Message from the Director
The 21st century will see the rise of many new megacities and almost
half of the world's population will live in urban areas. This situation
will increase the significance of urban environments that are
supportive for health.
As the naming suggests, our WHO Collaborating Centre for Healthy Cities
and Urban Policy Research conducts research on Healthy Cities and urban
policy, and performs various functions in support of WHO.
Urban development leads to changes in a wide range of health
determinants. These include economic growth, food supply, information
technology, higher education; the arts and popular entertainment;
infrastructure such as transportation, electricity and gas, water
supply and sewage systems; the dissemination of information; the living
environment; demographic changes; people's lifestyles and family lives;
social stability; safety; housing conditions; urban planning; and the
mobility of the population. The combination of these health
determinants creates different living conditions which impact on
health. Improving the condition of these health determinants and their
appropriate integration leads to improved health outcomes.
Under these circumstances, our WHO Collaborating Centre for Healthy
Cities and Urban Policy Research pursues various activities and related
research. Part of our research focus entails the development of a
research framework that will evaluate integrative impacts of health
determinants, and the establishment of health plans on the basis of a
community diagnosis. We also develop institutional mechanisms that tap
urban development benefits to create infrastructure for health
development. Our research and activities have been possible only with
the help of so many researchers, governments, and citizens across the
globe.
The global Healthy Cities movement now incorporates more than thousands
of islands, villages, communities, towns, municipalities, cities, and
megacities around the world. To facilitate sharing of information and
experiences as well as to give an impetus to this global movement, our
WHO Collaborating Centre for Healthy Cities and Urban Policy Research
actively engages in networking with a wide range of institutions and
groups all over the world.
We sincerely hope to foster deeper relations with you in search of a healthier 21st century.
Takehito Takano, MD, Ph.D.
Director, WHO Collaborating Centre for Healthy Cities and Urban Policy Research
Professor Takano Takehito
Dr. Takehito Takano is a Professor of Public Health at the Graduate School of Tokyo Medical and Dental University. He is also the Director of WHO Collaborating Centre for Healthy Cities and Urban Policy Research.
He has conducted a number of research projects pertaining to urban environments and health of the population. Major research topics include: health and environmental indicators for city health planning; health effects of environmental chemical agents; health effects of housing and residential environment; telecommunication technology for community health; and health impacts of urbanization and its management. He has also been active in working with national governments and local governments of all sizes, as well as with international organizations.