Biosketch: Cecilie Svanes is both a researcher and a practicing physician. Her daily clinical life inspires her research and she implements her research in her clinical work. She is driven both by a curiosity for the physiology of the human body, and by an urgency to contribute to improve health and prevent disease on a larger scale. Her PhD work became part of the established knowledge on peptic ulcer perforation and is referred to in the main textbooks and literature sources of surgery. Some of her research results led her into questioning the early life origins of health and disease, which became her focus when she made the move to respiratory medicine. In the European Community Respiratory Health Study and the linked Respiratory Health In Northern Europe study, she built up and led the research on early life origins of adult respiratory health and disease. New understanding in experimental research on epigenetic transfer of exposure effects through the male line, induced her to establish the multigeneration RHINESSA studies and build a world-leading trans-disciplinary environment on the preconception origins of respiratory health and disease, with particular focus on the fathers - the male line. For her pioneering work in these fields, she received in 2023 the great honor of being created Doctor Honoris Causa at Uppsala University. Her vision today is to disentangle the extent to which the environment and lifestyle of young boys and girls influence health and disease in their future offspring and subsequent generations – with the fantastic possibilities for efficient improvement in public health that such a paradigm would imply.

Some more detail: Cecilie Svanes, MD PhD is a Professor at the Centre for International Health (CIH), University of Bergen (UiB), and a Consultant in Pulmonary Medicine at the Department of Occupational Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital. She was created Honorary Doctor at Uppsala University in 2023 (Cecilie Svanes appointed to Honoray doctor at Uppsala University | Faculty of Medicine | UiB).

Her current research interests mainly focus on the fields of preconception and early life origins of respiratory health and disease. See description of selected reviews and original publications below.

Svanes conceived and currently leads the RHINESSA multi-generation study, which involves an international transdisciplinary research network on multi-generation research. She ileads the work on early life and multi-generation origins in the European Community Respiratory Health Study (ECRHS) and the affiliated Respiratory Health in Norther Europe (RHINE) study.

Currently Svanes is leading a project on pesticide and other environmental exposures in indigenous communities in Guatemala: Pesticides and exposures from traditional textile industry associated with own and offspring health in indigenous Guatemalan communities | Centre for International Health | UiB. See the descriptions of her projects for more information.

Svanes’ research results are disseminated widely, in scientific articles, textbooks of medicine and the media, and have contributed to scientific paradigm shifts, to impacting practice and guiding current health care policies (learn more: in English   in Norwegian). Svanes has published numerous much cited publications in high-impact journals. Her most important scientific contribution today concerns the preconception and transgenerational origins of allergies and lung health, while she has undertaken previous groundbreaking work regarding the early life origins of adult asthma, allergy and lung function. Read more.

She is further involved with World University Network WUN and inVIVO Planetary Health.

Cecilie Svanes’ scientific work has been ground-breaking on many different fronts. She has numerous research results that are relevant for people’s every-day and long-term health. These have been widely disseminated through both scientific and popular media (see below for some popular media examples). 

She was awarded the Faculty of Medicine’s award for excellent research dissemination and engagement in sharing science in 2019 for her work in disseminating her research results. Learn a little more.

Her research on the preconception origins of asthma, allergies and lung health has been covered in the media worldwide.

Autumn 2020. Svanes and others began work on a project to study whether COVID-19 affects male germ cells, and therefore immunity in a father's offspring. (read about the study from VG in Norwegian, more from BT in Norwegian )

In 2018, she presented new research results on deteriorating lung health in cleaners in a meeting at the UK Parliament, with health and safety executives, trade union leaders and parliament members. She also met with industry leaders and scientists in the cleaning industry at the annual seminal meeting “Cleaning Europe”, where she presented her research results.

Svanes’ work on the metabolic aspects of women’s lung health and early life origins of adult lung health also received widespread media coverage.  

Early in her career, CNN news and other new news channels covered her first results on the early life origins of asthma - a concept that was in its infancy in 1998.

Read about her work preventing prolific diseases.

 

See Related Content below for news articles from UiB / CIH / CISMAC News

Some highlights from the popular press around the world:

• Presentation from Italy (in Italian) for World No Tobacco Day
• BT (in Norwegian) Røyking i ungdomstiden kan skade fremtidige barn
• Asthma beim Nachwuchs – chronischen Lungenerkrankungen präkonzeptionell vorbeugen - Medical Tribune (medical-tribune.de)
• BBC News – Cleaning products linked to poorer lung function
• BBC News – Irregular periods ‘allergy link’
• Hindustan times – Fathers obesity during adolescence can increase asthma risk for offspring
• Hindustan times – Been smoking since adolescence? You are risking your children to asthma
• The Gulf Daily news – Housecleaning products can be bad for your lungs
• Global News – Why asthma is 3 times more common in kids with dads who smoke
• ABC - Los productos de limpieza del hogar pueden ser tan malos para los pulmones como el tabaco
• Forbes - Cleaning Your House May Be As Bad As Smoking 20 Cigarettes A Day
• the Telegraph - Household cleaning products as bad for lung function as smoking, study finds
• the Independent - Cleaning products as bad for lungs as smoking 20 cigarettes a day, scientists warn
• Fox News - Cleaning products tied to lung function decline in women says new study
• Newsweek - Impact of Cleaning Products on Women's Lungs as Damaging as 20-a-Day Cigarette Habit: Study
• Hindustantimes - Beware, cleaning sprays are as harmful for lungs as smoking 20 cigarettes a day
• Mujerhoy - Limpiar tu casa es tan dañino como fumar un paquete de cigarrillos diarios
• l'Express - Faire le ménage serait aussi nocif que fumer           

Teaching

Cecilie Svanes teaches epidemiology at the Centre for International Health, and give some classes in occupational lung medicine. She has previously taught respiratory medicine and allergology.

Supervision

She has broad experience supervising and mentoring early career researchers. A number of researchers Svanes has supervised earlier are leaders in science or health care today.

Meet some of her PhD candidates:

• Juan Pablo López Cervantes is working on on a PhD thesis on how use of snus, oral moist tobacco is related to personal as well as offspring respiratory health. 
• Gerd Toril Mørkve Knudsen defended her PhD thesis in 2023, regarding father’s smoking before conception as related to offspring DNA methylation, obesity and sex steroid hormones.
• Øistein Svanes defended his PhD thesis in 2023, investigating exposure to cleaning agents and disinfectants in relation to asthma and lung function decline, susceptibility to such exposure early in life, and offspring effects of mother’s occupational exposure.
• Ingrid Kuiper defended her PhD thesis about air pollution exposure in childhood and adolescence and associations with personal adult lung health and with offsprings’ asthma and allergies in 2020.
• Nils Oskar Jögi defended in 2022 his PhD thesis on helminth exposure as related to asthma, allergies and lung function, with some focus on associations with offspring allergies.
• Hilde Vindenes’s PhD work explored chemical exposures and microbiome in relation to eczema and allergies, she defended her thesis in 2024.
• Signe Timm in Århus defended her PhD thesis on multi-generation aspects of farm upbringing, including reporting, selective migration, and relation to asthma and allergies over generations, January 2021. Read more on ResearchGate and LinkedIn.
• Francisco Gómez Real is a professor at K2, UiB. His PhD thesis (2008) brought science on women's respiratory health and the relationship between hormonal/metabolic status and respiratory health a leap forward, and have inspired extensive further research in this area.

