Air pollutants, heat exposure, and kidney health: A longitudinal study in women in Central America
(Newman) 04/01/23 – 01/31/28 | NIH
The overarching goals of this proposal are to contribute to the understanding
of the causes, mechanisms, and potential strategies for prevention of the epidemic of chronic kidney disease of unknown origin (CKDu).
Center for Health, Work & Environment (Total Worker Health® Center)
U19 OH011227 (Newman) 09/01/21-08/31/26 | CDC/NIOSH
The major goal of this center is to conduct interdisciplinary
research on interventions in the field of occupational health, safety, and well-being with the NIOSH Office of Total Worker Health and ten other national Centers of Excellence. The center includes a planning core; three Total Worker Health research studies; and an outreach core that includes dissemination of research findings, development of professional education, and an academic Certificate in Total Worker Health program.
Particulate Exposure and Kidney Health
R01 (Newman (PI), MPI: Adgate, Schaeffer) 03/01/21 - 12/31/26 | NIH/NIEHS
This study is directed at increasing the fundamental understanding of the causes, mechanisms, and prevention
strategies of chronic kidney disease of unknown origin (CKDu) in Latin America. The study’s inclusion of examining sugarcane worker occupational exposure to particulate matter and its nephrotoxic constituents (silica, glyphosate, and heavy metals),
renal biomarkers of effect, including early biological change, will advance our ability to identify factors that put individuals at risk for the development of CKDu and also detect illness at preclinical stages.
Mountain & Plains Education and Research Center
T42 OH009229 (Newman) 07/01/15 - 06/30/25 | National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
The major goal of the Mountain & Plains Education and Research Center (MAP ERC) is to train future leaders in the field of occupational health and safety. The MAP ERC trains in six disciplines: industrial hygiene, occupational ergonomics and
safety, occupational health physics, occupational health psychology, occupational and environmental medicine, and Total Worker Health®. Additional goals include the promotion of pilot research relevant to
the National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA), community outreach, and continuing education.
Silica Nephropathy and Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown Etiology
R01 (Newman (co-I), MPI: Johnson, Brown, Roncal) 07/01/20 - 06/30/25 | NIH/NIDDK
This study will evaluate the novel hypothesis that amorphous silica,
released into the air during the burning of sugarcane and rice, may be a primary cause of chronic kidney disease of unknown origin (CKDu).
National Supplemental Screening Program (NSSP)
DE-FC01-05EH04022 (Newman) 02/01/20 - 01/31/25 | Department of Energy and Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU)
The major goal of this project is to determine the health
consequences of exposure to toxic and radioactive materials encountered by former U.S. Department of Energy workers.
Drought and the Impact on Arsenic Exposure and Cardiometabolic Outcomes in an Aging Population
R01 (James) 09/01/21 - 08/30/26 | NIH
This study seeks to provide evidence on the cardiometabolic health risks posed by
drought.
Mountain West ACE-CH Hub: Climate Change Engagement Platform to Support Resilient Rural and Urban Communities
(James (PI); Dickinson (MPI)) 03/01/23 - 02/28/25 | NIH Climate Change and Health Initiative
The project will establish the Mountain West Alliance for Community Engagement-Climate and Health (ACE-CH) Hub, a community of public health researchers and community members working to identify evidence-based and community-driven action in the face of the climate crisis. The team will build relationships with rural and urban communities in Colorado to understand how they experience climate and air quality impacts, and to identify opportunities to advance climate justice.
Environmental chemical exposures during pregnancy and women’s cardio-metabolic health
R01 (James (co-I); Cooper (PI)) 09/01/20 - 06/30/25 | NIH
This study seeks to build relationships and engage with rural and
urban focal communities in Colorado to understand how communities are experiencing climate & air quality impacts, identify priorities and opportunities to advance climate justice, and build capacity for research and action.
Occurrence and Potential Health Effects of Heavy Metals in Cannabis Flower, Concentrates, Vape Devices, and Vape Emissions
(Van Dyke (PI)) 09/15/22 - 09/14/25 | Institute of Cannabis Research
The overarching goal
of this study is to evaluate the risk of health effects from the consumption of cannabis (smoking or vaping) contaminated with heavy metals absorbed from soil, fertilizers, or irrigation water or leached from vape devices.
Oil and Gas Community Noise Monitoring
(Van Dyke (co-I)) 04/01/22 - 03/30/25 | Health Effects Institute
This multifaceted study aims to measure environmental noise exposure related to oil and gas development activities
in Colorado communities and relate this exposure to regulatory limits and levels that may be associated with adverse health outcomes.
Women’s Airborne Exposure and Kidney Health in Guatemala
K01 (Butler-Dawson (PI)) 05/15/2021 – 05/14/24 | NIH/NIEHS
This study is directed at increasing the fundamental understanding of the causes and
prevention strategies of chronic kidney disease of unknown origin (CKDu) in Latin America. The study’s inclusion of examining exposure to particulate matter and its constituents (i.e., heavy metals), organic pollutants, and a renal biomarker
of effect among females in Guatemala will advance our ability to identify factors that put individuals at risk for the development of CKDu.
IPA: Assessing Fatigue and Fatigue Management in U.S. Onshore Oil and Gas Extraction
(Schwatka) 03/15/22 - 03/14/26 | CDC/NIOSH
The goals of this project are to: better understand the extent to which fatigue and
its antecedents are affecting U.S. onshore oil and gas extraction (OGE) workers, especially those employed by small contractor companies; identify worker and work design factors to consider when developing and implementing fatigue management strategies
among contractors in the OGE industry; and determine the state of Fatigue Risk Management Systems (FRMS) and other fatigue mitigation strategies in place for participating companies and if these strategies are associated with better safety outcomes.
Contract: Healthcare Worker Exposure to Peracetic Acid Disinfectants
(Van Dyke (PI)) 04/01/22 - 02/14/24 | CDC/NIOSH
In collaboration with NIOSH investigators, the goal of this study is to assess the exposure
of healthcare environmental services workers to peracetic acid (a commonly used disinfectant) that has been associated with respiratory irritation and possibly more severe health outcomes.
Subcontract: Metals and Metal Mixtures: Cognitive Aging, Remediation and Exposure Sources (MEMCARE)
(Lu (PI), James (co-I)) 02/01/2020 – 01/31/2025 | Harvard School of Public Health, NIH
The
objective of the study is to understand the level of exposure to heavy metals known to be associated with drainage from mines under Superfund.
Subcontract: Chronic Kidney Disease of Uncertain Etiology (CKDu) in Agricultural Communities (CURE) Research Consortium - Scientific Data Coordinating Center (SDCC)
(Lebov (PI), James (co-I)) 08/15/21 - 06/30/26 | NIH
The University of Colorado will provide expertise related to the study design, data collection plan, interpretation, community engagement, and support the consortium with manuscript preparation and dissemination of the findings.
Subcontract: Fostering Workplace Safety Culture Change in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic
(Schwatka (PI)) 02/01/23 - 01/31/25 | OSHA
The goal of this project is to develop and release a workplace culture change
program to promote safety as a core value improving organizational resilience. This new program will complement and enhance OSHA’s existing Recommended Practices for Safety and Health Programs.
Subcontract: Recovery Friendly Workplace Peer Education and Training
(Tenney (Co-I); Valuck (PI)) 02/01/23 - 01/31/25 | American Rescue Plan Act
