International Spring School in Global Health 2025
- Dates
- 31 March - 4 April 2025
- Location
- Online
- Schedule
- Monday - Friday
- Timetable
- 9:00 - 11:00; 12:00 - 14:00; 14:30 - 16:30
- Mode
- Online - synchronous
- Language
- English / Spanish
- Length
- 5 days
Registration for the 2025 International Spring School in Global Health is now closed.
The online ISGlobal International Spring School in Global Health 2025 proposes a unique interdisciplinary teaching program, organized over five days through 6 modules in 3 different time slots: 2 modules offered in the morning (CEST) in English, and 4 modules offered in the afternoon (CEST) in Spanish.
Each module is designed to address the needs of participants with a specific interest in Physical Activity in Research, Host-Pathogen Interactions in Infectious Diseases, Health Impact Evaluation in Urban and Transport Planning, Biomedical Data Science and Machine Learning, Circadian Rhythm, and Preparation, Response, Recuperation, and Resilience with an All Hazards approach from a Health Systems Perspective. Finally, keynote sessions and workshops will be organized with professionals from diverse backgrounds and trajectories in the field of Global Health.
The Spring School aims to support access to education and learning throughout life, promoting innovation and knowledge transfer through high quality, inclusive, and equitable educational programs. It represents our long-term commitment to global health equity as promoted by the 2030 Agenda.
This training targets postgraduate and Master's degree students, doctoral candidates, and researchers, as well as other professionals with an interest in Global Health. The sessions are synchronous, participatory and interactive, and use examples and cases of success relevant to diverse parts of the globe.
Students who attend a minimum of 80% of the online sessions of a Module and pass a multiple choice quiz will be awarded a Certificate of Participation. Attendance is determined from Zoom participant reports.
Learning Objectives
The Spring School is designed to empower postgraduate students, researchers, and young professionals to:
- Explore and acquire knowledge in current Global Health issues.
- Describe approaches, concepts and frameworks used in Global Health studies and interventions.
- Apply integrated knowledge to solve Global Health issues.
- Apply key methodologies used in Global Health to better design, conduct, analyse and interpret research studies.
- Expand personal and professional networks through contact with colleagues from around the world.
Modules
Modules in the same time slot are held in parallel. Therefore you can take a maximum of three modules in total, one per time slot:
- Time Slot 1: from 09:00 to 11:00 h CEST (Teaching Language: English)
- Time Slot 2: from 12:00 to 14:00 h CEST (Teaching Language: Spanish)
- Time Slot 3: from 14:30 to 16:30 h CEST (Teaching Language: Spanish)
Module 1. Physical Activity in Research
Time slot 1 · Teaching language: English
- Coordinators: Sarah Koch and Joren Buekers
- Other lecturers: -
- Aim: Physical activity is a key determinant of health and the lack of physical activity across the entire life course is one of the most important risk factors associated with the development of chronic diseases. Despite global efforts more than 25% of adults (> 18 years) and over 80% of adolescents (11-17 years) are not meeting the World Health Organisation guidelines to be considered sufficiently active. Due to its importance to health, physical activity is a key component in many health-related studies. Nevertheless, the use of physical activity data in research requires a profound understanding of the concept of physical activity, and how it can be measured and analysed. Therefore, this module aims to improve the understanding of the key components of physical activity in research.
- Learning Objectives: (1) Define the concept of physical activity, be familiar with its frameworks and terminology; (2) Define health and describe the health benefits and risks of physical (in)activity across the life course; (3) Identify different options for measuring and quantifying physical activity; (4) Choose the best methods for processing physical activity measurements; (5) Illustrate practical applications of theoretical content.
