Kam Sripada
+4773413097
About
Centre Manager, Centre for Digital Life Norway
The Centre for Digital Life Norway (DLN) is a national centre for digital biotechnology research, education, and innovation, supported by the Research Council of Norway since 2016. The goal of Digital Life is responsible and sustainable value creation in Norwegian biotechnology through stimulating deep collaborations that go beyond traditional disciplinary approaches. We work towards building a strong culture for innovative thinking by connecting society, academia, and industry and by training a new generation of transdisciplinary life scientists. Our vision is open science and convergence of biotechnology and life sciences with computer science, engineering, mathematics, physics, and statistics (“big data”) as well as with social sciences and the humanities. Find out more about the Digital Life community of 50+ digital biotechnology projects in Norway and our dedicated team of specialists.
Scientific background
Children's brain development is influenced by their environment. Caring relationships, safety, and learning opportunities all contribute in positive ways. By contrast, healthy brain development can be hindered by toxic chemicals in our environment — such as air pollution, heavy metals, pesticides, e-waste, and their "cocktail" effects. Children's fast-growing nervous systems and neuroplasticity also mean children are particularly sensitive to the effects of toxic chemicals. Children's levels of exposure to environmental pollutants varies widely, often based on where they live and their socioeconomic status.
My work aims to bridge neurodevelopment and environmental exposures in light of social inequalities globally, in collaboration with UNICEF and international organizations. More generally, I seek a greater understanding of how early experiences influence long-term health and wellbeing — especially in children who face biological, social, and environmental risks in early life. I am interested in science writing, education, and policy towards the goal of supporting these children and their families.
As UNICEF Research Fellow, I spearheaded the creation of the "Healthy Environments for Healthy Children" global program for children's environmental health, launched in 2021. I completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Center for Global Health Inequalities Research (CHAIN) focusing on children's enironmental health inequalities and social determinants of health. I previously worked at NTNU's Center for Early Brain Development, using neuroimaging to study the long-term effects of preterm birth on brain structure, thinking, and behavior.
Communications: It is important that scientists make their work accessible to a wide non-academic audience. To do so, I regularly share my research for general audiences through different media. I also co-lead Little Things Matter, an online platform to inform families about children's environmental health risks (@LittleThingsMtr on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter). In 2023, I received NTNU's Prize for Research Communication.
• Research featured on NRK, TV2, and internationally
• Popular science writing in English, Norwegian, German, Spanish, and French. Video in Norwegian.
• Advisory board for Places and Spaces: Environments and children's well-being (2022), UNICEF's annual report card ranking high-income countries.
• Collaborated on the UNICEF and Pure Earth report The Toxic Truth (2020), on childhood lead poisoning, which was featured widely in international media, including in The New York Times, Al Jazeera, BBC, and many others.
• Member of the International Society for Children's Health & the Environment (ISCHE)
Publications
2024
-
Sripada, Kam.
(2024)
Nanomaterials and Child Health.
Oxford University Press
Chapter
-
Balaj, Mirza;
Henson, Claire A.;
Aronsson, Emma Amanda;
Aravkin, Aleksandr Y.;
Beck, Kathryn Christine;
Degail, Claire Josette Edith.
(2024)
Effects of education on adult mortality: a global systematic
review and meta-analysis.
The Lancet Public Health
Academic article
-
Sly, Peter;
Nabhani, Khadija Al;
Sripada, Kam;
Kayama, Fujio.
(2024)
Microplastics in the Asia-Pacific Region in the Plasticene Era: Exposures and Health Risks.
Annals of Global Health
Academic literature review
2023
-
Sripada, Kam.
(2023)
Giftig BPA tas endelig på alvor – ikke bare blant forbrukere.
Ren Mat
Popular scientific article
2022
-
Sripada, Kam;
Wierzbicka, Aneta;
Abass, Khaled;
Grimalt, Joan O.;
Erbe, Andreas;
Röllin, Halina B..
(2022)
A Children’s Health Perspective on Nano- and Microplastics.
Environmental Health Perspectives
Academic article
-
Sripada, Kam.
