viruses.

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Maike Tietschert, is assistant professor of sustainable care systems. Her expertise lies in intersectoral collaboration in health care.She also teaches on sustainable care systems and planetary health to healthcare Management Master students.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Maarten Schrama, is associate professor of ecosystem ecology at Leiden University/Naturalis. His research focuses on the ‘dark side’ of biodiversity, which includes disease vectors such as mosquitoes and ticks, and how humans, often unintentionally, promote these species.

 

 

 

 

 

Robert van Roijen, is program manager climate adaptation at The Green Village. The Green Village is a fieldlab for sustainable innovation to make municipalities more climate adaptive, which is situated on the Campus of the TU Delft.

 

 

 

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