International Health Cohorts Consortium (IHCC)

INTRODUCTION

Maule Cohort (MAUCO), which belongs to the Advanced Center for Chronic Diseases (ACCDiS), is a Chilean cohort study that examines the natural history of chronic diseases among inhabitants of the agricultural county of Molina (approximately 43,000 inhabitants) in Chile’s Maule Region. MAUCO began in December 2014 and currently has 9,462 participants enrolled between the ages of 38 and 74, identified through a household census of all Molina residents, and prospectively are being followed over 10 years. Health outcomes of interest include cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, cancer, obesity, aging, mental health, quality of life, oral health, and respiratory diseases. At baseline and follow-ups, participants answer a validated epidemiological survey on health and risk factors and provide blood, urine, and saliva samples that are stored in the MAUCO Biobank. To date, MAUCO has hosted 32 master’s students, 12 doctoral students, and 8 postdocs.

1. Study protocol for the Maule Cohort (MAUCO) of chronic diseases, Chile 2014-2024 (2016)
2. Cohort Profile: The Maule Cohort (MAUCO) (2020)

OBJECTIVE

To help young investigators to develop an independent career increasing their experience in conducting and analyzing prospective population-based research in a low and middle-income country (LMIC).

The Postdoc will be part of the MAUCO research team for 1 or 2 years, during which they will visit the community and participate in all relevant activities in the research area they select including the Advanced Center for Chronic Diseases (ACCDiS) academic and extension activities. They will be working with a MAUCO Principal Investigator (PI) in collaboration with an ACCDiS PI from another discipline, to be defined according to the research project defined by the Postdoc and the MAUCO PI.

FUNDING

ACCDiS-MAUCO Competitive Funds for postdoctoral training include a gross monthly salary of US$ 1,655 to cover living expenses and health insurance; additionally, attendance to conferences to present their findings will be covered as well as some research-related expenses.

Training opportunities: Opportunities to attend courses, seminars, and workshops in ACCDiS or the associated universities (University of Chile (UC), Catholic University of Maule (UCM), University of Talca, University of the Border (UFRO)).

Profile of the candidate: Must have a Ph.D., expertise in statistics, and scientific writing skills. Basic Spanish will be helpful, but not required.

Expected results: One manuscript and research proposal during the fellowship.

RESEARCH AREAS

1. 1. Mental. Social and biomedical determinants of cognitive aging, cognitive disorders in the context of chronic diseases. Cognitive disorders after COVID-19. Health effects of early adverse events. Depression. CLINICAL ROTATIONS. PI: Pablo Toro MD, Dr. med (U. Heidelberg). Psychiatrist, a specialist in geriatric psychiatry, cognitive disorders, and aging. Associate Professor, Director of Mental Health Department at UC.
      
      
   2. Environmental Health. Pesticides, air pollution, metabolomic chronic diseases. Climate change and Health. Geographic analyses,   Environmental and Occupational Epidemiology.  PI: Sandra Cortés, VD, MSc in Biological Science, Ph.D. in Public Health (Universidad de Chile). Responsible for Environmental and Occupational Exposures in MAUCO. Associate Professor at PUC, Santiago, Chile.
      
      
   3. Cardiovascular.  Metabolic health,  healthy obesity,  NAFLD,  lifestyle,  and health. PI: Laura A Huidobro. MD, MSc in Nutrition and Metabolic Diseases, Ph.D. in Public Health and Epidemiology (LSHTM, London). Regional Coordinator of MAUCO. Professor at UCM, Maule, Chile.
      
      UCM offers lodging and additional stipends.
      
      
   4. Cancer causes and prevention. Arsenic-related cancers (Northern Chile), high biliary tract cancers (Southern Chile). MAUCO cohort (Central Chile). Teaching opportunities in Epi Master and Ph.D. programs. PI: Catterina Ferreccio. MD, MPH, MSc Epi, Professor of Public Health. MAUCO Director; ACCDiS Deputy Director. Director of Ph.D. Epidemiology Program at UC.