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News Releases from Region 03

EPA and NIEHS Providing $6 Million to Johns Hopkins to Study Ways to Improve the Health of At-Risk Baltimore Children

10/25/2016
Contact Information: 
David Sternberg (sternberg.david@epa.gov)
215-814-5548

Contact: David Sternberg (215) 814-5548 sternberg.david@epa.gov

EPA and NIEHS Providing $6 Million to Johns Hopkins to Study Ways to Improve the Health of At-Risk Baltimore Children

BALTIMORE (October 25, 2016) Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency  joined the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in announcing that researchers at the Johns Hopkins Center for the Study of Childhood Asthma in the Urban Environment will receive $6 million in joint funding from EPA and NIEHS. The funds will be used to investigate asthma susceptibility factors among children in Baltimore, and identify appropriate interventions to improve the health of those at greatest risk.

The money is part of an almost $28 million national initiative in 2016, which is funding five Children’s Environmental Health and Disease Prevention Research Centers to promote health and well-being in communities where children live, learn and play.

“This work by Johns Hopkins continues a long, highly valued history of research assisting EPA and NIEHS in studying environmental challenges, to identify and implement effective approaches to mitigate the impacts to children’s health,” said EPA Regional Administrator Shawn M. Garvin. “The funding announced today will build on this legacy by providing cutting-edge research and greater awareness in understanding how a range of environmental factors can affect children, and more importantly, give us the best science to improve the health of Baltimore’s most vulnerable citizens.”

Mr. Garvin announced the funding at a press conference in the Mayor’s ceremonial room in Baltimore City Hall on Tuesday commemorating October as Children’s Health Month, and     Oct. 23 – 30 as lead poisoning prevention week.

“We have no greater resource than our children, and the fact that so many people are coming together from so many different city, state and federal agencies to support children’s health initiatives underscores the importance of efforts to keep kids healthy,” said U.S. Senator Ben Cardin. “I strongly applaud today’s announcement of a $6 million EPA/NIEHS grant to Johns Hopkins for children’s health research and pledge to continue working to identify additional resources to fund even more groundbreaking work at Maryland institutions.”

The officials also invited the public to attend the Baltimore Children’s Health Fair, Saturday, Oct. 29 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. on the campus of Morgan State University. The health fair will help citizens to address issues such as asthma, pesticides, lead poisoning prevention, chemical safety, healthy homes, children’s environmental health research, sickle cell, fire and safety, tenants’ rights, and, environmental justice.

The Children’s Centers were established to better understand how environmental factors affect children’s health and to translate these findings to relevant communities.  Since 1998, EPA and NIEHS have jointly funded children’s centers, which combine community engagement with scientific research. With an investment of approximately $300 million from both agencies, the Children’s Centers have helped establish the foundation of children’s environmental health research and published more than 2,400 peer reviewed publications.

More information about children’s health:  https://www.epa.gov/children

More about the Children’s Environmental Health and Disease Prevention Research Centers: https://www.epa.gov/research-grants/niehsepa-childrens-environmental-health-and-disease-prevention-research-centers