April 2026
Researchers at University College London (UCL) are leading work in London as part of the wider MAGENTA project, which investigates how exposure to high or prolonged heat during pregnancy affects maternal and newborn health across Wales and London. UCL’s focus is on the urban environment, where heat can be intensified by the urban heat island effect.
The research is led by Professor Pia Hardelid, MAGENTA Co‑Investigator and Professor of Epidemiology at UCL, and Dr Amal Rammah, Senior Research Fellow and environmental epidemiologist. Their work examines how temperature, housing, pollution, and social conditions contribute to unequal heat exposure and pregnancy risks in the city.
By linking national birth records with environmental data from the Kids’ Environment and Health Cohort (KEHC), the UCL team aims to identify where risks are greatest and provide evidence to inform equitable urban health policy in a warming climate.
More information can be found here: https://magentaresearch.org/meet-the-london-team-mapping-urban-heat-and-pregnancy/
