University of Cincinnati gets $1.3M more for its Environmental Health grant

Cincinnati climate change and health research center - overall center summary this P20 application proposes to establish the cincinnati climate change and health research center (C3HRC). The central theme of our proposed exploratory center is to examine health outcomes of climate change-driven exposures to heat, pathogenic microbes, and environmental toxicants, and to identify novel interventions that promote resiliency in vulnerable populations. Our focus is on the climate-related changes occurring in our own urban area and elsewhere: rising temperatures, increased precipitation, and extreme weather (tornadic and flooding) events. Our investigations of climate change-driven exposures and health outcomes will be translational, with the goal of developing and testing novel interventions in community and clinical settings. Our attention to vulnerable populations focuses on first responders and low-income as well as historically marginalized communities. Consistent with the goals of the climate change and health research centers, the C3HRC will: 1) plan and develop sustainable research capacity by establishing centralized resources and research infrastructure; 2) develop the center’s thematic focus and transdisciplinary research activities on climate change-driven impacts on health in vulnerable populations; 3) enable research that develops into new programs of science and research applications supporting independent investigators; 4) cultivate authentic partnerships to engage communities most likely to be impacted by climate change in all phases of the research process; and 5) actively participate in the NIH research coordinating center to support climate change and health community of practice activities. C3HRC is led by senior, established investigators and a transdisciplinary team of experts in exposure science, thermal biology, microbial ecology, infectious disease, epidemiology, pediatrics, internal medicine, allergy and immunology, lung biology, ergonomics, toxicology, environmental engineering, bioinformatics, biostatistics, health communication, community engagement, and design, architecture, and planning. Our plan for enhancing diverse perspectives (pedp) is woven into all aspects of the center. Health equity research will be prioritized in our projects. Training and capacity building will be addressed by nourishing strong academic-community partnerships; mentoring and supporting junior and early career investigators; pilot projects and trainee awards; a climate change and health graduate certificate program; diverse research teams; providing researchers with current information through a seminar series and newsletter and curated educational materials and grant opportunities. In the 3-year period of this award, the C3HRC will support one transdisciplinary research project: the impact of extreme heat on mucosal immunity. The three cores will be: 1) administrative; 2) development; and 3) community engagement. This proposal builds on the many strengths of the University Of Cincinnati and our community partners to achieve transformative research that addresses the core elements of the NIH initiative in climate health research: health effects research, intervention research, health equity, training and capacity building.