2025

• Gyawali, Sanjay; Svanes, Cecilie; Viken, Anders Flataker et al. (2025). Asthma and Asthma Symptoms Associated with Endometriosis and Dysmenorrhea in a Nordic-Baltic Population. (external link)
• Sinsamala, Robin Mzati; Marcon, Alessandro; Bertelsen, Randi Jacobsen et al. (2025). Associations of parental air pollution and greenness exposures with offspring asthma outcomes. (external link)

2024

• Doyen, Virginie; Migueres, Nicolas; van Kampen, Vera et al. (2024). Exhaled Nitric Oxide and Sputum Eosinophils Are Complementary Tools for Diagnosing Occupational Asthma. (external link)
• Emilsson, Össur Ingi; Johansson, Henrik; Johannessen, Ane et al. (2024). Heritability of cough across two generations: the RHINESSA study. (external link)
• Sinsamala, Robin Mzati; Johannessen, Ane; Bertelsen, Randi Jacobsen et al. (2024). Pregnancy outcomes as related to in utero exposure to air pollution and greenness: The Life-GAP Project. (external link)
• Lopez Cervantes, Juan Pablo; Schlünssen, Vivi; Senaratna, Chamara et al. (2024). Use of oral moist tobacco (snus) in puberty and its association with asthma in the population-based RHINESSA study. (external link)
• Mir Fakhraei, Rima; Lindberg, Eva; Benediktsdóttir, Bryndís et al. (2024). Gastroesophageal reflux and snoring are related to asthma and respiratory symptoms: Results from a Nordic longitudinal population survey. (external link)
• Pan, Holly; Jarvis, Debbie; Potts, James et al. (2024). Gas cooking indoors and respiratory symptoms in the ECRHS cohort. (external link)
• Vindenes, Hilde Kristin; Dregenes, Christine; Abouelhana, Hesham Amin Mohamed et al. (2024). Longitudinal analysis of the skin microbiome in association with hand eczema, hand hygiene practices and moisturizer use. (external link)
• Zaigham, S.; Bertelsen, Randi Jacobsen; Dharmage, S.C. et al. (2024). An observational analysis on the influence of parental allergic rhinitis, asthma and smoking on exhaled nitric oxide in offspring. (external link)
• Peters, Susan; Undem, Karina; Solovieva, Svetlana E. et al. (2024). Narrative review of occupational exposures and noncommunicable diseases. (external link)

2023

• Kirkeleit, Jorunn; Riise, Trond; Wielscher, Mathias et al. (2023). Early life exposures contributing to accelerated lung function decline in adulthood – a follow-up study of 11,000 adults from the general population. (external link)
• Abouelhana, Hesham Amin Mohamed; Šantl-Temkiv, Tina; Cramer, Christine et al. (2023). Indoor Airborne Microbiome and Endotoxin: Meteorological Events and Occupant Characteristics Are Important Determinants. (external link)
• Carsin, Anne-Elie; Garcia-Aymerich, Judith; Accordini, Simone et al. (2023). Spirometric patterns in young and middle-aged adults: A 20-year European study. (external link)
• Shigdel, Rajesh; Johannessen, Ane; Lin, Huang et al. (2023). Oral bacterial composition associated with lung function and lung inflammation in a community-based Norwegian population. (external link)
• Gyawali, Sanjay; Lopez Cervantes, Juan Pablo; Jögi, Nils Oskar et al. (2023). Previous tuberculosis infection associated with increased frequency of asthma and respiratory symptoms in a Nordic–Baltic multicentre population study. (external link)
• Kisiel, Marta A.; Sedvall, Martin; Malinovschi, Andrei et al. (2023). Inflammatory bowel disease and asthma. Results from the RHINE study. (external link)
• Khomich, Maryia; Lin, Huang; Malinovschi, Andrei et al. (2023). Association between lipid-A-producing oral bacteria of different potency and fractional exhaled nitric oxide in a Norwegian population-based adult cohort. (external link)
• Svanes, Cecilie; Holloway, John W.; Krauss-Etschmann, Susanne (2023). Preconception origins of asthma, allergies and lung function: The influence of previous generations on the respiratory health of our children. (external link)
• Kantomaa, Marko T.; Tolvanen, Mimmi; Halonen, Miia et al. (2023). Influence of farm environment on asthma during the life course: A population-based birth cohort study in northern Finland. (external link)
• Gyawali, Sanjay; Lopez Cervantes, Juan Pablo; Johannessen, Ane et al. (2023). Maternal and paternal tuberculosis is associated with increased asthma and respiratory symptoms in their offspring: a study from Northern Europe. (external link)
• Kitaba, Negusse Tadesse; Knudsen, Gerd Toril Mørkve; Johannessen, Ane et al. (2023). Fathers’ preconception smoking and offspring DNA methylation. (external link)

2022

• Vindenes, Hilde Kristin; Lin, Huang; Shigdel, Rajesh et al. (2022). Exposure to Antibacterial Chemicals Is Associated With Altered Composition of Oral Microbiome. (external link)
• Jögi, Nils Oskar; Kitaba, Negusse; Storaas, Torgeir et al. (2022). Ascaris exposure and its association with lung function, asthma, and DNA methylation in Northern Europe. (external link)
• Lønnebotn, Marianne; Calciano, Lucia; Johannessen, Ane et al. (2022). Parental Prepuberty Overweight and Offspring Lung Function. (external link)
• Bertelsen, Randi Jacobsen; Perez Barrionuevo, Antonio Manuel; Shigdel, Rajesh et al. (2022). Association of oral bacteria with oral hygiene habits and self-reported gingival bleeding. (external link)
• Svanes, Cecilie; Johannessen, Ane; Bertelsen, Randi Jacobsen et al. (2022). Cohort profile: the multigeneration Respiratory Health in Northern Europe, Spain and Australia (RHINESSA) cohort. (external link)
• Lopez, Diego J.; Lodge, Caroline J.; Bui, Dinh S. et al. (2022). Establishing subclasses of childhood eczema, their risk factors and prognosis. (external link)
• Sirocko, Karolina-Theresa; Angstmann, Hanna; Papenmeier, Stephanie et al. (2022). Early-life exposure to tobacco smoke alters airway signaling pathways and later mortality in D. melanogaster. (external link)
• Wheatley, Lisa M.; Holloway, John W.; Svanes, Cecilie et al. (2022). The role of epigenetics in multi-generational transmission of asthma: An NIAID workshop report-based narrative review. (external link)
• Ekström, Magnus; Johnson, Miriam J.; Currow, David C. et al. (2022). The epidemiology of breathlessness. (external link)
• Heldin, Johanna; Malinovschi, Andrei; Johannessen, Ane et al. (2022). Clinical remission of asthma and allergic rhinitis-in a longitudinal population study. (external link)
• Rask-Andersen, Anna; Leander, Mai; Sundbom, Fredrik et al. (2022). Health-related quality of life as associated with asthma control, psychological status and insomnia. (external link)
• Madsen, Marie Kjær; Schlünssen, Vivi; Svanes, Cecilie et al. (2022). The effect of farming environment on asthma; time dependent or universal?. (external link)
• Chang, Chia-Lun; Ali, Gulshan Bano; Lodge, Caroline J. et al. (2022). Associations between body mass index trajectories in the first two years of life and allergic rhinitis, eczema and food allergy outcomes up to early adulthood. (external link)
• Lopez Cervantes, Juan Pablo; Shigdel, Rajesh; Accordini, S. et al. (2022). Parental TB associated with offspring asthma and rhinitis. (external link)
• Bowatte, Gayan; Bui, Dinh S.; Priyankara, Sajith et al. (2022). Parental preconception BMI trajectories from childhood to adolescence and asthma in the future offspring. (external link)