(2022)
Child Brain Development in Pollution “Sacrifice Zones”: A call to action [OECD Forum Network].
Website (informational material)
-
York, Hunter Wade;
Balaj, Mirza;
Sripada, Kam;
Gakidou, Emmanuela;
Eikemo, Terje Andreas.
(2022)
Understanding the social determinants of health – Authors' reply.
The Lancet
Letter to the editor
-
Xu, Shanshan;
Hansen, Solrunn;
Sripada, Kam;
Aarsland, Torbjørn;
Horvat, Milena;
Mazej, Darja.
(2022)
Maternal Blood Levels of Toxic and Essential Elements and Birth Outcomes in Argentina: The EMASAR Study.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH)
Academic article
-
Timar, Eszter;
Gromada, Anna;
Rees, Gwyther;
Carraro, Alessandro;
Richardson, Dominic;
Olsson, E. Gunilla A.
(2022)
Places and Spaces: Environments and children’s well-being, UNICEF Innocenti Report Card 17.
UNICEF Office of Research – Innocenti
Report
-
Sripada, Kam;
Lager, Adrian Madsen.
(2022)
Interventions to reduce cadmium exposure in low- and middle-income countries during pregnancy and childhood: A systematic review.
Journal of Global Health
Academic article
-
Sripada, Kam;
Villanger, Gro Dehli;
Lind, Kyrre.
(2022)
Children's polluted world.
Adresseavisen
Feature article
-
Beck, Kathryn Christine;
Balaj, Mirza;
Donadello, Lorena;
Mohammad, Talal;
Vonen, Hanne Dahl;
Degail, Claire.
(2022)
Educational inequalities in adult mortality: a systematic review and meta-analysis of the Asia Pacific region.
BMJ Open
Academic article
-
Clarsen, Benjamin Matthew;
Nylenna, Magne;
Klitkou, Søren Toksvig;
Vollset, Stein Emil;
Baravelli, Carl Michael;
Bølling, Anette Kocbach.
(2022)
Changes in life expectancy and disease burden in Norway, 1990–2019: an analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019.
The Lancet Public Health
Academic article
-
Brubakk, Katrin Glatz;
Gjengedal, Elin Lovise Folven;
Enger, Øyvind;
Sripada, Kam.
(2022)
Ammunition Waste Pollution and Preliminary Assessment of Risks to Child Health from Toxic Metals at the Greek Refugee Camp Mavrovouni.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH)
Academic article
2021
-
Sripada, Kam.
(2021)
Child health and wellbeing in a changing climate.
European Journal of Public Health
Abstract
-
Jensen, Maria;
Combariza Bayona, David Andrés;
Sripada, Kam.
(2021)
Mercury Exposure among E-Waste Recycling Workers in Colombia: Perceptions of Safety, Risk, and Access to Health Information.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH)
Academic article
-
Sripada, Kam;
Solomon, Abheet.
(2021)
Healthy Environments for Healthy Children: Global Programme Framework UNICEF.
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
Report
-
Suárez-López, José R.;
Cairns, Maryann R.;
Sripada, Kam;
Quirós-Alcalá, Lesliam;
Mielke, Howard W.;
Eskenazi, Brenda.
(2021)
COVID-19 and children’s health in the United States: consideration of physical and social environments during the pandemic.
Environmental Research
Academic literature review
-
Balaj, Mirza;
York, Hunter Wade;
Sripada, Kam;
Besnier, Elodie;
Vonen, Hanne Dahl;
Aravkin, Aleksandr Y.
(2021)
Parental education and inequalities in child mortality:
a global systematic review and meta-analysis.
The Lancet
Academic literature review
2020
-
Bølling, Anette Kocbach;
Sripada, Kam;
Becher, Rune;
Bekö, Gabriel.
(2020)
Phthalate exposure and allergic diseases: Review of epidemiological and experimental evidence.
Environment International
Academic literature review
-
Eskenazi, Brenda;
Etzel, Ruth A.;
Sripada, Kam;
Cairns, Maryann R.;
Hertz-Picciotto, Irva;
Kordas, Katarzyna.
