Population Health & Prevention | Institute for Translational Research

Head: Roza Adany, MD, PhD
Co-lead: Adam Tabak, MD, PhD

Purpose

The Population Health & Prevention Program advances large-scale epidemiological research and translational prevention strategies aimed at reducing chronic disease burden in aging societies. The program integrates population science, preventive medicine, and implementation frameworks to design evidence-based interventions that improve health at the societal level.

Why it matters

• Chronic diseases driven by aging and lifestyle represent the greatest long-term strain on healthcare systems.
• Prevention remains under-implemented despite strong scientific evidence.
• Population-level strategies are essential to translate biological insights into measurable public health impact.

What we do

Large cohort studies investigating determinants of cardiovascular, metabolic, and neurodegenerative disease

• Epidemiological modeling of aging-related risk trajectories
• Development and evaluation of prevention programs
• Integration of public health genomics into population strategies
• Workplace and community-based health promotion frameworks
• Implementation science for scalable prevention interventions
• Health systems research linking evidence to policy
• Data harmonization across international cohorts
• Cross-program collaboration with aging and cardiovascular initiatives
• Evaluation of intervention outcomes in real-world populations

Key outputs

• Population datasets supporting prevention research
• Evidence-based prevention models
• Policy-relevant public health frameworks
• Contributions to international epidemiological consortia
• Scalable intervention strategies

Recent Publications

New Immune Signatures May Improve Long COVID Detection

Long COVID continues to affect millions of people worldwide, yet many patients show no abnormalities in routine laboratory tests despite experiencing persistent symptoms. This study identified tissue-specific autoantibodies that are not detected by conventional serological screening, revealing previously hidden immune alterations in people with Long COVID. The researchers found that these immune responses were particularly associated with cardiovascular and vascular tissues and were linked to symptoms such as headaches, high blood pressure, and the loss of smell and taste. These findings provide new insights into the biological mechanisms underlying Long COVID and highlight the need for more sensitive diagnostic approaches.

Researchers from the Institute for Translational Research contributed to this international collaboration, helping bridge advanced immunological research with clinical practice. By identifying biomarkers that could improve the diagnosis and monitoring of Long COVID, the study supports the development of more personalized healthcare strategies. The findings may ultimately lead to earlier detection, better patient management, and more targeted treatments for individuals living with the long-term consequences of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Journal Reference

Tatai O, Nagy S, Nguyen THT, Lajszné Tóth B, Antal-Szalmás P, Mányiné Siket I, et al. Tissue-specific autoantibody signatures reveal immune alterations undetected by routine serology in long COVID. GeroScience. 2026. doi:10.1007/s11357-026-02286-9.

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Eating Behaviours Shape Body Composition in European Adolescents

Adolescence is a critical period for establishing lifelong eating habits that can influence future health. This study, based on data from the multinational HELENA (Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence) project, examined how different eating behaviours are associated with body composition in more than 2,000 adolescents from across Europe. The researchers found that behaviours such as emotional eating, weight concerns, dietary restraint, and body dissatisfaction were strongly linked to higher body mass index, body fat, and waist circumference, with some associations being particularly pronounced in boys. The findings highlight that eating behaviours are closely connected to physical health during adolescence and should be considered when developing obesity prevention strategies.

Researchers from the Institute for Translational Research contributed to the HELENA Study, supporting international efforts to better understand the complex relationship between nutrition, behaviour, and adolescent health. By identifying behavioural patterns associated with unhealthy body composition, this research provides valuable evidence for designing more targeted prevention programs that encourage healthy eating habits early in life and help reduce the long-term risk of obesity and metabolic diseases.

Journal Reference

Jimeno-Martínez A, Seral-Cortés M, Maneschy I, Rupérez AI, Widhalm K, Kafatos A, et al. How eating behaviours associate to body composition in European adolescents: a cross-sectional analysis from the HELENA study. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2026;80(4):414-426. doi:10.1038/s41430-026-01709-2.