2021

• Svanes, Cecilie; Bertelsen, Randi Jacobsen; Accordini, Simone et al. (2021). Exposures during the prepuberty period and future offspring's health: evidence from human cohort studies. (external link)
• Carlsen, Oda Cecilie; Gudmundsdóttir, Hrefna Katrín; Bains, Karen Eline Stensby et al. (2021). Physical activity in pregnancy: a Norwegian-Swedish mother-child birth cohort study. (external link)
• Ekström, Magnus; Johannessen, Ane; Abramson, Michael J. et al. (2021). Breathlessness across generations: Results from the RHINESSA generation study. (external link)
• Tjalvin, Gro; Svanes, Øistein; Igland, Jannicke et al. (2021). Maternal preconception occupational exposure to cleaning products and disinfectants and offspring asthma. (external link)
• López Cervantes, Juan Pablo; Lønnebotn, Marianne; Jögi, Nils Oskar et al. (2021). The Exposome Approach in Allergies and Lung Diseases: Is It Time to Define a Preconception Exposome?. (external link)
• Accordini, Simone; Calciano, Lucia; Johannessen, Ane et al. (2021). Prenatal and prepubertal exposures to tobacco smoke in men may cause lower lung function in future offspring: a three-generation study using a causal modelling approach. (external link)
• Marcon, Alessandro; Locatelli, Francesca; Dharmage, Shyamali C. et al. (2021). The coexistence of asthma and COPD: risk factors, clinical history and lung function trajectories. (external link)
• Hammer, Barbara; Kadalayil, Latha; Boateng, Eistine et al. (2021). Preconceptional smoking alters spermatozoal miRNAs of murine fathers and affects offspring’s body weight. (external link)
• Pape, Kathrine; Cowell, Whitney; Sejbaek, Camilla Sandal et al. (2021). Adverse childhood experiences and asthma: Trajectories in a national cohort. (external link)
• Wang, Juan; Janson, Christer; Jõgi, Rain et al. (2021). A prospective study on the role of smoking, environmental tobacco smoke, indoor painting and living in old or new buildings on asthma, rhinitis and respiratory symptoms. (external link)
• Vindenes, Hilde Kristin; Svanes, Cecilie; Lygre, Stein Håkon Låstad et al. (2021). Exposure to environmental phenols and parabens, and relation to body mass index, eczema and respiratory outcomes in the Norwegian RHINESSA study. (external link)
• Kisiel, Marta A.; Zhou, Xingwu; Björnsson, Eythor et al. (2021). The risk of respiratory tract infections and antibiotic use in a general population and among people with asthma. (external link)
• Kuiper, Ingrid Nordeide; Svanes, Cecilie; Markevych, Iana et al. (2021). Lifelong exposure to air pollution and greenness in relation to asthma, rhinitis and lung function in adulthood. (external link)

2020

• Suojalehto, Hille; Suuronen, Katri; Cullinan, Paul et al. (2020). Phenotyping Occupational Asthma Caused by Acrylates in a Multicenter Cohort Study. (external link)
• Accordini, Simone; Calciano, Lucia; Marcon, Alessandro et al. (2020). Incidence trends of airflow obstruction among European adults without asthma: a 20-year cohort study. (external link)
• Bui, Dinh S.; Perret, Jennifer L.; Haydn Walters, Walters et al. (2020). Lifetime risk factors for pre- and post-bronchodilator lung function decline: A population-based study. (external link)
• Timm, Signe; Svanes, Cecilie; Frydenberg, Morten et al. (2020). Does parental farm upbringing influence the risk of asthma in offspring? A three-generation study.. (external link)
• Pape, Kathrine; Svanes, Cecilie; Sejbaek, Camilla Sandal et al. (2020). Parental occupational exposure pre- and post-conception and development of asthma in offspring. (external link)
• Lodge, Caroline J.; Lowe, Adrian J.; Milanzi, Elasma et al. (2020). Human milk oligosaccharide profiles and allergic disease up to 18 years. (external link)
• Kuiper, Ingrid Nordeide; Markevych, Iana; Accordini, Simone et al. (2020). Associations of preconception exposure to air pollution and greenness with offspring asthma and hay fever. (external link)
• Lindberg, Eva; Janson, Christer; Johannessen, Ane et al. (2020). Sleep time and sleep-related symptoms across two generations – results of the community-based RHINE and RHINESSA studies. (external link)
• Lodge, Caroline J.; Lowe, Adrian J.; Abramson, Michael J. et al. (2020). Transient childhood wheeze is associated with less atopy in adolescence. (external link)
• Knudsen, Gerd Toril Mørkve; Dharmage, Shyamali C.; Janson, Christer et al. (2020). Parents’ smoking onset before conception as related to body mass index and fat mass in adult offspring: Findings from the RHINESSA generation study. (external link)
• Triebner, Kai; Johannessen, Ane; Svanes, Cecilie et al. (2020). Describing the status of reproductive ageing simply and precisely: A reproductive ageing score based on three questions and validated with hormone levels. (external link)
• Carsin, Anne-Elie; Keidel, Dirk; Fuertes, Elaine et al. (2020). Regular Physical Activity Levels and Incidence of Restrictive Spirometry Pattern: A Longitudinal Analysis of 2 Population-Based Cohorts. (external link)
• Dai, Xin; Dharmage, Shyamali C.; Abramson, Michael J. et al. (2020). Early life acetaminophen exposure, glutathione S-transferase genes, and development of adolescent asthma in a high-risk birth cohort. (external link)
• Pape, Kathrine; Liu, Xiaoqin; Sejbæk, Camilla Sandal et al. (2020). Maternal life and work stressors during pregnancy and asthma in offspring. (external link)

