The frequency and severity of climate-related disasters, such as wildfires, hurricanes, and extreme-heat events is growing in the U.S. and globally. Disasters and public health emergencies, whether local or global, natural or human-caused, result in unique combinations of human exposures, hazards, and stressors. The associated immediate physical and mental health impacts, as well as long-term consequences are often not well studied, nor understood.

Too often, basic questions about the safety and health of communities and disaster responders impacted by a disaster or public health emergency go unanswered. The historical lack of research that considers questions such as the following is a critical missed opportunity:

• Are the risks different for vulnerable groups, such as pregnant women, older adults, or those with pre-existing health conditions?
• How do we accurately measure, assess the health risks, and implement effective interventions from complex disaster-related exposures?
• How do we diagnose and treat harm that has occurred?
• Is it OK to breathe the air, drink the water, or eat food grown in our neighborhood?
• Is my home and yard safe for my family and pets?
• What are the additional health risks and impacts on disadvantaged communities burdened with a history of elevated exposures to environmental hazards?
• What are the best strategies for reducing both immediate and long-term potential physical and mental health effects?

Environmental health investigations and research that is appropriately integrated into existing and emerging response frameworks for disasters and public health emergencies can help answer these questions. This information can inform future response, recovery, and preparedness efforts, which in turn will help increase resiliency among individuals, communities, and nations.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Disaster Research Response (DR2) Program spearheads U.S. efforts and works with global partners to empower timely human health research in response to disasters and public health emergencies through:

• Funding and resources to facilitate collection of perishable post-event exposure data.
• Access to a collection of over 500 curated research surveys and tools, including a RAPIDD Protocol Designer, through the DR2 Program webpage.
• Connection to a broadly inclusive DR2 Community of Practice of researchers and public health practitioners.
• Training & Education materials, workshops, and symposia.

Visit the DR2 Videos webpage to view all DR2-related videos.

DR2 Program Strategic Alignment

As disasters and public health emergencies cut across myriad aspects of health and society, the DR2 Program is similarly crosscutting in its efforts to address the human consequences of such events. The NIH DR2 Program seeks to promote and integrate knowledge from nearly every aspect of health sciences, combining the specialized skills and perspectives of multiple research and implementation disciplines, and collaborating across an ever-broadening network of societal sectors and stakeholders. Given, the growing health impacts of climate-change, the DR2 Program has been incorporated into the expanding NIH Climate and Health Initiative, which is an urgent, cross-cutting NIH effort to stimulate research to reduce health threats from climate change across the lifespan and build health resilience in individuals, communities, and nations around the world, especially among those at highest risk. Furthermore, DR2 initiatives occur in purposeful alignment with the goals and objectives of the Strategic Plans of the NIEHS, NIH, and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). DR2 also contributes to U.S. efforts under global agreements and guidance including the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the U.N. 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, the Global Health Security Agenda and World Health Organization guidance to protect health from climate change through adaptation planning, among others.

NIEHS Strategic Plan: Health at the Intersection of People and Their Environments, 2025-2029

The DR2 Program supports the goals and objectives of the NIEHS Strategic Plan, and especially relevant to achievement of:

• Research Areas of Emphasis Area 6: Climate Change Impacts on Human Health
  • As the reality of a changing climate unfolds across the globe in record-breaking heat, extreme storms and wildfires, droughts, floods, and the spread of vector-borne diseases, the need to understand the effects of these changes on human health is increasingly urgent. NIEHS brings to this challenge decades of research on the impacts of factors in the environment on human health NIEHS has continued to expand its efforts in this area through leadership of the NIH Climate Change and Health Initiative and the NIH Disaster Research Response Program, as well as new engagements in research, translation, capacity, and training efforts across federal and global spheres.

NIH-Wide Strategic Plan 2021-2025

The DR2 Program supports the Priorities and Objectives of the NIH-Wide Strategic Plan, and is especially relevant in the achievement of:

• Objective 1: Advancing Biomedical and Behavioral Sciences: Meeting Emerging Public Health Needs

Program Contacts

Disaster Research Response (DR2) Program
[email protected]

Aubrey K. Miller, M.D., M.P.H.
Deputy Director, Scientific Coordination

Tel 301-496-3511
[email protected]

31 Center Dr

NIHBC 31 - CLAUDE D PEPPER BUILDING

Bethesda, MD 20892-2256

Ann Liu, Ph.D., M.P.H.
Contractor - Senior Scientist

Tel 301-496-3511
[email protected]

Trisha M. Castranio
Program Manager

Tel 984-287-3245
[email protected]

Maria Esposito, M.P.H.
Contractor - Scientific Program Analyst

Tel 984-287-4705
[email protected]

Lydia M. Louis, M.P.H.
Health Scientist Administrator

Tel 984-287-4698
[email protected]