# Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters **Wikidata**: [Q5062563](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5062563) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centre_for_Research_on_the_Epidemiology_of_Disasters) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/centre-for-research-on-the-epidemiology-of-disasters ## Summary The Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED) is a research institute located in Brussels, Belgium, dedicated to studying the epidemiology of disasters and public health emergencies. Founded in 1988, CRED operates as part of Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain) and maintains a website at https://www.cred.be/. The organization focuses on systematic investigation of disaster-related health impacts, serving as a dedicated research entity that generates knowledge through systematic investigation rather than teaching or commercial activities. ## Key Facts - **Official Name:** Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters - **Common Alias:** CRED - **Country:** Belgium - **Region:** Brussels-Capital Region - **Inception Year:** 1988 - **Parent Organization:** Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain) - **Website:** https://www.cred.be/ - **Coordinates:** Latitude 50.849531, Longitude 4.449796 - **Classification:** Research institute (organization whose primary purpose is research) - **KISTI ID:** K000209213 - **Freebase ID:** /m/043rmtd - **Wikipedia Languages:** English (en), Japanese (ja) - **Sitelink Count:** 2 ## FAQs ### Q: What type of organization is CRED? A: CRED is a research institute—an organization whose primary purpose is conducting research. Unlike universities that combine teaching and research, or companies that pursue research for commercial ends, research institutes like CRED exist purely to generate new knowledge through systematic investigation. CRED does not grant degrees or provide undergraduate education. ### Q: Where is CRED located? A: CRED is located in the Brussels-Capital Region of Belgium, at coordinates 50.849531 latitude and 4.449796 longitude. The organization operates as part of Université catholique de Louvain. ### Q: When was CRED founded? A: CRED was founded in 1988, making it over three decades old as of the current date. The organization was established to focus specifically on disaster epidemiology research. ### Q: How is CRED different from a think tank? A: While think tanks primarily conduct policy-oriented research to influence government and public policy decisions, research institutes like CRED focus on fundamental scientific inquiry. CRED's work centers on the epidemiology of disasters—systematic investigation of health impacts rather than policy advocacy. ### Q: What is CRED's institutional affiliation? A: CRED is part of Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), one of Belgium's major research universities. This affiliation places CRED within a broader academic ecosystem while maintaining its distinct identity as a dedicated research institute. ## Why It Matters The Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters matters because it fills a critical gap in the global disaster research landscape. As a dedicated research institute focused specifically on disaster epidemiology, CRED brings concentrated resources and expertise to studying how disasters affect public health—a focus that might be分散ed within universities balancing teaching obligations or within corporate entities driven by commercial interests. The organization's work addresses some of society's most pressing challenges. Disasters—whether natural (earthquakes, floods, hurricanes) or human-made (conflicts, industrial accidents)—have profound and often long-lasting public health consequences. Understanding the epidemiological patterns of these events enables better preparedness, response, and recovery strategies. CRED's systematic investigation contributes to evidence-based approaches that can save lives and reduce suffering during future disasters. In an era where climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, and where global connectivity means health crises can spread rapidly across borders, dedicated disaster epidemiology research has become increasingly vital. CRED represents critical infrastructure for advancing human knowledge about disaster health impacts, providing spaces where researchers can pursue long-term investigation without the distractions that divide attention in hybrid academic or commercial settings. The organization's affiliation with UCLouvain also positions it within Belgium's broader research ecosystem, contributing to the country's capacity to address global challenges while maintaining the specialized focus that only a dedicated research institute can provide. ## Notable For - Being a dedicated research institute focused exclusively on disaster epidemiology rather than combining research with teaching or commercial activities - Operating for over three decades since 1988, establishing long-term expertise in disaster health research - Being located in Brussels-Capital Region, positioning it within Belgium's central position in European institutional affairs - Maintaining active presence in both English and Japanese Wikipedia editions, indicating international reach - Operating as part of Université catholique of Louvain, connecting it to a major Belgian research university - Being classified with unique identifiers across multiple knowledge systems including KISTI, Freebase, and Wikidata ## Body ### Institutional Classification and Identity The Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters is classified as a research institute—an organizational form distinct from universities, companies, think tanks, and scientific societies. While universities combine teaching and research functions, research institutes like CRED exist specifically to generate new knowledge through systematic investigation. This classification places CRED within a recognized category of knowledge-producing institutions that prioritize research above all other functions. The entity carries the alias "CRED," commonly used in academic literature, policy documents, and institutional communications. This shortened form reflects the organization's established identity within the disaster research community. ### Historical Foundation CRED was established in 1988, emerging during a period of growing international attention to disaster preparedness and response. The founding year places CRED's establishment in the late 1980s, a time when the field of disaster epidemiology was gaining recognition as a distinct area of study. Over the subsequent decades, the organization has developed expertise in documenting, analyzing, and understanding the health impacts of disasters across various contexts. ### Geographic Location and Institutional Context The organization is situated in the Brussels-Capital Region of Belgium, at precise coordinates of 50.849531 latitude and 4.449796 longitude. This location places CRED in Belgium's capital city, home to numerous international institutions and within proximity to European Union bodies. CRED operates as part of Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), one of Belgium's premier research universities. This institutional relationship connects CRED to a broader academic ecosystem while allowing the organization to maintain its focus on dedicated research activities. The part_of relationship with UCLouvain indicates organizational integration within the university's structure while preserving CRED's distinct research mission. ### Digital Presence CRED maintains an official website at https://www.cred.be/, providing information about the organization's activities, research outputs, and contact details. This digital presence serves as the primary interface between the organization and the broader research community, policymakers, and the public interested in disaster epidemiology. ### Knowledge Organization and Identification CRED is catalogued across multiple knowledge organization systems, reflecting its recognition within both specialized and general knowledge bases. The organization holds a KISTI ID of K000209213 (indicating inclusion in Korean Institute of Science and Technology Information databases) and a Freebase ID of /m/043rmtd (indicating presence in Google's structured knowledge base). The organization's Wikipedia presence spans two language editions—English and Japanese—indicating international interest and accessibility. The sitelink count of 2 reflects connections to these two Wikipedia language versions. ### Research Focus and Purpose As a research institute dedicated to the epidemiology of disasters, CRED's primary purpose involves systematic investigation of how disasters affect population health. This includes studying mortality and morbidity patterns, injury distributions, disease outbreaks following disasters, mental health impacts, and long-term health consequences for affected populations. The epidemiological approach emphasizes systematic data collection, analysis, and interpretation to identify patterns and trends that can inform public health practice. ### Distinction from Related Organizational Forms CRED's classification as a research institute differentiates it from several related organizational types. Unlike scientific societies or learned societies, which are membership-based organizations bringing together professionals in a field, CRED is an operational entity conducting hands-on research investigation. Unlike think tanks, which primarily focus on policy-oriented research to influence government and public policy decisions, CRED pursues fundamental scientific inquiry in disaster epidemiology. The organization is also distinct from research centers that may exist as sub-units within larger organizations—CRED operates as a distinct organizational entity with its own identity and mission. ### Organizational Positioning The combination of CRED's institutional characteristics—its research institute classification, its university affiliation, its geographic positioning in Brussels, and its decades of operation—positions it as a specialized contributor to the global disaster research community. The organization's dedicated focus on disaster epidemiology, free from teaching obligations or commercial pressures, enables concentrated attention on generating knowledge that can inform disaster preparedness, response, and recovery efforts worldwide.