2019

• Dai, Xin; Dharmage, Shyamali C.; Bowatte, Gayan et al. (2019). Interaction of glutathione S-transferase M1, T1, and P1 genes with early life tobacco smoke exposure on lung function in adolescents. (external link)
• Triebner, Kai; Accordini, Simone; Calciano, Lucia et al. (2019). Exogenous female sex steroids may reduce lung ageing after menopause: A 20-year follow-up study of a general population sample (ECRHS). (external link)
• Pape, Kathrine; Svanes, Cecilie; Malinovschi, Andrei et al. (2019). Agreement of offspring-reported parental smoking status: the RHINESSA generation study. (external link)
• Carsin, Anne-Elie; Fuertes, Elaine; Schaffner, Emmanuel et al. (2019). Restrictive spirometry pattern is associated with low physical activity levels. A population based international study. (external link)
• Perret, Jennifer L.; Lodge, Caroline J.; Lowe, Adrian J. et al. (2019). Childhood pneumonia, pleurisy and lung function: A cohort study from the first to sixth decade of life. (external link)
• Knudsen, Gerd Toril Mørkve; Rezwan, FI; Johannessen, Ane et al. (2019). Epigenome-wide association of father's smoking with offspring DNA methylation: A hypothesis-generating study. (external link)
• Olivieri, Mario; Murgia, Nicola; Carsin, Anne-Elie et al. (2019). Effects of smoking bans on passive smoking exposure at work and at home. The European Community respiratory health survey. (external link)
• Flexeder, Claudia; Zock, Jan-Paul; Jarvis, Deborah et al. (2019). Second-hand smoke exposure in adulthood and lower respiratory health during 20 year follow up in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey. (external link)
• Timm, Signe; Frydenberg, Morten; Abramson, Michael J. et al. (2019). Asthma and selective migration from farming environments in a three-generation cohort study. (external link)
• Tjalvin, Gro; Mikkelsen, Kari Eilidh; Apelseth, Torunn Oveland et al. (2019). Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis in Farmers: Improving Etiologic Diagnosis to Optimize Counselling. (external link)
• Königstein, Karsten; Infanger, Denis; Bertelsen, Randi Jacobsen et al. (2019). Is atopic sensitization associated with indicators of early vascular ageing in adolescents?. (external link)
• Jögi, Nils Oskar; Olsen, Robin Kleppe; Svanes, Cecilie et al. (2019). Prevalence of allergic sensitization to storage mites in Northern Europe. (external link)
• Johannessen, Ane; Lønnebotn, Marianne; Calciano, Lucia et al. (2019). Being overweight in childhood, puberty, or early adulthood: Changing asthma risk in the next generation?. (external link)

2018

• Bui, Dinh S.; Walters, Haydn E.; Burgess, John A. et al. (2018). Childhood respiratory risk factor profiles and middle-age lung function: A prospective cohort study from the first to sixth decade. (external link)
• Hammer, Barbara; Wagner, Christina; Rankov, Aleksandra Divac et al. (2018). In utero exposure to cigarette smoke and effects across generations: A conference of animals on asthma. (external link)
• Kuiper, Ingrid Nordeide; Svanes, Cecilie; Benediktsdóttir, Bryndís et al. (2018). Agreement in reporting of asthma by parents or offspring - the RHINESSA generation study. (external link)
• Marcon, Alessandro; Locatelli, Francesca; Keidel, Dirk et al. (2018). Airway responsiveness to methacholine and incidence of COPD: An international prospective cohort study. (external link)
• Perret, Jennifer L.; Matheson, Melanie C.; Gurrin, Lyle C. et al. (2018). Childhood measles contributes to post-bronchodilator airflow obstruction in middle-aged adults: A cohort study. (external link)
• Susanto, Nugroho Harry; Schoos, Ann-Marie Malby; Standl, Marie et al. (2018). Environmental grass pollen levels in utero and at birth and cord blood IgE: Analysis of three birth cohorts. (external link)
• Knudsen, Gerd Toril Mørkve; Rezwan, Faisal I.; Jiang, Yu et al. (2018). Transgenerational and intergenerational epigenetic inheritance in allergic diseases. (external link)
• Marcon, Alessandro; Pesce, Giancarlo; Calciano, Lucia et al. (2018). Trends in smoking initiation in Europe over 40 years: A retrospective cohort study. (external link)
• Perez Barrionuevo, Antonio Manuel; Gomez Real, Francisco; Igland, Jannicke et al. (2018). Periodontal Health status and lung function in two Norwegian cohorts. (external link)
• Tjalvin, Gro; Svanes, Øistein; Bertelsen, Randi Jacobsen et al. (2018). Hypersensitivity pneumonitis in fish processing workers diagnosed by inhalation challenge. (external link)
• Gomez Real, Francisco; Burgess, John A.; Villani, Simona et al. (2018). Maternal age at delivery, lung function and asthma in offspring: A population-based survey. (external link)
• Janson, Christer; Johannessen, Ane; Franklin, Karl et al. (2018). Change in the prevalence asthma, rhinitis and respiratory symptom over a 20 year period: Associations to year of birth, life style and sleep related symptoms. (external link)
• Lytras, Theodore; Kogevinas, Manolis; Kromhout, Hans et al. (2018). Occupational exposures and 20-year incidence of COPD: The European Community Respiratory Health Survey. (external link)
• Lønnebotn, Marianne; El-Merhie, Natalia; Holloway, John W et al. (2018). Environmental Impact on Health across Generations: Policy Meets Biology. A Review of Animal and Human Models.. (external link)
• Accordini, Simone; Calciano, Lucia; Johannessen, Ane et al. (2018). A three-generation study on the association of tobacco smoking with asthma. (external link)
• Jarvis, Debbie; Newson, Roger; Janson, Christer et al. (2018). Prevalence of asthma-like symptoms with ageing. (external link)
• Jögi, Nils Oskar; Svanes, Cecilie; Siiak, Silver Peeter et al. (2018). Zoonotic helminth exposure and risk of allergic diseases: A study of two generations in Norway. (external link)
• Lønnebotn, Marianne; Svanes, Cecilie; Igland, Jannicke et al. (2018). Body silhouettes as a tool to reflect obesity in the past. (external link)
• Mindus, Stephanie; Malinovschi, Andrei; Ekerljung, Linda et al. (2018). Asthma and COPD overlap (ACO) is related to a high burden of sleep disturbance and respiratory symptoms: Results from the RHINE and Swedish GA2LEN surveys. (external link)
• Bui, Dinh S.; Lodge, Caroline J.; Burgess, John A. et al. (2018). Childhood predictors of lung function trajectories and future COPD risk: a prospective cohort study from the first to the sixth decade of life . (external link)
• Svanes, Øistein; Bertelsen, Randi Jacobsen; Lygre, Stein Håkon Låstad et al. (2018). Cleaning at home and at work in relation to lung function decline and airway obstruction. (external link)
• Erbas, Bircan; Knudsen, Gerd Toril Mørkve; Janson, Christer et al. (2018). Critical age windows in the impact of lifetime smoking exposure on respiratory symptoms and disease among ever smokers. (external link)
• Vandenplas, Olivier; Godet, Julien; Hurdubaea, Laura et al. (2018). Are high- and low-molecular-weight sensitizing agents associated with different clinical phenotypes of occupational asthma?. (external link)

