Community planning for sharing wastewater health results
Engaging community Members to Plan for dissemination Of Wastewater Epidemiology Results (The EMPOWER Study)
['FUNDING_R01'] · BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE · NIH-11316989
This project works with Texas communities to design clear, fair ways to share wastewater monitoring findings related to infections like COVID-19.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (HOUSTON, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11316989 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
If I live in a Texas community, researchers will listen to local residents and public health partners to learn what wastewater results matter and how people want to receive them. They will observe consortium meetings, interview stakeholders, and run eight community engagement sessions in diverse neighborhoods to gather opinions and concerns. Community members will help shape practical guidelines for who gets notified, what information is shared, and the best ways to communicate results. The team will use what they learn to create ethical, community-informed reporting strategies that are realistic for Texas wastewater programs.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are Texas community members, local public health staff, and stakeholders connected with the Texas Epidemic Public Health Institute Wastewater Consortium.
Not a fit: People who live outside Texas or in areas without wastewater surveillance programs are less likely to see direct benefits from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, communities could receive timely, understandable wastewater alerts that help people and local agencies respond more effectively to outbreaks.
How similar studies have performed: Wastewater surveillance has proven useful for tracking COVID-19, but community-driven, ethics-focused guidelines for communicating those results are largely new and untested.
Where this research is happening
HOUSTON, UNITED STATES
- BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE — HOUSTON, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: MCGUIRE, AMY L — BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
- Study coordinator: MCGUIRE, AMY L
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 below.