- Time slot 1: from 9 to 11 h CEST
- Teaching language: English
- Collaborating entities: This module is offered with the collaboration of University of Basel
Module 2. Exploring Host-Pathogen Interactions in Infectious Diseases
Time slot 1 · Teaching language: English
- Coordinator: Carmen Fernández Becerra and Sara Soto González
- Other lecturers: -
- Aim: Infectious diseases remain a critical global health challenge, driving significant morbidity and mortality, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, and exacerbating health disparities worldwide. Host-pathogen interaction processes are fundamental to understanding the biology of parasitic, bacterial, and viral infections, as they dictate the course of the disease, the host immune response, and the pathogen's ability to persist in the organism causing chronic infections. In this course, we will delve into the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying these interactions across various types of infections. Representative examples of parasitic infections such as malaria and Chagas disease, bacterial infections such as tuberculosis and urinary tract infections, and viral infections such as HIV will be addressed, among others. Throughout the course, participants will review the latest research on how pathogens manipulate host signaling pathways, evade the immune system, and modulate the cellular environment to promote their survival and replication. In addition, the main methodologies used to study these interactions will be presented, including in vitro and in vivo models, molecular biology tools, and applied bioinformatics. By the end of the course, participants will have gained a solid theoretical understanding of pathogen-host interactions within clinically relevant infections, and will understand how research in this field is helping to advance global health equity.
- Learning Objectives: (1) Comprehend pathogen-host interaction mechanisms; (2) Critically evaluate research in infectious disease biology; (3) Apply methodologies in pathogen-host interaction studies.
- Time slot 1: from 9 to 11 h CEST
- Teaching language: English
Module 3. Introducción a la Ciencia de Datos Biomédicos y MACHINE LEARNING
Time slot 2 · Teaching language: Spanish
- Coordinator: Paula Petrone
- Other lecturers: -
- Aim: El objetivo de este módulo es proporcionar a los participantes una comprensión integral de los avances más recientes, las aplicaciones, los beneficios y las limitaciones de los algoritmos de ciencia de datos en el ámbito de la salud y la biología. Además, el módulo dotará a los estudiantes de las técnicas fundamentales necesarias para interpretar y analizar datos biomédicos, como la visualización de datos y el MACHINE LEARNING. Al final del módulo, los participantes habrán adquirido conocimientos valiosos sobre las metodologías y herramientas de vanguardia utilizadas en este campo, lo que les permitirá tomar decisiones informadas y contribuir de manera significativa a la intersección de la ciencia de datos, la salud y la biología.
- Learning Objectives: Una vez completado el módulo con éxito, los participantes deberán ser capaces de: (1) Desarrollar una comprensión completa del MACHINE LEARNING, incluyendo su definición y el rango de aplicaciones; (2) Obtener conocimientos sobre la aplicación de la ciencia de datos en las Ciencias de la Vida, incluyendo una comprensión clara de sus limitaciones y las oportunidades potenciales que ofrece; (3) Adquirir las habilidades necesarias para abordar nuevos conjuntos de datos, formulando preguntas relevantes e implementando de manera efectiva técnicas de análisis y visualización de datos.
- Time slot 2: from 12.00 to 14.00 h CEST
- Teaching language: Spanish
Module 4. Evaluación de impacto en la salud (EIS) de la planificación urbana y del transporte
Time slot 2 · Teaching language: Spanish
- Coordinator: Mark J Nieuwenhuijsen
- Other lecturers: Tamara Iungman, Daniel Velázquez Cortés
- Aim: Desarrollar competencias en la evaluación de impacto en la salud (EIS) aplicadas a la planificación urbana y de transporte, capacitando a los participantes para identificar, analizar e interpretar las principales exposiciones ambientales asociadas a políticas territoriales. A través de una aproximación teórica y práctica, se busca que los estudiantes comprendan las etapas y enfoques metodológicos (cualitativos y cuantitativos,) de la EIS, y que sean capaces de integrar los resultados en procesos de toma de decisiones, promoviendo políticas públicas más saludables y sostenibles.
- Learning Objectives: (1) Comprender los conceptos fundamentales, las conexiones y los procedimientos que interrelacionan el medio ambiente y la salud, especialmente en el contexto de la planificación urbana y de transporte; (2) Familiarizarse con los métodos más comunes de EIS, explorando estrategias para medir los impactos en la salud y utilizando herramientas específicas para aplicar estos métodos; (3) Identificar, analizar y seleccionar los datos esenciales necesarios para realizar una EIS de manera efectiva, considerando distintas fuentes y su pertinencia para el análisis; (4) Desarrollar competencias prácticas para llevar a cabo una EIS mediante ejercicios aplicados, incluyendo la interpretación de resultados y la formulación de recomendaciones basadas en evidencia para la toma de decisiones.
