Community Engagement Core for Cancer and Environmental Health
Official title: Core C: Community Engagement Core
Funded at Massachusetts Institute of Technology · NIH-11398634 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A community-focused program at MIT works with local tribes and schools to teach biology and environmental health and reduce harmful N-nitrosamines in drinking water.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts Institute of Technology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cambridge, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2017 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $149,941 |
| NIH project number | 5P42ES027707-10 |
| Project ID | NIH-11398634 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are community members in affected areas, tribal youth, and high school teachers who can participate in educational activities and co-create learning materials.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals not engaged in the educational activities or not living in affected areas may not directly benefit from the intervention.
What this research studies
This project centers on engaging communities affected by NDMA contamination near an old chemical site. It partners with tribal educators and high school teachers to create and share hands-on learning kits that teach core biology and environmental health concepts. Through two collaborating projects, it aims to inspire Young people to pursue science careers while helping reduce NDMA exposure through education and outreach. The core emphasizes bidirectional communication so that community needs shape the education and outreach activities.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could raise awareness, improve environmental health literacy, and foster a new generation of scientists who can tackle NDMA-related health risks.
How similar studies have gone: Prior community engagement efforts have shown that education and collaboration with local stakeholders can increase environmental health literacy and inspire careers in science.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Vandiver, Kathleen Mead — Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Study coordinator: Vandiver, Kathleen Mead
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.