(2020)
The International Society for Children’s Health and the Environment Commits to Reduce Its Carbon Footprint to Safeguard Children’s Health.
Environmental Health Perspectives
Short communication
-
Murray, Christopher J L;
Collaborators, GBD 2019 Viewpoint;
Kisa, Adnan;
Kisa, Sezer;
Bjørge, Tone;
Norheim, Ole Frithjof.
(2020)
Five insights from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019.
The Lancet
Academic article
-
Rees, Nicholas;
Fuller, Richard;
Solomon, Abheet;
Narasimhan, Gautam;
Bernhardt, Angela;
Price, Debbie M..
(2020)
The Toxic Truth: Children’s Exposure to Lead Pollution Undermines a Generation of Future Potential.
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
Report
-
Peries, Marilu G;
Kip, Christopher;
Saretsky, Marissa;
Poynton, Chloe;
Aas, Jens;
Mohn, Wilhelm.
(2020)
Children’s Rights in the Garment and Footwear Supply Chain.
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
Report
2019
-
Aanes, Synne;
Bjuland, Knut Jørgen;
Sripada, Kam;
Sølsnes, Anne Elisabeth;
Grunewaldt, Kristine Hermansen;
Håberg, Asta.
(2019)
Reduced hippocampal subfield volumes and memory function in school-aged children born preterm with very low birthweight (VLBW).
NeuroImage: Clinical
Academic article
-
Sripada, Kam.
(2019)
Europe’s Environmental Pollution & Children’s Brain Development.
EuroHealthNet Magazine
Popular scientific article
2018
-
Choudhary, Anita;
Gulati, Sheffali;
Sagar, Rajesh;
Sankhyan, Naveen;
Sripada, Kam.
(2018)
Childhood epilepsy and ADHD comorbidity in an Indian tertiary medical center outpatient population.
Scientific Reports
Academic article
-
Sripada, Kam.
(2018)
Brain development, connectivity, and cognitive skills following preterm birth with very low birth weight: Neuroimaging findings from childhood, early adulthood, and the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study.
Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Doctoral dissertation
-
Sripada, Kam;
Bjuland, Knut Jørgen;
Sølsnes, Anne Elisabeth;
Håberg, Asta;
Grunewaldt, Kristine Hermansen;
Løhaugen, Gro.
(2018)
Trajectories of brain development in school-age children born preterm with very low birth weight.
Scientific Reports
Academic article
2017
-
Busch, Alexander;
Arbo, Mathias Hauan;
Kasimba, Sam A.;
Sripada, Kam.
(2017)
PhD working conditions at NTNU with a special focus on PhD candidates with kids.
The Interest Organization for Doctoral Candidates at NTNU (DION)
Report
-
Sripada, Kam.
(2017)
"Beginning with the Smallest Intake": Children's Brain Development and the Role of Neuroscience in Global Environmental Health.
Neuron
Academic article
-
Sripada, Kam.
(2017)
Exposed to environmental toxins early in life.
Morgenbladet
Feature article
2016
-
Busch, Alexander;
Sripada, Kam;
Verhulst, Elli.
(2016)
PhD budget regulations at NTNU.
Interest Organization for Doctoral Candidates at NTNU (DION)
Report
-
Busch, Alexander;
Sripada, Kam;
Verhulst, Elli.
(2016)
PhD duty work regulations at NTNU.
The Interest Organization for Doctoral Candidates at NTNU (DION)
Report
-
Verhulst, Elli;
Busch, Alexander;
Sripada, Kam.
(2016)
Report survey post-doctoral researchers at NTNU.
The Interest Organization for Doctoral Candidates at NTNU (DION)
Report
-
Sølsnes, Anne Elisabeth;
Sripada, Kam;
Yendiki, Anastasia;
Bjuland, Knut Jørgen;
Østgård, Heidi Furre;
Aanes, Synne.
(2016)
Limited microstructural and connectivity deficits despite subcortical volume reductions in school-aged children born preterm with very low birth weight.
NeuroImage
Academic article
2015
-
Sripada, Kam;
Løhaugen, Gro;
Eikenes, Live;
Bjørlykke, Kjerstin Myklebust;
Håberg, Asta;
Skranes, Jon Sverre.
