Title: ICARUS - Psycho-physiological Profiling of Low and High Heat-resilient Individuals

Summary

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.

Conditions

• Skin Cancer
• Heat Tolerance
• Heat-related Illness
• Hyperthermia
• Heat Stress
• Ultraviolet Radiation-Related Skin Damage

Interventions

OTHER

Controlled Heat and Ultraviolet Radiation Exposure Protocol

Participants 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.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Copenhagen

  collaborator OTHER

• Bispebjerg Hospital

  collaborator OTHER

• University of Thessaly

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Andreas D Flouris, PhD · 1FAME Laboratory, Department of Exercise Science, University of Thessaly, Trikala, Greece

• Lars Nybo, PhD · Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, August Krogh Building, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Study Design

Allocation

NA

Purpose

SCREENING

Masking

NONE

Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

65 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2025-11-01

Primary Completion

2027-04-30

Completion

2027-04-30

Countries

• Denmark
• Greece

Study Locations