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EU grant supports prevention initiatives for overweight pregnant women

Professor Helle Terkildsen Maindal from Aarhus University and her colleagues from abroad have been awarded a grant from the EU’s Horizon 2020 Research and development programme to promote health and prevent lifestyle diseases such as diabetes in overweight pregnant women and families with newborn children.

2020.02.05 | Sabina Bjerre Hansen

Helle Terkildsen Maindal

Professor Helle Terkildsen Maindal from the Department of Public Health contributes to an international research project which has received a grant of DKK 35 million. Photo: Lars Kruse/AU.

Helle Terkildsen Maindal conducts research into health promotion and prevention with focus on the early prevention of diabetes. The goal is to contribute to ensuring that both the population in general and specially selected target groups can make informed choices, find support to take good decisions, and enjoy good conditions for healthy living.

One way in which she achieves this is by making information and services more accessible. In the EU project, Helle Terkildsen Maindal and her colleagues are introducing digital solutions to provide a platform for dialogue with healthcare professionals as a natural part of the healthcare system's services for overweight pregnant women.

The grant of just over DKK 500,000 is part of a larger total grant of DKK 35 million given to researchers in Ireland, Great Britain, Spain and Australia. Helle Terkildsen Maindal’s contribution is based on her knowledge of health literacy, for example from the Danish Face-it research project that she worked on.

Helle Terkildsen Maindal expects the EU project to have importance for both the women involved in it and their families, and also for the healthcare sector and its services, recommendations and position on health promotion in general.

Contact

Professor and PhD Helle Terkildsen Maindal
Aarhus University, Department of Public Health
Mobile: (+45) 2546 2320
Email: htm@ph.au.dk

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