- Time slot 2: from 12.00 to 14.00 h CEST
- Teaching language: Spanish
Module 5. Ritmos circadianos y salud: Alteración circadiana, trabajo nocturno, luz artificial en la noche y efectos en la salud humana
Time slot 3 · Teaching language: Spanish
- Coordinators: Camille Lassale and Kyriaki Papantoniou
- Other lecturers: Anna Palomar, Manolis Kogevinas, María Angeles Bonmati, Catalina Ramírez Contreras, Núria Matilla, Diego Golombek, Salvador X. Bará, Gemma Castaño, Ana Espinosa, Joana Llauradó Pont, Camila Awad, Gabriela Lugon, Cristina Márquez, Isabel Santonja
- Aim: Este curso está dirigido a epidemiólogos, cronobiólogos, biólogos, médicos, especialistas en evaluación de riesgos, seguridad y salud ocupacional, nutricionistas y evaluadores de exposición interesados en los efectos de la alteración circadiana y el trabajo nocturno en la salud, así como en políticas de prevención de estos efectos. Aunque el curso se centrará en estudios epidemiológicos, también abordará aspectos clave en ciencia de la exposición, mecanismos, evaluación de riesgos e implementación.
- Learning objectives: Al finalizar el curso, los participantes tendrán conocimientos generales sobre los principales problemas de salud asociados a la alteración circadiana; podrán evaluar críticamente los principales diseños de estudios utilizados en la epidemiología de la alteración circadiana; evaluarán aspectos clave en la evaluación de la exposición en estudios humanos; conocerán las principales vías de riesgo elevadas y podrán discutir medidas clave de prevención en el lugar de trabajo.
- Time slot 3: de 14.30 a 16.30 h CEST
- Teaching language: Spanish
Module 6. Preparación, Respuesta, Recuperación y Resiliencia a todo tipo de riesgos desde la perspectiva de los Sistemas de Salud
Time slot 3 · Teaching language: Spanish
- Coordinators: Elizabeth Diago Navarro and Antoni Plasència
- Other lecturers: Gonzalo Fanjul, Claudia Garcia-Vaz, Jon Cylus
- Aim: Este curso está dirigido a perfiles de ciencias biomédicas, epidemiólogos, médicos, profesionales de salud pública que deseen adquirir conocimientos sobre la preparación, respuesta, recuperación y resiliencia a crisis y emergencias provocadas por distintos tipos de riesgos (all-hazards) desde el punto de vista de los sistemas de salud. Al final del curso los estudiantes habrán adquirido conocimientos sobre cómo los sistemas de salud se preparan para futuras crisis y sobre el papel que la ciencia y la generación de evidencias tienen a la hora de promover resiliencia.
- Learning objectives: Después de completar este módulo, los participantes serán capaces de: (1) Describir el papel que los sistemas de salud tienen en la preparación y respuesta a diferentes tipos de riesgos; (2) Describir los diferentes componentes necesarios en los planes de preparación y respuesta; (3) Conocer diferentes estrategias y herramientas internacionales destinadas a mejorar la preparación y respuesta.
- Time slot 3: de 14.30 a 16.30 h CEST
- Teaching language: Spanish
Requirements
The Spring School is open to postgraduate and Master's students, doctoral candidates and researchers, or other professionals interested in Global Health.
Candidate must have:
- A Bachelor or Master's Degree in epidemiology, computer science, bioinformatics, public health, global health, environmental sciences, biostatistics, biomedicine, or a related discipline.
- Advanced level of English and/or Spanish, depending on the teaching language of the modules selected. An advanced level of reading comprehension in English.
- Any module-specific requirements (see the Module descriptions)
Application
Interested candidates must complete the application form and include a current C.V.
The revision of applications and notification of admissions will be carried out on a rolling basis. Once the maximum number of participants for a module has been reached, a waiting list will be opened.
Deadline for applications: 9 March 2025 (closed)
Fees
This activity is offered free of charge to all participants thanks to support from our Centre of Excellence Severo Ochoa Programme, grant CEX2023-001290-S funded by MCIN/AEI/ 10.13039/501100011033.
We are pleased to invite participants in the 2025 International Spring School in Global Health to join in a series of special events. Details to be provided.