2017

• Sánchez-Ramos, José L.; Pereira-Vega, Antonio R.; Alvarado-Gómez, Francisco et al. (2017). Risk factors for premenstrual asthma: a systematic review and meta-analysis. (external link)
• Vindenes, Hilde Kristin; Svanes, Cecilie; Lygre, Stein Håkon Låstad et al. (2017). Prevalence of, and work-related risk factors for, hand eczema in a Norwegian general population (The HUNT Study). (external link)
• Waidyatillake, Nilakshi T.; Stoney, Rachel M.; Thien, Francis et al. (2017). Breast milk polyunsaturated fatty acids: associations with adolescent allergic disease and lung function. (external link)
• Holm, Mathias; Schiöler, Linus; Andersson, Eva et al. (2017). Predictors of smoking cessation: A longitudinal study in a large cohort of smokers. (external link)
• Bertelsen, Randi Jacobsen; Rava, Marta; Carsin, Anne Elie et al. (2017). Clinical markers of asthma and IgE assessed in parents before conception predict asthma and hayfever in the offspring. (external link)
• Triebner, Kai; Matulonga, Bobette; Johannessen, Ane et al. (2017). Menopause is associated with accelerated lung function decline.. (external link)
• Russell, Melissa A.; Janson, Christer; Gomez Real, Francisco et al. (2017). Physical activity and asthma: A longitudinal and multi-country study. (external link)
• Campbell, Brittany; Rahérison, Chantal; Lodge, Caroline Jane et al. (2017). The effects of growing up on a farm on adult lung function and allergic phenotypes: An international population-based study. (external link)
• Granslo, Jens-Tore; Bråtveit, Magne; Hollund, Bjørg Eli et al. (2017). A follow-up study of airway symptoms and lung function among residents and workers 5.5years after an oil tank explosion. (external link)
• Lowe, Adrian J.; Lodge, Caroline J.; Allen, Katrina J. et al. (2017). Cohort Profile: Melbourne Atopy Cohort study (MACS). (external link)
• Susanto, Nugroho Harry; Vicendese, Don; Salim, Agus et al. (2017). Effect of season of birth on cord blood IgE and IgE at birth: A systematic review and meta-analysis. (external link)
• Skulstad, Svein Magne; Igland, Jannicke; Johannessen, Ane et al. (2017). Validation of maternal reported pregnancy and birth characteristics against the Medical Birth Registry of Norway. (external link)
• Garcia-Larsen, Vanessa; Potts, James F.; Omenaas, Ernst et al. (2017). Dietary antioxidants and 10-year lung function decline in adults from the ECRHS survey. (external link)

2016

• Perret, Jennifer L.; Walters, Haydn; Johns, David et al. (2016). Mother's smoking and complex lung function of offspring in middle age: A cohort study from childhood. (external link)
• Dratva, Julia; Bertelsen, Randi Jacobsen; Janson, Christer et al. (2016). Validation of self-reported figural drawing scales against anthropometric measurements in adults. (external link)
• Gomez Real, Francisco; Barrionuevo, Laura Perez; Franklin, K. et al. (2016). The Association of gum bleeding With respiratory Health in a population based study from Northern Europe. (external link)
• Triebner, Kai; Johannessen, Ane; Puggini, Luca et al. (2016). Menopause as a predictor of new-onset asthma: A longitudinal Northern European population study. (external link)
• Svanes, Cecilie; Koplin, Jennifer; Skulstad, Svein Magne et al. (2016). Father’s environment before conception and asthma risk in his children: a multi-generation analysis of the Respiratory Health In Northern Europe study. (external link)
• Christensen, Stine Holmegaard; Timm, Signe; Janson, Christer et al. (2016). A clear urban–rural gradient of allergic rhinitis in a population-based study in Northern Europe. (external link)
• Dai, Xin; Dharmage, Shyamali C.; Lowe, Adrian J. et al. (2016). Early smoke exposure is associated with asthma and lung function deficits in adolescents. (external link)
• Dratva, Julia; Zemp, Elisabeth; Dharmage, Shyamali C. et al. (2016). Early life origins of lung ageing: Early life exposures and lung function decline in adulthood in two European cohorts aged 28-73 years. (external link)
• Olivieri, Mario; Heinrich, Joachim; Schlünssen, Vivi et al. (2016). The risk of respiratory symptoms on allergen exposure increases with increasing specific IgE levels. (external link)
• Amaral, André F.S.; Newson, Roger B.; Abramson, Michael John et al. (2016). Changes in IgE sensitization and total IgE levels over 20 years of follow-up. (external link)
• Vara, Ellen Johanne; Svanes, Cecilie; Skorge, Trude Duelien et al. (2016). Functional gastrointestinal symptoms are associated with higher serum total IgE levels, but less atopic sensitization. (external link)
• Bertelsen, Randi Jacobsen; Svanes, Øistein; Madsen, Anne Mette et al. (2016). Pulmonary illness as a consequence of occupational exposure to shrimp shell powder. (external link)

2015

• Storaas, Torgeir; Zock, Jan-Paul; Morano, Ana Espinosa et al. (2015). Incidence of rhinitis and asthma related to welding in Northern Europe. (external link)
• Amarel, A. F. S.; Minelli, Cosetta; Guerra, S et al. (2015). The locus C11orf30 increases susceptibility to poly-sensitization. (external link)
• Kirkeleit, Jorunn; Aasen, Tor Olav Brøvig; Svendsen, Lene et al. (2015). En baker med astma. (external link)
• Svanes, Øistein; Skorge, Trude Duelien; Johannessen, Ane et al. (2015). Respiratory health in cleaners in Northern Europe: Is susceptibility established in early life?. (external link)
• Bakolis, Ioannis; Heinrich, J; Zock, JP et al. (2015). House dust-mite allergen exposure is associated with serum specific IgE but not with respiratory outcomes.. (external link)
• Aanerud, Marianne; Carsin, AE; Sunyer, J et al. (2015). Interaction between asthma and smoking increases the risk of adult airway obstruction.. (external link)
• de Marco, Roberto; Marcon, Alessandro; Rossi, Andrea et al. (2015). Asthma, COPD and overlap syndrome: A longitudinal study in young European adults. (external link)
• Timm, Signe; Frydenberg, Morten; Janson, Christer et al. (2015). The urban-rural gradient in asthma: A population-based study in Northern Europe. (external link)
• Tischer, Christina; Zock, Jan-Paul; Valkonen, Maria et al. (2015). Predictors of microbial agents in dust and respiratory health in the Ecrhs. (external link)

