Dr. Ardythe L. Morrow, professor and director of the Epidemiology Division in the College of Medicine, has been awarded a $4 million NIH grant to launch the Cincinnati Center for Climate and Health. The center will focus on populations most vulnerable to climate-related stressors, such as firefighters exposed to extreme heat and economically disadvantaged communities without access to air conditioning.

Climate change is not just an environmental crisis—it is a public health emergency. Rising temperatures, shifting weather patterns, and increasing natural disasters disproportionately affect already at-risk populations. The new center aims to bridge the gap between environmental science and public health by developing actionable strategies to mitigate these impacts. Initial projects will investigate how extreme heat affects physical health and identify interventions to improve resilience in vulnerable groups.

This initiative places UC among an elite network of institutions tackling the health effects of climate change. Through research, education, and community engagement, the center will generate data to inform public policy, improve health outcomes, and prepare communities for a rapidly changing world.

By positioning at the forefront of this critical intersection, UC reaffirms its commitment to solving global challenges and advancing public health. Faculty across disciplines are encouraged to explore opportunities to contribute to this transformative work, fostering collaborative innovation that has the potential to shape the future of climate and health research.