ALIVE (A Lifecourse and Individual-based View on Lifestyle to Enhance Health)
A lifecourse and individual-based view on lifestyle to enhance health
Lifestyle factors such as physical activity, nutrition, sleep and wellbeing strongly influence health throughout life. However, many lifestyle interventions still rely on relatively generic approaches. At the same time, people differ in their health status, life stage, socio-economic context, motivations and personal goals.
The Convergence Health & Technology Flagship ALIVE develops more personalized and effective lifestyle interventions by combining data science, behavioral science, epidemiology, health economics, design and healthcare practice. The Flagship studies how lifestyle and health interact across the lifecourse. In addition, researchers investigate how interventions can be better adapted to individual needs and contexts. During the first phase, ALIVE mainly focuses on brain and mental health. Meanwhile, the Flagship also builds knowledge, methods and infrastructure that can support broader health challenges in the future.
What the ALIVE Flagship works on
A key part of ALIVE is the development of a shared data science infrastructure. This infrastructure connects different data sources, including cohort studies, registries and national databases. As a result, researchers can study how lifestyle, health and disease interact over time and across populations. In parallel, ALIVE improves the way lifestyle behaviours are measured and understood. Researchers develop sensor-based approaches, data analysis methods and new tools to better quantify physical activity, sedentary behaviour and wellbeing in daily life. The Flagship also focuses on personalization and implementation. Researchers study why interventions work well for some people but less effectively for others. In addition, they investigate how healthcare professionals and organisations can better tailor support to individual preferences, needs and socio-economic circumstances. Therefore, accessibility, inclusion and implementation in real-world healthcare and community settings are central themes within the Flagship.
Interdisciplinary collaboration plays an important role within ALIVE. Engineers, clinicians, behavioral scientists, epidemiologists, economists and designers work together across multiple projects and work packages. Consequently, the Flagship combines methodological innovation with practical implementation questions and helps bridge the gap between research, prevention and healthcare practice.
Featured story
Tailored interventions for a healthier lifestyle
 |
How can lifestyle interventions become more personal and effective? In this story, researchers from ALIVE explain how the Flagship combines data science, behavioral research and healthcare expertise to better understand why interventions work differently for different people and how personalized lifestyle support could contribute to better public health and prevention. Read the interview/story. |
Innovation highlights
Data infrastructure for lifestyle and health research
ALIVE is developing a data science infrastructure that connects datasets from cohorts, registries and national databases, including collaborations involving the Rotterdam Study and Statistics Netherlands (CBS). This infrastructure supports multidisciplinary research into lifestyle, health and disease across populations and over time.
Welbevinder platform
ALIVE contributes to the development and evaluation of Welbevinder, a lifestyle and wellbeing support initiative that combines a digital platform with local support and referral options. The project focuses on implementation, accessibility and understanding barriers and facilitators for uptake and engagement.
CapriXpress application
CapriXpress is a digital intervention developed for cardiac rehabilitation patients with a lower socio-economic position. The application supports motivation and engagement while patients are waiting to start rehabilitation and is currently being implemented and further optimized in practice.
Sensor-based lifestyle measurement
Researchers are developing and evaluating new methods to measure physical activity and sedentary behaviour using sensor technology and data-driven approaches. The aim is to better understand lifestyle patterns and their relationship with health outcomes.
Wellbeing measurement for low-literate populations
Researchers developed an adapted wellbeing instrument (WiX) to better include low-literate individuals in health and wellbeing research. The project aims to improve inclusivity in intervention evaluation and healthcare research.
Predictive modelling and multidimensional health analysis
ALIVE researchers are working on predictive models and analytical methods that combine different lifestyle and health factors to better understand disease risk, multimorbidity and early prevention opportunities.
Flagship News: ALIVE
Policy & societal impact
ALIVE focuses on making lifestyle interventions more personalized, accessible and applicable in real-world healthcare and community settings. Researchers contribute to preventive healthcare initiatives, inclusive eHealth approaches and implementation research around lifestyle support. Projects such as Welbevinder and CapriXpress explore how digital and personalized lifestyle support can be integrated into healthcare and community settings, including rehabilitation and wellbeing support. Researchers also contributed to the development of the Inclusive eHealth Guideline focused on accessible digital health interventions.
Partners & ecosytem
ALIVE collaborates with a broad network of academic, healthcare and societal partners. The Flagship works together with hospitals, rehabilitation centres, municipalities, patient organisations and public health initiatives, while also connecting with other Convergence Flagships and regional and international networks. Collaborations include initiatives linked to preventive health, primary care, rehabilitation, healthy neighbourhoods and inclusive digital health. The Flagship also works with partners involved in implementation, design and public engagement.
Education & talent development
ALIVE is closely connected to interdisciplinary education across Erasmus MC, TU Delft and Erasmus University Rotterdam. Researchers and students contribute to courses, graduation projects and interdisciplinary case studies focused on prevention, lifestyle interventions and healthcare innovation. The Flagship supports MSc and PhD research projects and contributes to learning environments where students work on real-world healthcare and societal challenges together with researchers and external partners.
Looking ahead
In the coming years, ALIVE will further expand its shared data infrastructure and interdisciplinary collaboration around lifestyle, prevention and personalized health. A major focus will be on improving the integration and reuse of cohort, intervention and real-world health data to better understand how lifestyle interventions work for different individuals and populations across the lifecourse.
The Flagship will also continue the evaluation and implementation of projects such as Welbevinder and CapriXpress, including research on long-term engagement, accessibility and integration into healthcare and community settings. In parallel, researchers will further develop and validate digital and data-driven approaches that support more personalized lifestyle advice and behavior change.
ALIVE additionally aims to strengthen collaborations with healthcare providers, municipalities and societal partners to support broader implementation of prevention-focused approaches in practice. Through continued investment in shared infrastructure, open science and interdisciplinary ecosystem building, the Flagship aims to contribute to more personalized, preventive and sustainable healthcare.