2014

• Granslo, Jens-Tore; Bråtveit, Magne; Hollund, Eli Bjørg et al. (2014). Airway symptoms and lung function among male workers in an area polluted from an oil tank. (external link)
• Leander, Mai; Lampa, Erik; Rask-Andersen, Anna et al. (2014). Impact of anxiety and depression on respiratory symptoms. (external link)
• Johannessen, Ane; Verlato, Guiseppe; Benediktsdottir, Bryndis et al. (2014). Longterm follow-up in European respiratory health studies - patterns and implications. (external link)
• Lodge, Caroline J.; Lowe, Adrian J.; Allen, Katrina J. et al. (2014). Childhood wheeze phenotypes show less than expected growth in FEV1 across adolescence. (external link)
• Timm, Signe; Svanes, Cecilie; Janson, Christer et al. (2014). Place of upbringing in early childhood as related to inflammatory bowel diseases in adulthood: A population-based cohort study in Northern Europe. (external link)
• Marcon, Alessandro; Cerveri, Isa; Wjst, Mathias et al. (2014). Can an airway challenge test predict respiratory diseases? A population-based international study. (external link)
• Lodge, Caroline J.; Zaloumis, Sophie; Lowe, Adrian J. et al. (2014). Early-life risk factors for childhood wheeze phenotypes in a high-risk birth cohort. (external link)
• Svanes, Øistein; Skorge, Trude Duelien; Bertelsen, Randi Jacobsen et al. (2014). Astma og renholdsarbeidere: Resultater fra RHINE-studien.. (external link)

2013

• Macsali, Ferenc; Svanes, Cecilie; Sothern, R. B. et al. (2013). Menstrual Cycle and Respiratory Symptoms in a General Nordic-Baltic Population. (external link)
• Lillienberg, Linnéa; Andersson, Eva; Janson, Christer et al. (2013). Occupational exposure and new-onset asthma in a population-based study in Northern Europe (RHINE). (external link)
• Norbäck, Dan; Zock, Jan-Paul; Plana, Estel et al. (2013). Mould and dampness in dwelling places, and onset of asthma: the population-based cohort ECRHS. (external link)
• Canova, Cristina; Heinrich, Joachim; Anto, Josep Maria et al. (2013). The influence of sensitisation to pollens and moulds on seasonal variations in asthma attacks. (external link)

2012

• Bakolis, Ioannis; Doekes, Gert; Heinrich, Joachim et al. (2012). Respiratory health and endotoxin: associations and modification by CD14/-260 genotype. (external link)
• Olivieri, Mario; Zock, Jan-Paul; Accordini, Simone et al. (2012). Risk factors for new-onset cat sensitization among adults: A population-based international cohort study. (external link)
• Holm, Mathias; Kim, Jeong-Lim; Lillienberg, Linnéa et al. (2012). Incidence and prevalence of chronic bronchitis: impact of smoking and welding. The RHINE study. (external link)
• Leynaert, Bénédicte; Sunyer, Jordi; Garcia-Esteban, Raquel et al. (2012). Gender differences in prevalence, diagnosis and incidence of allergic and non-allergic asthma: a population-based cohort. (external link)

See a complete overview of publications in Cristin.

Many of Cecilie Svanes publications are Open Access, and her updated publication record can be found at:

• PubMed  
• Orchid  
• Publons

 

Selected reviews on the preconception origins of respiratory health and disease

Preconception origins of asthma, allergies and lung function: The influence of previous generations on the respiratory health of our children. Svanes C, Holloway JW, Krauss-Etschmann S. J Intern Med. 2023 May;293(5):531-549. doi: 10.1111/joim.13611. Epub 2023 Mar 1. PMID: 36861185.

The Exposome Approach in Allergies and Lung Diseases: Is It Time to Define a Preconception Exposome? López-Cervantes JP, Lønnebotn M, Jogi NO, Calciano L, Kuiper IN, Darby MG, Dharmage SC, Gómez-Real F, Hammer B, Bertelsen RJ, Johannessen A, Würtz AML, Mørkve Knudsen T, Koplin J, Pape K, Skulstad SM, Timm S, Tjalvin G, Krauss-Etschmann S, Accordini S, Schlünssen V, Kirkeleit J, Svanes C. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Dec 1;18(23):12684. doi: 10.3390/ijerph182312684. PMID: 34886409; PMCID: PMC8657011.

Exposures during the prepuberty period and future offspring's health: evidence from human cohort studies. Svanes C, Bertelsen RJ, Accordini S, Holloway JW, Júlíusson P, Boateng E, Krauss-Etchmann S, Schlünssen V, Gómez-Real F, Skulstad SM. Biol Reprod. 2021 Sep 14;105(3):667-680. doi: 10.1093/biolre/ioab158. PMID: 34416759; PMCID: PMC8444705.

 

Selected Original Publications                                                                                                                       -in which C Svanes played a major role in developing the research idea and in interpretation of the results. Several of the papers are based on data from studies that C Svanes initiated, and this research contributed importantly to the creation of C Svanes as Doctor Honoris Causa in 2023. Most of these papers have received extensive attention in the scientific and public communities and some are included in relevant guidelines.

The preconception origins – father’s puberty smoking and offspring’s lung health and disease

Parental Prepuberty Overweight and Offspring Lung Function. Lønnebotn M, Calciano L, Johannessen A, Jarvis DL, Abramson MJ, Benediktsdóttir B, Bråbäck L, Franklin KA, Godoy R, Holm M, Janson C, Jõgi NO, Kirkeleit J, Malinovschi A, Pereira-Vega A, Schlünssen V, Dharmage SC, Accordini S, Gómez Real F, Svanes C. Nutrients 2022. PMID: 35406119.

This paper evidence that father’s puberty-onset overweight caused low lung function in offspring, and also was associated with lower attained height in sons. This and the paper below are landmark papers with striking results, presented in invited talks at international scientific meetings, widely commented on by the media, receiving high attention.

Being overweight in childhood, puberty, or early adulthood: Changing asthma risk in the next generation? Johannessen A, Lønnebotn M, Calciano L, Benediktsdóttir B, Bertelsen RJ, Bråbäck L, Dharmage S, Franklin KA, Gislason T, Holm M, Janson C, Jarvis D, Jõgi R, Kim JL, Kirkeleit J, Lodge C, Malinovschi A, Martinez-Moratalla J, Nilsen RM, Pereira-Vega A, Real FG, Schlünssen V, Accordini S, Svanes C. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2019 Sep 7. pii: S0091-6749(19)31172-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2019.08.030.

This paper demonstrated that fathers who were overweight puberty (but not if they became overweight after puberty) were more likely to cause asthma in their future offspring. Published with editorial.

The preconception origins - father’s puberty overweight and offspring’s lung health and disease

Prenatal and prepubertal exposures to tobacco smoke in men may cause lower lung function in future offspring: a three-generation study using a causal modelling approach. Accordini S, Calciano L, Johannessen A, Benediktsdóttir B, Bertelsen RJ, Bråbäck L, Dharmage SC, Forsberg B, Gómez Real F, Holloway JW, Holm M, Janson C, Jõgi NO, Jõgi R, Malinovschi A, Marcon A, Martínez-Moratalla Rovira J, Sánchez-Ramos JL, Schlünssen V, Torén K, Jarvis D, Svanes C. Eur Respir J. 2021. PMID: 33795316. 

This is a landmark paper in terms of causal statistical modeling in multigeneration analyses, giving evidence that father’s early-onset smoking actually caused impaired health in offspring. Paper in high-impact journal that receives wide attention.

