Effective, accessible testing of solutions to protect people from extreme heat
Center for Effective and Accessible Research-based Testing for Health (C-EARTH)
This effort develops and tests community and policy actions to help people—especially those in vulnerable communities—stay healthier and safer during extreme heat.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Harvard University D/b/a Harvard School of Public Health NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11401657 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you live in a heat-impacted community, this center works with local groups and community health workers to create and try practical ways to reduce heat harm. They will run community pilot projects, track heat exposure and health data, and use both interviews and numbers to see what works. The team will help translate successful ideas into policy and local programs and train new researchers while sharing results with community partners. Local residents and organizations are invited to help shape which solutions are tried and how they are implemented.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are people living in communities affected by extreme heat—such as older adults, people with chronic health conditions, outdoor workers, and residents of low-income neighborhoods—or community organizations serving them.
Not a fit: People who are not exposed to extreme heat (for example, those in consistently cool climates or always in well-cooled environments) are unlikely to receive direct benefit from these local interventions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could reduce heat-related illness and improve practical supports and policies that protect people during heat waves.
How similar studies have performed: Some prior community outreach, cooling-center, and policy programs have lowered heat-related harms in certain places, but this center’s multisector testing and data-driven approach is broader and relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Harvard University D/b/a Harvard School of Public Health — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nadeau, Kari C. — Harvard University D/b/a Harvard School of Public Health
- Study coordinator: Nadeau, Kari C.
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.