In 2010, NIEHS lead a trans-NIH effort to create a network of community and university partnerships seeking to identify individual and community health effects potentially stemming from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and to enhance community resiliency to potential disasters. The five-year program supports population-based and laboratory research to develop the scientific evidence base needed to promote health and well-being for people living along the Gulf Coast, who are at greatest risk for potential adverse physical, psychological and behavioral health effects. In addition, research will seek to develop new strategies to enhance capacity to respond to future disasters and prevent or minimize disaster-related adverse health effects. Ultimately, research findings from the Deepwater Horizon Research Consortia should contribute to the evidence base needed to improve preparedness and response aimed at minimizing disaster-related health impacts. In contrast to NIEHS’ worker-focused Gulf Long-term Follow-up Study (GuLF STUDY), these studies will concentrate on the range of potential acute and long-term health effects in the general public.
As an integrated network, four institutions were awarded funding -
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Tulane University, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine
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Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans
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University of Florida
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University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston
These institutions will collaborate on approaches and share results to better understand the interplay and effects of multiple stressors on human health.
