The escalating environmental heat-stress associated with global warming is a societal challenge with large and potential harmful consequences for humans. Excess morbidity and mortality during heat waves provides strong evidence for fatal outcomes. However, it is unclear why some people are particularly vulnerable and get sick from hyperthermia, while others adapt and tolerate exposure.
The Icarus project aims to provide a psycho-physiological framework for improved mitigation of the health threats associated with global warming. Combining expertise in integrative thermal physiology, pharmacology, photobiology, psychology and machine learning, we will collaborate on comprehensive cross-scientific studies using controlled lab-exposure combined with investigations in ecological settings including vulnerable and highly tolerant people across populations from northern to southern Europe.
Advanced algorithms will be developed to generate personalized alerts and advising based on behavioral patterns, psychological profiling, predicted vulnerability and willingness to adopt resilience-building strategies.
Global warming is projected to continue towards the end of the 21st century and constitutes an increasing threat to human health unless we as individuals and collectively become better in preventing acute effects, as well as devise sustainable strategies to limit further anthropogenic warming of the climate system. Acutely, improved guidance is important for both individual and public health, where Icarus aims at providing a highly improved basis for preventing heat-related disease, advising or nudging people towards pro-health behavior, including smarter use of technologies to mitigate heat stress, or adjusting medication to reduce adverse effects during heat events. In support of the sustainability agenda, our framework also forms a novel basis for developing advising algorithms relevant for optimization of climate change mitigation policy-making.
Age 18-65 years (or your protocol-specific age range)
Healthy as determined by medical history screening questionnaire
Able to provide written informed consent
Able to complete heat exposure and light exercise protocol
History of cardiovascular, metabolic, neurological, or dermatological disease
History of heat-related illness (e.g., heat stroke)
Use of medications affecting thermoregulation or cardiovascular function
Smoking or substance abuse
Single group
Controlled Heat and Ultraviolet Radiation Exposure Protocol
Other interventionParticipants undergo a standardized 4-hour laboratory-based environmental exposure protocol consisting of passive heat exposure (40°C, 30% relative humidity), simulated solar ultraviolet radiation (up to 3 Standard Erythema Doses), light exercise-induced heat stress using a cycle ergometer, and recovery. Physiological, cardiovascular, thermoregulatory, biochemical, and psychological responses are assessed repeatedly throughout the protocol. The intervention is designed to quantify individual heat tolerance and combined heat-UV physiological strain under controlled conditions.
Physiological Heat Tolerance
Maximum tolerable exposure time during the standardized heat and ultraviolet radiation protocol. (units of measure: Minutes)
Heart Rate Response
Heart rate measured continuously during heat and UV exposure to assess cardiovascular strain \[unit: beats per minute (bpm)\]
Blood Pressure Response
Stroke volume assessed to evaluate cardiac function during environmental stress (unit: mL/beat)
Cardiac Output
Ability to maintain blood pressure and consciousness during postural change following exposure (unit : L/min)
Orthostatic Tolerance
Ability to maintain blood pressure and consciousness during postural change following exposure \[unit: time to presyncope (minutes)\]
Echocardiographic Parameters
Cardiac structure and function assessed via echocardiography (ejection fraction) (unit:%)
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University of Thessaly
Lead sponsor
University of Copenhagen
Collaborator
Bispebjerg Hospital
Collaborator
