Generating knowledge that drives policy and practice
Photo credit: Tom Laffay
Research for impact
Our staff and network are composed of world class, transdisciplinary investigators who bring years of research experience in occupational safety and health, organizational management, economics, and more. We combine work in the occupational setting with community-based research to understand the burden of diseases and injuries stemming from climate-driven risks and their impacts on individuals, households, communities, and health and social security systems.
We are focused on impact. Our risk assessment and intervention programs are developed and tested by La Isla Network investigators, ensuring maximum impact. This benefits companies and communities we work with while driving policy.
Published Papers
- Published: 17 February 2024
- Annals of Work Exposures and Health
- Erik Hansson, Kristina Jakobsson, Jason Glaser, Catharina Wesseling, Denis Chavarria, Rebekah A I Lucas, Heath Prince, David H Wegman
CKDnt
Heat Stress
- Published: 22 June 2022
- Journal of Applied Physiology
- Hess HW, Stooks JJ, Baker TB, Chapman CL, Johnson BD, Pryor RR, Basile DP, Monroe JC, Hostler D, Schlader ZJ.
- Published: 31 March 2020
- Journal of Applied Physiology
- Chapman, C. L., Johnson, B. D., Vargas, N. T., Hostler, D., Parker, M. D., & Schlader, Z. J.
- Published: 29 July 2021
- Journal of Applied Physiology
- Chapman, C. L., Hess, H. W., Lucas, R. A. I., Glaser, J., Saran, R., Bragg-Gresham, J., Wegman, D. H., Hansson, E., Minson, C. T., & Schlader, Z. J.
Sharing Results
We regularly speak at conferences, participating as subject matter experts on labor and occupational safety and health.
Protecting workers in a changing climate
Heavy work in extreme heat with inadequate labor protections is a risk to workers and businesses. La Isla Network CEO Jason Glaser explains how occupational heat stress threatens workers and companies, and shares how they can protect themselves from that threat.
La Isla Network CEO Jason Glaser Spoke at AAAS Annual Meeting
Jason Glaser spoke about the health effects of climate change, especially heat, at the AAAS Annual Meeting. The plenary session was titled “Global Warming and Health.” It took place on Friday, February 16, 2024 at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver. The AAAS Annual Meeting convenes leading scientists, educators, policymakers, and journalists to discuss cutting-edge developments in science.
What does the Right to Health protect?
The right to health is directly related to people’s life and integrity. Javier Vásquez, Senior Legal and Policy Advisor at La Isla Network, speaks about what the right to health is and the duty that countries have to ensure this right.
Heat stress research and prevention programs
La Isla Network research has shown that workers can be productive and avoid harm in situations where occupational heat stress is present. The key is to implement occupational safety and health protocols centered around a Rest-Shade-Hydration-Sanitation program designed using worker and environmental data. La Isla Network Lead Industrial Hygienist Esteban Arias-Monge speaks about this program with the Ministry of Labor and Social Security of Costa Rica. In the country, an epidemic of chronic kidney disease driven by occupational heat stress continues to ravage sugarcane cutters, especially in the Guanacaste region.
Dr. Andreas Flouris: Human physiology in hot environments
Dr. Andreas Flouris, Professor of Physiology at the University of Thessaly and Director of FAME Lab, gives a presentation on the human body’s response system to heat. The system consists of autonomic and behavioral branches. The autonomic branch involves adaptations like sweating and shivering, controlled by the central and peripheral nervous systems. The behavioral branch involves conscious decisions to change thermal balance, such as seeking shade or cooling the face.
More coming soon–stay tuned!
Expert Testimony
Our experts have testified before the Parliament of the European Union and the United Nations Human Rights Council on the effects of heat on the health and productivity of workers. We regularly inform U.S. OSHA in the development of a heat standard.
Research Summary List on CKDnt
Heavy work in high heat without adequate protections can lead to kidney injury. Repeated instances can lead to chronic kidney disease. We see epidemics of chronic kidney disease around the world. The following research list—gathered by Carl-Gustaf Elinder MD PhD, Professor Emeritus, Renal medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm—compiles the best available research on this form of chronic kidney disease.
