<P> The Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED) is a research unit of the Université catholique de Louvain (UCL). It is situated at the School of Public Health of the Brussels campus of the university . </P> <P> CRED has been active for over thirty years in the fields of international disaster and conflict health studies, with research and training activities linking relief, rehabilitation and development . It promotes research, training and technical expertise on humanitarian emergencies, with a special focus on public health and epidemiology . </P> <P> In 1971, Professor Michel F. Lechat, an epidemiologist at the Université catholique de Louvain, initiated a research programme to study health issues in disaster situations . Two years later he established CRED as a non-profit institution with international status . Since 1980, CRED has been a World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centre . </P>

Centre for research on the epidemiology of disasters (cred)