A three-generation study on the association of tobacco smoking with asthma. Accordini S, Calciano  L, Johannessen  A, Portas  L, Benediktsdóttir  B, Bertelsen  RJ, Bråbäck  L,  Carsin  AE, Dharmage  SC, Dratva  J, Forsberg B, Gomez Real  F, Heinrich  J, Holloway  JW, Holm  M, Janson C, Jögi R, Leynaert B, Malinovschi A, Marcon A, Martínez-Moratalla Rovira J, Raherison C, Sánchez-Ramos JL, Schlünssen V, Bono R, Corsico  AG, Demoly  P, Dorado Arenas S, Nowak D, Pin  I, Weyler  J, Jarvis  D, Svanes C. Int J Epidemiol. 2018 Aug 1;47(4):1106-1117.

This paper, published with an editorial praising the methodology, demonstrated that fathers who started smoking before age 15 years were more likely to have children with asthma, confirming results from the paper described below on father’s preconception smoking and offspring asthma in a different cohort and using more advanced statistical methods..

Father's environment before conception and asthma risk in his children. Svanes C*, Koplin J*, Skulstad SM, Johannessen A, Bertelsen RJ, Benediktsdottir B, Bräback L, Carsin AE, Dharmage S, Dratva J, Forsberg B, Gislason T, Heinrich J, Holm M, Janson C, Jarvis D, Jögi R, Krauss-Etschmann S, Lindberg E, Macsali F, Malinovski A, Modig L, Norbäck D, Omenaas E, Saure EW, Sigsgaard T, Skorge TD, Svanes Ø, Torén K, Schlünssen V, Real FG.  Int J Epidemiol. 2017 Feb 1;46(1):235-245. Published with editorial.

This is a seminal paper. It was the first research to uncover that a father’s environment years and decades before the conception of his future children, was associated with much higher asthma risk in these future offspring. The paper also was a first to identify that a father’s puberty period is important for his offspring’s development of asthma. The paper identified 2 critical factors: fathers who started smoking before age 15 years, and fathers whose occupation involved welding. Cited: 35. This paper has also been presented more than 600 times is popular media around the world, including TIME magazine.

 The preconception origins – epigenetic mechanisms in mice and men

Kitaba NT, Knudsen GTM, Johannessen A, Rezwan FI, Malinovschi A, Oudin A, Benediktsdottir B, Martino D, González FJC, Gómez LP, Holm M, Jõgi NO, Dharmage SC, Skulstad SM, Watkins SH, Suderman M, Gómez-Real F, Schlünssen V, Svanes C*, Holloway JW*. Fathers' preconception smoking and offspring DNA methylation. Clin Epigenetics. 2023 PMID:37649101..

A unique human study that reveals epigenetic effects in offspring of the father starting smoking in puberty. Presented at large- and small-scale international conferences, widely disseminated in popular media. Altmetric score 370, 99th percentile of all tracked articles of a similar age.

Preconceptional smoking alters spermatozoal miRNAs of murine fathers and affects offspring's body weight. Hammer B, Wagner C, Divac Rankov A, Reuter S, Bartel S, Hylkema MN, Krüger A, Svanes C, Krauss-Etschmann S. Int J Obes (Lond). 2021 Jul;45(7):1623-1627. doi: 10.1038/s41366-021-00798-2. Epub 2021 May 17. PMID: 34002034.

This paper on an experimental mice study shows that exposing male mice to tobacco smoke before mating caused changes in epigenetic signals in sperm as well as phenotypic changes in the pups. This supports results from our human analyses described below.

Cleaning at work and at home, and harmful influences on future offspring as well as the lungs

Maternal preconception occupational exposure to cleaning products and disinfectants and offspring asthma. Tjalvin G, Svanes Ø, Igland J, Bertelsen RJ, Benediktsdóttir B, Dharmage S, Forsberg B, Holm M, Janson C, Jõgi NO, Johannessen A, Malinovschi A, Pape K, Real FG, Sigsgaard T, Torén K, Vindenes HK, Zock JP, Schlünssen V, Svanes C. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2022. PMID: 34674855. 

This paper in a high-impact journal identifies offspring health effects of a maternal occupational exposure before conception, with wide implications. 

Cleaning at Home and at Work in Relation to Lung Function Decline and Airway Obstruction. Svanes Ø, Bertelsen RJ, Lygre SHL, Carsin AE, Antó JM, Forsberg B, García-García JM, Gullón JA, Heinrich J, Holm M, Kogevinas M, Urrutia I, Leynaert B, Moratalla JM, Le Moual N, Lytras T, Norbäck D, Nowak D, Olivieri M, Pin I, Probst-Hensch N, Schlünssen V, Sigsgaard T, Skorge TD, Villani S, Jarvis D, Zock JP, Svanes C. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2018 May 1;197(9):1157-1163. 

This research demonstrated accelerated lung function decline in women in relation to cleaning at home or at work, and was published in a high impact journal. The paper received world-wide attention, was presented in the UK Parliament and at a main conference in the cleaning industry. Combined with other studies providing increasing evidence of harmful effects of cleaning agents, in particular when used as sprays, this paper attracted sufficient public notice to result in altered government policies and changes in the cleaning industry, specifically to develop cleaning spray nozzle heads that could deliver larger droplets that will not reach the smaller airways.

The early life origins of adult lung health and disease

Early life exposures contributing to accelerated lung function decline in adulthood - a follow-up study of 11,000 adults from the general population. Kirkeleit J, Riise T, Wielscher M, Accordini S, Carsin AE, Dratva J, Franklin KA, Garcia-Aymerich J, Jarvis D, Leynaert B, Lodge CJ, Real FG, Schlünssen V, Corsico AG, Heinrich J, Holm M, Janson C, Benediktsdóttir B, Jogi R, Dharmage SC, Järvelin MR, Svanes C. EClinicalMedicine - The Lancet 2023. PMID: 38089857. 

Early Life Origins of Lung Ageing: Early Life Exposures and Lung Function Decline in Adulthood in Two European Cohorts Aged 28-73 Years. Dratva J, Zemp E, Dharmage SC, Accordini S, Burdet L, Gislason T, Heinrich J, Janson C, Jarvis D, de Marco R, Norbäck D, Pons M, Real FG, Sunyer J, Villani S, Probst-Hensch N, Svanes C. PLoS One. 2016 Jan 26;11(1):e0145127. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0145127. eCollection 2016.PMID: 26811913.

This are key papers on the early life origins of respiratory health, revealing important impact of early life disadvantage on lung function decline, which reflects ageing of the lungs. The results have received high attention and the oldest paper is cited a.o. in a WHO policy document.

Childhood predictors of lung function trajectories and future COPD risk: a prospective cohort study from the first to the sixth decade of life. Bui DS, Lodge CJ, Burgess JA, Lowe AJ, Perret J, Bui MQ, Bowatte G, Gurrin L, Johns DP, Thompson BR, Hamilton GS, Frith PA, James AL, Thomas PS, Jarvis D, Svanes C, Russell M, Morrison SC, Feather I, Allen KJ, Wood-Baker R, Hopper J, Giles GG, Abramson MJ, Walters EH, Matheson MC, Dharmage SC. Lancet Respir Med. 2018 Jul;6(7):535-544. doi: 10.1016/S2213-2600(18)30100-0. Epub 2018 Apr 5. PMID: 29628376

This paper in a high-impact journal gives strong evidence of how early life factors were related to adult respiratory health and disease. 

