The Maui Wildfire Exposure Cohort Study on Community Health and Resilience

NIH RePORTER · NIH · R61 · $1,454,988 · view on reporter.nih.gov ↗

Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT In August 2023, the unprecedented Maui wildfires, Hawaii's worst natural disaster, aggravated existing socioeconomic and health disparities among Maui's diverse population, including Native Hawaiians, Filipino Americans, and Hispanics/Latinos. This catastrophe amplified chronic disease risk factors and conditions already prevalent among these groups. Moreover, environmental hazards post-wildfires expose residents to health- compromising contaminants, underscoring an urgent need to understand the disaster's multifaceted impact. We aim to (1) Initiate a comprehensive cohort study examining wildfire exposure's socioeconomic and health impacts on 1,000 residents, integrating survey tools with biospecimen analyses to measure stress and toxicant exposure. (2) Conduct longitudinal analysis by revisiting the cohort annually for five years, tracking health and socioeconomic changes during recovery, and comparing findings to unexposed cohorts. (3) Craft a comprehensive dissemination strategy and deploy a data-driven toolkit supporting recovery efforts, guiding policy-making, and enhancing disaster preparedness strategies. Our pioneering research will address the uncharted intersection of social and biological consequences from Maui wildfires, aspiring to guide informed disaster recovery and resilience planning locally and nationwide.

Key facts

NIH application ID
10975843
Project number
1R61MD019793-01
Recipient
UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AT MANOA
Principal Investigator
Ruben Juarez
Activity code
R61
Funding institute
NIH
Fiscal year
2024
Award amount
$1,454,988
Award type
1
Project period
2024-07-02 → 2026-06-30