Creating better heat warning systems to protect health
Official title: Establishing a unified evaluation and implementation framework to inform heat-health warning systems
Funded at Columbia University Health Sciences · NIH-11055056 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working to make heat warnings better so that older adults and other vulnerable people can stay safe during really hot weather, by figuring out the best times and places to send out these alerts based on health data.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | December 16, 2024 |
| Project end | March 14, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $157,841 |
| NIH project number | 1K01ES036202-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11055056 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults aged 65 and older who are at higher risk for heat-related health issues.
✕Less likely to help
Patients younger than 65 years old may not receive direct benefits from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on improving heat-health warning systems to better protect vulnerable populations, particularly older adults, from the dangers of extreme heat. The project aims to develop a framework that evaluates the effectiveness of current heat alerts and provides guidelines on when and where to issue these alerts for maximum health benefits. By analyzing health data, including hospital admissions and death records, the research seeks to understand the impact of heat alerts on health outcomes. The goal is to create actionable recommendations that can enhance public health responses to extreme heat events.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective heat warning systems that significantly reduce health risks for older adults during extreme heat events.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown mixed results regarding the effectiveness of heat warning systems, indicating that this approach is both necessary and timely.
Where this research is happening
-
Columbia University Health Sciences
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wu, Xiao — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Wu, Xiao
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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.