How extreme weather and air pollution affect stroke risk in older women
Extreme weather, air pollution, and stroke among an aging female population
This project looks at whether smoke and other air pollution from extreme weather raises stroke risk in older women.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Beckman Research Institute/city of Hope NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Duarte, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11145805 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you are an older woman, this project combines satellite maps of wildfires with air pollution measurements to see when and where smoke increases occur. Researchers will link those pollution spikes (PM2.5) to hospital records to count stroke events in the same places and times. They will compare stroke rates before, during, and after extreme weather to identify short-term risks. The work uses existing health and environmental data rather than testing new treatments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are women aged 65 and older (postmenopausal) who live in regions prone to wildfires or high PM2.5 air pollution.
Not a fit: People unlikely to benefit include younger individuals, men, or anyone living outside areas affected by wildfire-related air pollution.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could help warn and protect older women during high-smoke periods and guide public health actions to reduce stroke risk.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies link PM2.5 to cardiovascular disease and stroke, but combining satellite wildfire data with hospital records focused on older women is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
Duarte, United States
- Beckman Research Institute/city of Hope — Duarte, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wang, Sophia S. — Beckman Research Institute/city of Hope
- Study coordinator: Wang, Sophia S.
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.