(2015)
Visual-motor deficits relate to altered gray and white matter in young adults born preterm with very low birth weight.
NeuroImage
Academic article
2012
-
Sripada, Kam.
(2012)
Neuroscience in the Capital: Linking Brain Research and Federal Early Childhood Programs and Policies.
Early Education and Development
Academic article
Journal publications
-
Balaj, Mirza;
Henson, Claire A.;
Aronsson, Emma Amanda;
Aravkin, Aleksandr Y.;
Beck, Kathryn Christine;
Degail, Claire Josette Edith.
(2024)
Effects of education on adult mortality: a global systematic
review and meta-analysis.
The Lancet Public Health
Academic article
-
Sly, Peter;
Nabhani, Khadija Al;
Sripada, Kam;
Kayama, Fujio.
(2024)
Microplastics in the Asia-Pacific Region in the Plasticene Era: Exposures and Health Risks.
Annals of Global Health
Academic literature review
-
Sripada, Kam.
(2023)
Giftig BPA tas endelig på alvor – ikke bare blant forbrukere.
Ren Mat
Popular scientific article
-
Sripada, Kam;
Wierzbicka, Aneta;
Abass, Khaled;
Grimalt, Joan O.;
Erbe, Andreas;
Röllin, Halina B..
(2022)
A Children’s Health Perspective on Nano- and Microplastics.
Environmental Health Perspectives
Academic article
-
York, Hunter Wade;
Balaj, Mirza;
Sripada, Kam;
Gakidou, Emmanuela;
Eikemo, Terje Andreas.
(2022)
Understanding the social determinants of health – Authors' reply.
The Lancet
Letter to the editor
-
Xu, Shanshan;
Hansen, Solrunn;
Sripada, Kam;
Aarsland, Torbjørn;
Horvat, Milena;
Mazej, Darja.
(2022)
Maternal Blood Levels of Toxic and Essential Elements and Birth Outcomes in Argentina: The EMASAR Study.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH)
Academic article
-
Sripada, Kam;
Lager, Adrian Madsen.
(2022)
Interventions to reduce cadmium exposure in low- and middle-income countries during pregnancy and childhood: A systematic review.
Journal of Global Health
Academic article
-
Sripada, Kam;
Villanger, Gro Dehli;
Lind, Kyrre.
(2022)
Children's polluted world.
Adresseavisen
Feature article
-
Beck, Kathryn Christine;
Balaj, Mirza;
Donadello, Lorena;
Mohammad, Talal;
Vonen, Hanne Dahl;
Degail, Claire.
(2022)
Educational inequalities in adult mortality: a systematic review and meta-analysis of the Asia Pacific region.
BMJ Open
Academic article
-
Clarsen, Benjamin Matthew;
Nylenna, Magne;
Klitkou, Søren Toksvig;
Vollset, Stein Emil;
Baravelli, Carl Michael;
Bølling, Anette Kocbach.
(2022)
Changes in life expectancy and disease burden in Norway, 1990–2019: an analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019.
The Lancet Public Health
Academic article
-
Brubakk, Katrin Glatz;
Gjengedal, Elin Lovise Folven;
Enger, Øyvind;
Sripada, Kam.
(2022)
Ammunition Waste Pollution and Preliminary Assessment of Risks to Child Health from Toxic Metals at the Greek Refugee Camp Mavrovouni.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH)
Academic article
-
Sripada, Kam.
(2021)
Child health and wellbeing in a changing climate.
European Journal of Public Health
Abstract
-
Jensen, Maria;
Combariza Bayona, David Andrés;
Sripada, Kam.
(2021)
Mercury Exposure among E-Waste Recycling Workers in Colombia: Perceptions of Safety, Risk, and Access to Health Information.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH)
Academic article
-
Suárez-López, José R.;
Cairns, Maryann R.;
Sripada, Kam;
Quirós-Alcalá, Lesliam;
Mielke, Howard W.;
Eskenazi, Brenda.
