# Core B: Community Engagement Core (CEC)

> **NIH NIH P42** · BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE · 2020 · $144,585

## Abstract

Project Summary
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and its Port one of the busiest in the world. Lack of
zoning for industry and ignorance of the long-term effects of “legacy” pollutants have contributed to severe
environmental health issues in the region, with more than a dozen federal Superfund sites located in the
metroplex. The Ship Channel includes two major Superfund sites, with many more highly toxic sites managed
by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. The focus of the B-R SRP on PAHs and their effects on
preterm birth and susceptibility to chronic respiratory and neurodegenerative diseases addresses a largely
heretofore-unmet need for identifying at-risk populations and developing new and innovative technologies for
identifying and ameliorating risk from PAHs. The Overall Goal of the CEC is to facilitate meaningful
bidirectional communication and interactions among the B-R SRP’s internal and external stakeholders. Our
Mission is to develop and adapt best practices to work with residents and local leaders of affected communities
to facilitate prevention and intervention strategies that will result in community-level reductions in exposure to
PAHs and other Superfund site pollutants. We are working with communities surrounding the Ship Channel
and Superfund sites, many of which are Environmental Justice communities, impacted by heavy
industrialization, poverty, and the environmental health effects of sites including the San Jacinto Waste Pits
and Patrick Bayou. Community partners will play an invaluable role in reaching targeted communities. The
Texas Health and Environment Alliance, Inc. spearheaded by Executive Director Jackie Young, represents all
neighborhoods impacted by the San Jacinto River Waste Pits. Texas Environmental Justice Advocacy
Services is a broad-based, internationally recognized, non-profit group headed by Juan Parras, who for 25
years has been dedicated to advocacy, education, and providing resources to Houston neighborhoods
disproportionately impacted by pollution, poverty, and neglect. Our Specific Aims are to: 1.Utilize new and
existing multi-directional communication strategies to increase investigator and community capacity for
collaborating to reduce exposures to PAHs and other Superfund contaminants. 2. Assist and support B-R SRP
Research Project and Core community-engagement activities through community forums, a robust Stakeholder
Advisory Board, and Community Science Workshops. 3. Support community projects to reduce exposures to
Superfund PAHs such as educational interventions for pregnant women, well water screening and soil testing,
community gardening activities and instruction to prevent exposure to harmful chemicals, and fish consumption
education programs. 4. Rigorously evaluate engagement activities, processes, and outcomes, and
disseminate best practices at regional and national levels.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9841255
- **Project number:** 1P42ES027725-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
- **Principal Investigator:** Sharon A Croisant
- **Activity code:** P42 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $144,585
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** — → —

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9841255

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9841255, Core B: Community Engagement Core (CEC) (1P42ES027725-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9841255. Licensed CC0.

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