Maui Wildfire Exposure in Children: Long-Term Health, Development, and Education
Official title: Evaluating the Health and Developmental Impacts of Wildfire Exposure on Children
Funded at University of Hawaii at Manoa · NIH-11449246 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant funds a long-term study of how the Maui wildfires affect children’s health, development, and schooling, following kids who were exposed and comparing them with unexposed peers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Hawaii at Manoa NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Honolulu, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | April 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $757,593 |
| NIH project number | 1R01MD021757-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11449246 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children aged 0-11 years at the time of the Maui wildfires and their families who resided in affected areas (with matched unexposed control children)
✕Less likely to help
Children not directly affected by the Maui wildfires or without access to follow-up care and educational resources may experience limited immediate benefits
What this research studies
The MauiWES-Children study will enroll 400 wildfire-exposed children and 400 matched unexposed children, then track lung function, mental health, and academic performance over four years. It brings together environmental science, pediatrics, and social factors to understand how toxic exposures, stress, and disrupted lives shape children’s health and learning. Researchers will collect environmental data, clinical assessments, behavioral surveys, and school records to map trajectories and identify who is most at risk and who shows resilience. The goal is to inform early interventions that can protect child health and educational outcomes after wildfires.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could guide pediatric care and community programs to mitigate health and educational setbacks after wildfires.
How similar studies have gone: Prior wildfire-related pediatric studies have shown some associations between exposure and health/psychosocial outcomes, but this is a comprehensive longitudinal design.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Hawaii at Manoa
Honolulu, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Juarez, Ruben — University of Hawaii at Manoa
- Study coordinator: Juarez, Ruben
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.