HYPIEND – Research project
About the project
HYPIEND is a research project that investigates how exposure to chemical substances disrupts the hormonal system during the perinatal period.
HYPIEND is a research project that investigates how exposure to chemical substances disrupts the hormonal system during the perinatal period.
HYPIEND is an international research project in which scientists from 14 teams — including those from Belgium, Spain, the Netherlands, and Sweden — study how endocrine-disrupting chemicals affect the hormonal systems of pregnant women and young children.
From 2024 to 2028, HYPIEND will analyze concentrations of endocrine-disrupting chemicals in urine, blood, and breast milk to better understand how these substances work and to develop strategies to reduce exposure, particularly among vulnerable groups.
The project is funded by the European Union through the Horizon Europe program.
This study has been approved by the Ethics Committee of UZ Leuven (S69256).
Where can endocrine-disrupting chemicals be found?
- Pesticides
- Clothing, furniture, paint, and electronics
- Food and beverages
- Materials that come into contact with food
- Plastics and plasticizers
- Personal care products
- Household cleaning products
- Children’s products (e.g., toys)
- Industrial chemicals
Would you like to participate in the study?
Check the participation criteria below and contact us if you’re interested in taking part in the study!
Send your application by email: hypiend@kuleuven.be
Information about the study
Pregnant women and mothers with their children
As part of the HYPIEND project, three European countries — including Belgium — will study the lifestyle of around 800 pregnant women and their children.
During the study, you will visit the hospital four times. These visits take place during your routine perinatal check-ups at the hospital, if you are being followed up at UZ Leuven.
During these visits, information will be collected about your pregnancy, lifestyle, and exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals. Biological samples will also be collected (blood, urine, stool, and breast milk).
Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups:
Who can participate?
Benefits of participation
This study helps us better understand how endocrine-disrupting chemicals affect the human body, starting from pregnancy. By participating, you contribute to important scientific insights.
Participation also offers personal benefits. If you are assigned to the intervention group, you will receive access to a mobile app, educational workshops, and telephone follow-up, which may help reduce your exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals.
If you are in the control group, you will receive an informational brochure and, at the end of the study, access to all materials provided to the intervention group.
Your participation contributes to the health of future generations. Together, we aim for a healthy start to every new life!
By participating in this large-scale European project, we can also help influence governments to improve policies and regulations.
You can participate if you:
Are 18 years or older
Are pregnant and less than 13 weeks along
Have a BMI between 18.5 and 40 kg/m²
Have access to a smartphone
Would you like to participate in the study?
Contact us to take part!
Study leaders:
- Prof. Dr. Roland Devliger & Prof. Dr. Annick Bogaerts
Research team:
- Cedric Moulin & Leonie Miserez
hypiend@kuleuven.be