(2021)
COVID-19 and children’s health in the United States: consideration of physical and social environments during the pandemic.
Environmental Research
Academic literature review
-
Balaj, Mirza;
York, Hunter Wade;
Sripada, Kam;
Besnier, Elodie;
Vonen, Hanne Dahl;
Aravkin, Aleksandr Y.
(2021)
Parental education and inequalities in child mortality:
a global systematic review and meta-analysis.
The Lancet
Academic literature review
-
Bølling, Anette Kocbach;
Sripada, Kam;
Becher, Rune;
Bekö, Gabriel.
(2020)
Phthalate exposure and allergic diseases: Review of epidemiological and experimental evidence.
Environment International
Academic literature review
-
Eskenazi, Brenda;
Etzel, Ruth A.;
Sripada, Kam;
Cairns, Maryann R.;
Hertz-Picciotto, Irva;
Kordas, Katarzyna.
(2020)
The International Society for Children’s Health and the Environment Commits to Reduce Its Carbon Footprint to Safeguard Children’s Health.
Environmental Health Perspectives
Short communication
-
Murray, Christopher J L;
Collaborators, GBD 2019 Viewpoint;
Kisa, Adnan;
Kisa, Sezer;
Bjørge, Tone;
Norheim, Ole Frithjof.
(2020)
Five insights from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019.
The Lancet
Academic article
-
Aanes, Synne;
Bjuland, Knut Jørgen;
Sripada, Kam;
Sølsnes, Anne Elisabeth;
Grunewaldt, Kristine Hermansen;
Håberg, Asta.
(2019)
Reduced hippocampal subfield volumes and memory function in school-aged children born preterm with very low birthweight (VLBW).
NeuroImage: Clinical
Academic article
-
Sripada, Kam.
(2019)
Europe’s Environmental Pollution & Children’s Brain Development.
EuroHealthNet Magazine
Popular scientific article
-
Choudhary, Anita;
Gulati, Sheffali;
Sagar, Rajesh;
Sankhyan, Naveen;
Sripada, Kam.
(2018)
Childhood epilepsy and ADHD comorbidity in an Indian tertiary medical center outpatient population.
Scientific Reports
Academic article
-
Sripada, Kam;
Bjuland, Knut Jørgen;
Sølsnes, Anne Elisabeth;
Håberg, Asta;
Grunewaldt, Kristine Hermansen;
Løhaugen, Gro.
(2018)
Trajectories of brain development in school-age children born preterm with very low birth weight.
Scientific Reports
Academic article
-
Sripada, Kam.
(2017)
"Beginning with the Smallest Intake": Children's Brain Development and the Role of Neuroscience in Global Environmental Health.
Neuron
Academic article
-
Sripada, Kam.
(2017)
Exposed to environmental toxins early in life.
Morgenbladet
Feature article
-
Sølsnes, Anne Elisabeth;
Sripada, Kam;
Yendiki, Anastasia;
Bjuland, Knut Jørgen;
Østgård, Heidi Furre;
Aanes, Synne.
(2016)
Limited microstructural and connectivity deficits despite subcortical volume reductions in school-aged children born preterm with very low birth weight.
NeuroImage
Academic article
-
Sripada, Kam;
Løhaugen, Gro;
Eikenes, Live;
Bjørlykke, Kjerstin Myklebust;
Håberg, Asta;
Skranes, Jon Sverre.
(2015)
Visual-motor deficits relate to altered gray and white matter in young adults born preterm with very low birth weight.
NeuroImage
Academic article
-
Sripada, Kam.
(2012)
Neuroscience in the Capital: Linking Brain Research and Federal Early Childhood Programs and Policies.
Early Education and Development
Academic article
Part of book/report
-
Sripada, Kam.
(2024)
Nanomaterials and Child Health.
Oxford University Press
Chapter
Report
-
Timar, Eszter;
Gromada, Anna;
Rees, Gwyther;
Carraro, Alessandro;
Richardson, Dominic;
Olsson, E. Gunilla A.
(2022)
Places and Spaces: Environments and children’s well-being, UNICEF Innocenti Report Card 17.
