Pennsylvania asthma-COPD syndromic surveillance for cleaner air and healthier kids
Official title: SCH: Pennsylvania Asthma-COPD Syndromic Surveillance (PASS)
Funded at Lehigh University · NIH-11362713 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A Pennsylvanian health project is building a real-time warning system to help doctors and families spot spikes in asthma and COPD risks related to air pollution and smoke.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Lehigh University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bethlehem, United States) |
| Project start | July 6, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $241,796 |
| NIH project number | 5R01ES037163-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11362713 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children aged 0-11 with asthma or risk factors for respiratory conditions, and local clinics serving these populations.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not affected by asthma or COPD or living in areas without the proposed alert system implementation.
What this research studies
This project from Lehigh University aims to create an early-warning system that uses geospatial maps and prediction algorithms to alert communities and clinicians about rising risk of respiratory problems tied to air pollution and tobacco smoke. It focuses on children in the 0-11 age range and aims to separate environmental risks from other factors like housing and economics. The work envisions practical tools for patients and clinics to reduce unnecessary hospital visits and improve care planning in high-risk areas like Allentown and the Lehigh Valley.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, it could help families and clinicians anticipate dangerous air-quality days and better protect children with asthma or COPD.
How similar studies have gone: Previous air-pollution health studies show promise for predictive models, but this project adapts them to a targeted Pennsylvania setting with a real-time warning interface.
Where this research is happening
-
Lehigh University
Bethlehem, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Choi, Hyunok — Lehigh University
- Study coordinator: Choi, Hyunok
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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.