Early life origins of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Svanes C, Sunyer J, Plana E, Dharmage S, Heinrich J, Jarvis D, Demarco R, Norback D, Raherison C, Villani S, Wjst M, Svanes K, Anto J. Thorax. 2010 Jan; 65(1):14-20. Published with editorial.

These research results found that early life disadvantage was as important as smoking for adult lung function, lung function decline and COPD. >400 citations. Also cited in US National Action Plan policy document.

Birth characteristics and asthma symptoms in young adults: results from a population-based cohort study in Norway. Svanes C, Omenaas E, Heuch JM, Irgens LM, Gulsvik A. Eur Respir J. 1998 Dec;12(6):1366-70. doi: 10.1183/09031936.98.12061366. PMID: 9877492

The presentation of this paper at the American Thoracic Society congress in 1997 resulted in extensive press coverage. While today the early life origins of health and disease is generally accepted and implemented in mother and child care programs across the world, this seminal paper was the start of a major scientific effort to learn more about how adult lung health and disease originates early in life.

The “hygiene hypothesis” - early days

Childhood environment and adult atopy: results from the European Community Respiratory Health Survey.  Svanes C, Jarvis D, Chinn S, Burney P. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1999 Mar;103(3 Pt 1):415-20. doi: 10.1016/s0091-6749(99)70465-3. PMID: 10069874. 

This paper contributed to a paradigm shift in the understanding of the relationship between pets and allergies. While pets had previously been considered to cause allergies in children, this paper found less atopic sensitization in those with childhood pets, in particular those with a dog. Later research supports these early results and suggests that pet keeping during childhood might protect against allergies by increasing microbial diversity. This paper has been widely cited and included in guidelines regarding pet keeping.

PhD work: Peptic ulcer perforation

Trends in Perforated Peptic Ulcer: Incidence, Etiology, Treatment, and Prognosis. Svanes, C. World J. Surg. 24, 277–283 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/s002689910045.

This paper summarizes my PhD work on peptic ulcer perforation. In total I published my results in 14 original papers as well as a couple of review papers. This PhD work is cited in >10 surgical textbooks, and this particular review is cited about 400 times.

 

List of all Publications (taken from CRIStin)

RHINESSA generation study

RHINESSA generation study www.rhinessa.net: Cecilie Svanes is the scientific leader of the international multi-centre multi-generation RHINESSA study, a study she has conceived and initiated. The study is designed to identify and investigate factors from before conception and in previous generations and determine their potential influence on health outcomes.

The study focuses mainly on asthma, allergies and lung health. It also has valuable outcome data on other health issues and diseases. Exposure data includes among other things, a range of chemical exposures (i.e. smoking, air pollution, indoor environment, air pollution and greenness, occupational exposures) and data on metabolic and hormonal factors, helminth infections, a.o. RHINESSA studies the offspring of the ECRHS/RHINE studies, see description below.

Vice PI is professor Vivi Schlünssen, University of Århus, and the other centre PI’s of the ten RHINESSA study centres are:  Randi J Bertelsen for Bergen, Norway; Shyamali Dharmage for Melbourne, Australia; Vivi Schlünssen for Århus, Denmark; Nils Oskar Jögi for Tartu, Estonia; Bryndis Benediktsdottir for Reykjavik, Iceland; Francisco Javier Callejas González for Albacete, Spain; José Luis Sánchez for Huelva, Spain; Mathias Holm for Göteborg, Sweden; Lennart Bråbäck for Umeå, Sweden; and Christer Jansson for Uppsala, Sweden.

The RHINESSA studies are funded from a range of funding agencies, including the Research Council of Norway (RCN) FRIPRO project “Preconception exposures and related epigenetic mechanisms in asthma and allergies” (PI Cecilie Svanes), the Western Norway Health Authorities project “Exposures in vulnerable periods and future health” (PI Cecilie Svanes); ERC StG BRUSH “Oral bacteria as determinants for respiratory health” (PI Randi J Bertelsen); RCN project “Exposure to Antibacterial Compounds: The Microbiome and Allergic Diseases” (PI Randi J Bertelsen), and other

 

EPHOR Exposome project of health and occupational research

EPHOR Exposome project of health and occupational research, EU funded project under the H2020 program https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/874703. This EU project aims to promote a healthy work environment. It is led by professor Anjoeka Pronk, Senior Scientist at the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research, and Svanes leads the UiB contribution. The project will generate a working-life exposome toolbox that will provide scientists, occupational health practitioners and policy makers with advanced methods to collect individual data. It is based on knowledge of the relationship between working life exposome and NCDs as well as methods to evaluate the social and economic impacts. 

 

The European Community Respiratory Health Study (ECRHS)

The European Community Respiratory Health Study (ECRHS) www.ecrhs.org is led by professor Deborah Jarvis (previously professor Peter Burney) at the Imperial College, London, UK, heading a steering committee of European and Australian world-leading scientists in respiratory epidemiology a.o. fields. Svanes is member of the ECRHS steering committee and the leader of the ECRHS early life origins working group. Professor FG Real is the PI of Bergen study centre. The ECRHS is the world’s largest international study of asthma and allergies in adults. Its results are disseminated in >>500 scientific articles and are being used to guide today’s health care policies.

 

Respiratory Health in Northern Europe (RHINE)

The Respiratory Health in Northern Europe (RHINE) www.rhine.su  study is a questionnaire based study linked to ECRHS. Svanes leads the early life origins work in this study. The study is led by professor Christer Jansson, University of Uppsala, and center PIs are Kjell Torén for Göterborg, Sweden; Bertil Forsberg for Umeå, Sweden; Thórarinn Gislason for Reykjavik, Iceland; Rain Jõgi for Tartu, Estonia; Ane Johannessen for Bergen, Norway; and Vivi Schlüssen for Aarhus, Denmark.

 

Exploring the role of helminths in the global allergy epidemic

The World Universities Network (WUN) project “Exploring the role of helminths in the global allergy epidemic” is led by Cecilie Svanes in an international collaboration including professor and immunologist William Horsnell, University of Cape Town and professor and epigeneticist John W Holloway, University of Southampton. You can read about the project here:  https://wun.ac.uk/article/research-to-prevent-future-pandemics

 

ALEC Ageing Lungs in European Cohorts

ALEC Ageing Lungs in European Cohorts, https://www.alecstudy.org/ EU H2020 funded project led by professor Deborah Jarvis, Imperial College, London. Cecilie Svanes is responsible for the work package “Preconception and transgenerational risk factors”. The ALEC study is improving our understanding of risk factors for low lung function, respiratory disability and the development of chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD), by using information held within existing cohort studies and generating new studies.