Harvey-Related Chemical Fire (HCF) Study
The Wheeler et al. v. Arkema, Inc., Civil Action settlement is the rationale/reason for the conduct of this study. Our study team refers to the study as the "Harvey-related Chemical Fire (HCF)" study. The objective of the HCF study is to conduct surveys and environmental sampling to assess potential exposure to fire-related chemicals and their impact on the health and well-being of individuals who lived within one of the following geographic areas: Crosby, TX; Barrett, TX; Highlands, TX; Huffman, TX; Atascocita, TX; Baytown, TX; Channelview, TX; Cloverleaf, TX; Dayton, TX; Mont Belvieu, TX; or Sheldon, TX for at least one year between July 1, 2017, and June 30, 2018. The study focuses on the location of the Arkema plant in Crosby, Texas, the site of the industrial fire that occurred in September 2017.
The overall goal of this study is to examine the potential long-term impact of exposure to fire-related chemicals on self-reported health outcomes of individuals who lived within the specified study area during the study period. The health outcomes of interest are (1) cancer incidence and (2) chronic respiratory disorders.
Staff in this project: A.O., I.S., M.C., E.B.
Assessing Community Benefit Agreement Effects on Neighborhood Characteristics and Displacement (ACEND)
This project examines how community benefit agreements (CBAS)-formal contracts between developers and community organizations-affect neighborhood improvement and displacement. Using 10-20 years of data from seven U.S. cities, the team investigates whether CBAs in racially segregated areas implemented between 2002 and 2008 have reduced health inequities through place-based changes like affordable housing and green spaces.
Staff in this project: A.O., I.S., E.B.
Geospatial Analysis and Health Outcomes Shared Resource (GHSR) Charge-Back Projects
Transforming Care Delivery Models for At-Risk Young Adult Patients with Congenital Heart Disease and Amplifying Research Efforts to Improve Health Equity in Pediatric Chronic Disease Care (REACHES)
REACHES directly addresses two NIH NIMHD objectives: (1) to foster innovative collaborations and partnerships, and (2) support the training of a diverse research workforce.
The Effects of Telemedicine on Health Outcomes, Costs, and Perceptions of Care Delivery in In-Center Hemodialysis (TELEMEDICINE)
This study examines the effects of increased telemedicine use during the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare costs, outcomes, and patient and provider experiences in dialysis care using administrative data and in-person interviews.
Survivorship and Access to Care for Latinos to Understand and Address Disparities (SALUD)
This proposal synergizes multidisciplinary expertise and data collected from clinical and epidemiological resources to establish a prospective, comprehensive biobank and database inclusive of a large population of Latino pediatric cancer survivors.
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons: Ultrasensitive Detection, Early Life Exposures—Clinical Outcomes (Preterm Births, Chronic Lung Disease, and Neurocognitive Deficits), Prevention, and Remediation
This is a multi-institution center grant to investigate health impacts of Superfund sites, develop new approaches to remediation, and engage with community stakeholders.
Gulf Coast Climate Health Early Warning Systems
This cross-disciplinary climate health initiative brings together researchers from Baylor College of Medicine, Rice University, and UTHealth School of Public Health to develop early warning systems that detect new and emerging disease-causing viruses and prevent infectious disease outbreaks. By integrating the latest molecular and data science tools, systems biology, and climate science, the project aims to model and anticipate increased pathogen activity in response to climate variables.
Multi-Level Evaluation of Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Liver Disease Outcomes
This project aims to identify factors contributing to health disparities in cirrhosis outcomes, particularly those that can be addressed through prevention and treatment, and inform interventions to reduce these disparities and improve survival among racial/ethnic minority and socioeconomically disadvantaged populations.
CAISIS REDCap Migration
Modernization of a legacy clinical oncology registry by migrating data and workflows from CAISIS (SQL Server) into REDCap. The goal is to preserve the meaning and structure of the registry for a loss-minimization migration, while improving long-term maintainability and analytic usability through structured REDCap instruments and documented transformation rules.