Helmholtz Zentrum München Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Gesundheit und Umwelt

Maia Smith Recognized for Her Outstanding Dissertation

For her dissertation entitled “Associations between physical activity and lung function in a cohort of German adolescents“ the Munich University Association has awarded Dr. Maia Smith the 2017 Advancement Prize.

Source: HMGU

The former DZL doctoral student in the Lung Epidemiology research group led by Professor Holger Schulz at the Institute of Epidemiology I is thus one of the six best PhD graduates from Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität during the past academic year. Smith received the award, which is endowed with 3000 euros, in a festive ceremony on June 23rd within the framework of the foundation celebration.

Smith, who was also a member of HELENA during her time as a DZL doctoral student at Helmholtz Zentrum München, explored in her dissertation the relationship between physical activity and lung health in young people in the GINIplus and LISAplus studies. The context is that physical activity is an important therapeutic aspect in COPD. Smith dealt with the question of whether positive aspects regarding lung health and allergic diseases can already be found in active adolescents.

The thesis includes the following publications by Smith et al.:

  • Contribution of School Physical Education to Total Activity Volume in German Adolescents, Handbook of Physical Education Research - Role of School Program´s, Children´s Attitudes and Health Implication, 2015
  • Sport Engagement by Accelerometry under Field Conditions in German Adolescents: Results from GINIPlus, PlosOne 2015
  • Physical Activity Levels and Domains Assessed by Accelerometry in German Adolescents from GINIplus and LISAplus, PlosOne 2016
  • Physical activity is not associated with spirometric indices in lung-healthy German youth, Eur. Resp. J. 2016 & ERS Congress 2015, Amsterdam, Best Abstract-Preis for Healthy Lungs for Life
  • Asthma and Rhinitis Are Associated with Less Objectively-Measured Moderate and Vigorous Physical Activity, but Similar Sport Participation, in Adolescent German Boys: GINIplus and LISAplus Cohorts, PlosOne 2016