Johan Øvrevik

Research Director at the Division of Climate and Environmental Health at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH), and Professor in human toxicology at the University of Oslo. Co-Editor in Chief for the scientific journal Environmental Research.

I have more than 20 years’ experience in research, risk assessment, and guideline and policy development in toxicology and environmental health. My own research has focused mostly on the effects of inhaled pollutants in indoor and outdoor environments, with a main focus on the cellular and molecular mechanism involved in toxicological effects of particulate matter and organic chemicals (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons). This includes regulation of inflammation, cell death and cycle, DNA damage repsonses, and aryl hydrocarbon receptor mediated effects. I am currently coordinating the EU H2020 project ULTRHAS on ultrafine particulate matter from different transport modes.

As Research Director I have the responsibility for research strategies and coordination within the toxicology, environmental epidemiology and biomonitoring. I also have the responsibility for approval of Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs) for research at the Division of Climate and Environmental Health and the Division of Infectious Disease Control, involving evaluation of ethics and other issues related to the European General Data Protection Regulation (EU GDPR).

Research projects: 2021-25: “ULTRHAS: Ultrafine particles from transportation – health assessment of sources” Grant no: 955390 (EU H2020 – INEA H2020 Transport Research Unit). Grant holder names: J. Øvrevik, NIPH, Norway. Amount awarded: €4,037,000. Role in project: Principal Investigator/Coordinator. www.ultrhas.eu

2017-2021 “Preventive measures to reduce the adverse health impact of traffic-related air pollution” Grant no: 260381 (BEDREHELSE Programme). Grant holder names: J. Øvrevik, NIPH, Norway. Amount awarded: NOK 13,823,000 (€1,560,000). Role in project: Principal Investigator.

2014-2018 “Inflammation by mixtures - Exploring the fundamentals of proinflammatory responses by complex combustion-derived pollutants.” Grant no: 228143 (Research Council of Norway; Environment Genetics and Health Programme). Grant holder names: J. Øvrevik, NIPH, Norway. Amount awarded: NOK 3,833,000 (€480,000). Role in project: Principal Investigator.

2014-2016 “Green fuels and human health – toxicity of engine emissions from 1st and 2nd generation biodiesels”. Grant no: 201040 (EEA/Norway grants, Polish-Norwegian Research Programme). Grant holder names: A. Lankoff (Poland), J. Øvrevik (Norway), A. Malinowski (Poland), J. Gromadzka-Ostranowska (Poland). Role in obtaining award: co-applicant. Amount awarded: PLN 3,077,000

Participation in EU Joint Actions: 2024-2028 Joint Action on Cancer and other NCDs prevention - action on health determinants (JA-PreventNCD) 2021-2024 Joint Action on Tobacco Control 2 (JATC2) 2017-2020 Joint Action on Tobacco Control (JATC)

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4324-1536