Reducing environmental risks for children's health in Philadelphia
Philadelphia Regional Center for Children's Environmental Health
This program adds environmental health screening into pediatric care and gives clinicians, teachers, and families practical tools to prevent lead exposure and asthma triggers for young children in the Philadelphia region.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11251556 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
We will add short environmental health screening questions to pediatric electronic medical records and connect answers to easy-to-use resources called Prescriptions for Prevention. A lead poisoning toolkit and a telehealth resource for clinicians will help identify and manage lead exposure. The team will train teachers and childcare providers with curricula and webinars to bring prevention messages to classrooms and homes. Proven programs like a Community Asthma Prevention Program will be replicated locally and home lead testing will be expanded through partnerships to reach at-risk families.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Young children (particularly ages 0–11) and their families in the Philadelphia region, especially those living in areas with known lead or air-quality concerns, are the primary candidates for these services.
Not a fit: Families living outside the Philadelphia/Chester region or children whose health issues are unrelated to environmental exposures are unlikely to benefit directly from this program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, more children could have environmental risks like lead exposure and asthma triggers identified earlier and receive practical help to reduce those risks.
How similar studies have performed: Community asthma prevention and lead screening programs have previously reduced exposures and improved outcomes, and this project applies those established approaches regionally.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- University of Pennsylvania — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Howarth, Marilyn — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Howarth, Marilyn
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.