UNICEF Office of Research – Innocenti
Report
-
Sripada, Kam;
Solomon, Abheet.
(2021)
Healthy Environments for Healthy Children: Global Programme Framework UNICEF.
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
Report
-
Rees, Nicholas;
Fuller, Richard;
Solomon, Abheet;
Narasimhan, Gautam;
Bernhardt, Angela;
Price, Debbie M..
(2020)
The Toxic Truth: Children’s Exposure to Lead Pollution Undermines a Generation of Future Potential.
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
Report
-
Peries, Marilu G;
Kip, Christopher;
Saretsky, Marissa;
Poynton, Chloe;
Aas, Jens;
Mohn, Wilhelm.
(2020)
Children’s Rights in the Garment and Footwear Supply Chain.
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
Report
-
Sripada, Kam.
(2018)
Brain development, connectivity, and cognitive skills following preterm birth with very low birth weight: Neuroimaging findings from childhood, early adulthood, and the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study.
Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Doctoral dissertation
-
Busch, Alexander;
Arbo, Mathias Hauan;
Kasimba, Sam A.;
Sripada, Kam.
(2017)
PhD working conditions at NTNU with a special focus on PhD candidates with kids.
The Interest Organization for Doctoral Candidates at NTNU (DION)
Report
-
Busch, Alexander;
Sripada, Kam;
Verhulst, Elli.
(2016)
PhD budget regulations at NTNU.
Interest Organization for Doctoral Candidates at NTNU (DION)
Report
-
Busch, Alexander;
Sripada, Kam;
Verhulst, Elli.
(2016)
PhD duty work regulations at NTNU.
The Interest Organization for Doctoral Candidates at NTNU (DION)
Report
-
Verhulst, Elli;
Busch, Alexander;
Sripada, Kam.
(2016)
Report survey post-doctoral researchers at NTNU.
The Interest Organization for Doctoral Candidates at NTNU (DION)
Report
INFORMASJONSMATR
-
Sripada, Kam.
(2022)
Child Brain Development in Pollution “Sacrifice Zones”: A call to action [OECD Forum Network].
Website (informational material)
Outreach
2022
-
InterviewSripada, Kam; Venæs, Heidi. (2022) Oppsiktsvekkende funn: – Bytt ut tåteflaska. TV2 TV2 [Internet] 2022-03-21
-
InterviewSripada, Kam; Brennsæter, Sarah. (2022) New research: Unsettling findings in unborn children. Dagbladet Dagbladet [Newspaper] 2022-10-18
-
InterviewSripada, Kam; Hatland, Lena Erikke. (2022) Microplastic found in women's breastmilk – scary for first-time mother Guri. NRK NRK [Newspaper] 2022-10-16
-
LectureSripada, Kam. (2022) Children’s brain development, environmental pollution & social inequalities . NTNU Global Health Global Health Day NTNU , Trondheim 2022-10-26 -
-
Programme participationSripada, Kam; Pinkerton, Lisa Ann; Roselund, Christian. (2022) Earthlings Podcast: S2E2 Plastic Diet. Podcast Podcast [Internet] 2022-10-18
2021
-
InterviewSripada, Kam; Eikemo, Terje Andreas; Egge, Julie Haugen. (2021) Ny forskning: – Utdannelse kan hjelpe oss å redusere barnedødelighet. NRK NRK [Internet] 2021-06-11
2020
-
InterviewSripada, Kam; Krüger, Frida Jørstad; Villanger, Gro Dehli; Knutsen, Helle Katrine. (2020) Ny rapport: 800 millioner barn har skadelige mengder bly i blodet. NRK NRK [Internet] 2020-09-15
2017
-
Academic lectureSripada, Kam. (2017) Preterm birth in India and Norway: What neuroscience tells us about long-term outcomes. NTNU Global Health Seminar 2017-09-14 - 2017-09-14
2014
-
Popular scientific lectureSripada, Kam. (2014) Visualizing Children’s Brain Development. U.S. - Norway Fulbright Foundation Fulbright Seminar , U.S. Ambassador's Residence, Oslo 2014-02-13 - 2014-02-13