On March 20, The Drexel Climate Change and Urban Health Research Center (CCUH) was formally launched in an event held at the Dornsife School of Public Health. Funded by a multi-million dollar grant from the National Institute of Environmental Health Science, the CCUH will support research to help protect the growing urban populations of the world from the adverse health and equity effects of climate change.
WATCH: Drexel Climate Change and Urban Health Research Center Launch Event
The Drexel Climate Change and Urban Health Research Center (CCUH) is a newly established center funded by NIH as part of its new climate change and health initiative. Our center has the goals of (1) conducting and promoting transdisciplinary and policy-relevant research on climate change and health in cities of the Americas, (2) strengthening capacity for this research by holding workshops, trainings, and funding pilot studies, and (3) engaging policymakers and urban communities to support policy translation and policy impact of research. The Center is a partnership with the Berkeley Institute of Transportation Studies (ITS), University of São Paulo (USP), Institute of Nutrition of Central America and Panama (INCAP), Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), and the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ).
WHYY News covered the CCUH launch and spoke to Urban Health Collaborative director Dr. Ana V. Diez Roux about the aims of the new research center. "There are many things cities can do that people may not think are related to health, but that have major health impacts and environmental benefits at the same time. We want to generate debate and discussion and build evidence to support cities taking those kinds of actions.”
The event was also an opportunity to engage with other climate-focused groups across Drexel, said CCUH Project Manager Kaela Barna, who hopes to build on those engagements and create more opportunities for collaboration. To receive news about upcoming CCUH events, sign up for the newsletter.