Adolescence is a critical window for setting up lifelong healthy behaviors, yet teens from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds face disproportionate hurdles when it comes to long-term wellbeing. Previous research shows that they are more susceptible to initiating risky behaviors and developing future health complications

To address this inequality, researchers at Dublin City University (DCU) developed LifeLab Dublin—an interactive health literacy intervention built from the ground up alongside the very adolescents and teachers it serves.

In an initial review of the literature, the researchers behind this innovative project found that while school interventions frequently target physical activity or diet, none explicitly measured or focused on health literacy—an individual's capacity to understand and apply health information.

The focus of the project is working with young people aged 12-16 years old, which represents the age cohort of ‘Junior Cycle’ within the Irish Education System. By targeting Junior Cycle students in Irish schools, LifeLab translates deep academic research into an engaging, real-world educational experience.

The literature review also showed that early post-primary school years represent a critical, pragmatic timepoint to intervene. Fostering healthy habits during this window can permanently embed positive behaviors before chronic adulthood health inequalities set in.

Rather than adding an extra burden to the school day, the researchers seamlessly translated this need into the existing Irish curriculum by embedding LifeLab directly within the Junior Cycle "Wellbeing" framework, specifically supporting Social, Personal, and Health Education (SPHE) classes.

In addition, the aim and purpose of LifeLab aligns naturally with the Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools (DEIS) plan. In 2018, researchers Dr Sarahjane Belton and Dr Johann Issartel began work with over 1,000 young people from 10 DEIS schools to co-design and pilot the programme, with Dr Hannah Goss joining the project the following year. Three years of co-design work led to a pilot of LifeLab Dublin in 2022, and over 300 students have already taken part in the programme. 

As of Spring 2024, the full programme consists of two visits to LifeLab on campus at DCU, along with seven lessons, and a school-based Photovoice project delivered by the teacher. The lessons and Photovoice project are delivered within SPHE time, which is typically one (40 minute) classroom period a week, with resources and support provided to the teacher by the DCU LifeLab team. The LifeLab visits are facilitated in DCU by trained undergraduate students. The programme normally runs over a 10-week period, however by virtue of our youth centred approach and our goal of reducing barriers to engagement, this structure and duration isn’t rigidly applied; offering flexibility to ‘meet schools where they are at’ is core to our vision. 

While in its initial development LifeLab Dublin focused its work with the cohort of schools involved in the Irish Heart Foundation’s broader national adolescent health literacy project, it has since expanded to work with a much broader range of DEIS schools throughout the region. Links are also now being formed with other community organisations, to support access for non-school attenders, and beyond Dublin. 

Between 2018 and 2024, LifeLab Dublin has worked with over 1000 young people from 10 DEIS schools to co-design and pilot the programme. The research has adopted a range of methodologies. The team has also involved working with young people, teachers, youth workers, health practitioners, academics, and international experts.

In 2025, the programme moved to a purpose-built lab on the ground floor of the new DCU Polaris building. This move was facilitated by funding from the Sunflower Charitable Foundation. The donation was also intended to accelerate the growth and development of the project and advance associated research, and it will enable the programme to impact more young people over the coming years.