Green Spaces and Heart Health in Cities
Urban Greenness and Cardiovascular Health
This project explores if adding more green spaces in city neighborhoods can improve heart health by reducing air pollution.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Louisville NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Louisville, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11166442 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Many studies suggest that green spaces in cities are good for our health, but it's hard to know exactly how they help. This project, called the Green Heart Project, is a community-based effort to see if more trees can lower the risk of heart disease. Researchers first gathered information about neighborhood health and air pollution in Louisville, KY. Then, they planted many mature trees in specific areas and are now checking to see how these changes affect air quality and people's health over time.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This project focuses on residents living in specific neighborhoods in Louisville, KY, who participated in baseline health assessments.
Not a fit: Patients not living in the specific Louisville neighborhoods where the greening intervention occurred would not directly benefit from this particular community-based intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could show that planting more trees in urban areas is a simple yet powerful way to protect community heart health.
How similar studies have performed: While many studies suggest a link between green spaces and health, this project is a novel community-based clinical trial directly testing the causal link through an intervention.
Where this research is happening
Louisville, United States
- University of Louisville — Louisville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bhatnagar, Aruni — University of Louisville
- Study coordinator: Bhatnagar, Aruni
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.